Lake placid is one of the most memorable places in U.S. sports history. It continually hosts world-class skiing, skating, even bob-sledding. And of course, America still hasn't forgotten the "Miracle on Ice" when the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team captured the gold medal in its arena.

Now, the winter sports mecca is the Harvard men's hockey team's next destination.

The Crimson swept the Colgate Red Raiders, 5-4 and 4-2, this weekend in front of a raucous crowd at Bright Hockey Center, advancing past the quarterfinals of the ECAC Championship and heading to the "Final Five" in Lake Placid.

"I think this is the biggest winning streak [four games] of my career," said captain Jeremiah McCarthy. "All the guys are just giddy, we want to keep it going."

Harvard was able to win the series by using a time-tested playoff formula--excellent special teams and clutch goal-tending.

The power play converted 6 of 18 opportunities and the penalty killing successfully nullified two Red Raider five on three advantages. Sophomore goaltender J.R. Prestifilippo got progressively hotter as the weekend wore on. HARVARD  5 COLGATE  4 HARVARD  4 COLGATE  2

"Special teams are a big part of the game," said Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni. "When you can execute with the man up and the man down and get hot goaltending, it is a winning combination."

Harvard 5, Colgate 4

Harvard's opening to Friday's game brought back nightmares of the last time it washome, when the Crimson lost a heartbreaker to theSt. Lawrence Saints.

Colgate, which entered this weekend having lostfive out of its last six games, jumped out to anearly 3-0 lead Friday night and led-4-2 with 15minutes left in the game. Most of the time, theCrimson played abysmally, struggling even to keepthe puck on their sticks.

At the point Lake Placid might have as wellbeen in the Arctic Circle.

"The worst thing that could have happened wasletting them jumped out to an early lead,"Tomassoni sad. "Then, they started feeling goodand we made it very hard for ourselves."

In the third period, sophomore Scott Turcoenergized the Crimson when he raced down the rightside and powered the puck through Red Raidergoaltender Dan Brenzavich's legs.

After a Colgate goal by freshman ChadMacDonald, referee Alex Dell, who called the gameby the letter of the law, have Harvard threeconsecutive five-on-three power play advantages inthe middle of the third period.

Harvard converted on the first two man-ups. At12:18, freshman forward Steve Moore banged in arebound off junior Ben Storey's shot from thepoint to give the Crimson a 5-4 lead and finishthe comeback.

"This was a game of special teams," Tomassonisaid. "We took advantage of our power plays in thethird period and it was a great comeback for ourkids."

The other two power play goals were almostmirror images of each other. Both times, Storeytook a pass at the right point from sophomoredefenseman Matt Scorsune. He ripped each shotjust inside the near post past Brenzavich.