Fortunately for Harvard, those emotions never took form. Breaking out to an early first quarter, 2-0 lead, it never looked back.

With 5:16 left in the second quarter, Harvard worked the ball around the Boston College defense until Zimmerman ripped a pass to freshman Sam Brooks positioned at the left post. It didn't take long before Brooks hammered the ball into the back of the net to extend Harvard's control on the game.

Two minutes later, Zimmerman, perhaps Harvard's most intimidating driver, buried a four-meter shot to make it, 4-0.

It took Boston College 20 minutes to finally find the net. With a minute left in the third quarter, Harvard was unable to score despite a two man advantage. Boston College, sensing a rare momentum shift, raced down the pool and found a slight opening in the left hand corner past junior goalie Ed Chen to bring the deficit to, 6-1.

Chen was a human wall last night and only one other Eagle shot got by him.

The Crimson can now relax. Well, at least for a week, until it meets its biggest challenge of the season, Brown, at next Saturday's Eastern Qualifying Tournament at Brown.

If Harvard does not fare well at the tournament, last night could be the tournament, last night could be the final time the team played in its own pool. But don't tell the players that.

"It's not an issue. It is not going to happen." Gill said. "Why think that way? We're coming back here."

So the scene is set. Harvard is just hoping at this time to get well rested and healthy so that when it meets Brown, there is no excuse.