Harvard performed some final heroics. Kohler assisted on sophomore Lee Williams' goal, which tied the game after Rob Jachym had scored for Hartford.

However, the Crimson had to play short a man for 19 minutes, as sophomore Andrew Lundquist received a red card for pulling down a Hartford attacker on a clear breakaway in the 72nd minute.

Jachym scored two more goals in overtime. Harvard pulled within one when freshman Alan Bengtzen scored with two minutes remaining. The Crimson brought Dupuis out of net into and into the field for the final seconds in a desperate charge to the Hartford net, but it was to no avail.

Harvard finished 16-2 overall in 1996 and was ranked ninth in the final coaches' poll. The team's 16 victories eclipsed Harvard's win total in 1995 and 1994 combined (11).

Dupuis (11-1) emerged to as a force in front of the net. The sophomore finished the season with a sparkling 0.78 goals-against average (GAA), including 0.56 in league play. Albers also finished strongly with a 5-1 record and 1.06 GAA.

Kohler, who tallied nine goals and ten assists, was named Ivy League Player of the Year, the first time a Harvard player had earned that honor. Kohler was also named to the Division I All-New England First Team for the fourth consecutive year.

Kohler's Harvard career was capped in style as the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars made him their second-round draft pick.

Kohler, McLaughlin and Dupuis all garnered first team All-Ivy status. Williams, Vrionis, Wilmot and junior Ricky Le all earned second team All-Ivy honors.

"The final loss was kind of bitter," Wilmot said, remembering the season. "It would've been nice to go to the Final Four. But I couldn't ask for anything else as a senior.