In a game diametrically opposed to Tuesday's hard-fought 2-1 loss to Northeastern in the Beanpot championship game, the Harvard women's hockey team defeated Yale, 6-1, despite a lackluster performance.

"The coach wasn't too pleased with the way we came out in the first period," Harvard Co-Captain Sandra Whyte said. "I think everyone was very tired. This was our fourth game in five days. It was a little hard to get psyched up at the beginning."

Last night's win in Bright Center improved Harvard's record to 10-9-1 overall, and 5-3 in the Ivy League.

The Elis proved to be weak competition for the sharp-skating Crimson. Yale netminder Maureen Magauran had a tremendous performance for the visitors from New Haven, coming up with 57 saves on the night.

"We knew going into the game that they had a great goalie and that to get the goals we were going to have to pass a lot," Whyte said.

Whyte netted the game-winner less than three minutes into the contest, beating Magauran with a slapshot from the circle. Freshman defender Francie Walton earned an assist on the goal.

Junior Jen Minkus, who took a brutal slash to the neck against Northeastern, knocked in the second goal for the Crimson. Minkus stuffed the rebound of a Whyte wristshot into the back of the net, giving Harvard a 2-0 lead. The score was Minkus's second tally in as many games.

A second period dominated by sloppy play was highlighted by Harvard's well-rested third-liners. It took 14 minutes, but juniors Courtney Hurley and Kath Ulman tallied their first goals of the season en route to a three-goal period. Whyte assisted on both goals.

The Messmore sisters, freshman Beth and junior Lauren, combined for the Crimson's fifth goal. Beth collected the puck from behind the Yale net and fed a perfect centering pass to her sister. Lauren cleanly whacked the puck home and gave the Crimson a 5-0 lead heading into the second intermission.

"Tonight, all those people who have been working so hard all season were rewarded," Harvard Coach John Dooley said. "They got to play a lot and they got to have a lot of fun."

That fun continued in the third period, when freshman Emily Buxton netted her own rebound to close out Harvard's scoring.

The Elis came up with their only goal of the evening late in the third stanza, when Pauline Chiou slid the puck past Lexi Shear in front of a crowded goal.

"We really needed something to relax," Dooley said. "We have had so many one-goal games--against Brown, Princeton, Cornell, and Northeastern--that it was nice to relax a little bit." Crimson, 6-1 at Bright Hockey Center HARVARD  2-3-1--6 Yale  0-0-1--1

First Period: 1, H, Sandra Whyte (Francie Walton) 2:55; 2, H, Jen Minkus (Whyte) 11:57. Penalties: Y, Seija Tupasela (holding) 7:02.

Second Period: 3, H, Kath Ulman (Whyte) 14:38; 4, H, Courtney Hurley (Whyte) 14:58; 5, H, Lauren Messmore (Beth Messmore) 16:43. Penalties: None.

Third Period: 6, H, Emily Buxton (unassisted) 8:04; 7, Y, Pauline Chiou (Natasha Millikan) 15:11. Penalties--None.

Saves: H--Gillian D'Souza 10-x-x- 10, Lexi Shear x-15-17--32; Y--Maureen Magauran 15-22-20--57.

Power Play: Harvard 0-1; Yale 0-0.