The season hung in the balance when the Harvard men's hockey team last battled Vermont and Dartmouth.

Still winless in the ECAC at that time, the Crimson had its first sliver of momentum after a sweep in Omaha. If Harvard was to enter the conference playoff picture, it had to win right then and there.

And it did, taking both games.

Now, the season hangs in the balance again for Harvard (11-14-2, 6-12-2 ECAC) as it prepares to host Vermont (13-14-2, 7-11-2) and Dartmouth (10-16-1, 6-13-1) for the final two games of the regular season. Pure and simple, if the Crimson wants to qualify for the playoffs, it has to win a game.

A pair of losses will almost guarantee the first premature end to hockey in Cambridge since the 1980-81 campaign.

"As a senior it would be nice to go out with a sweep," senior defenseman Ben Storey said. "We need to win at least one game, but we know we can sweep because we've done it before."

The sweep would earn more for the Crimson than a playoff spot. It would vaunt Harvard into eighth place and avoid a first round match-up against Clarkson or St. Lawrence.

The North Country teams have swept the season series with Harvard.

Up until last weekend, Harvard had been among the hottest teams in the ECAC. Its earlier sweep of the Catamounts and the Big Green sparked an excellent 1999. The Crimson had posted a 6-2-1 conference record in the new year.