"I remember seeing Peller clear on the right side for a nice cross, and I remember moving in and shouting for the ball," Smolen said. "The next thing I remember there were five people on top of me telling me I scored."

After Smolen was assisted off the field, the game resumed, but the Crimson's second goal would be the last of the day. In the last 30 minutes the Harvard defense tightened up, allowing few challenges on Meagher's net.

Not only was the win the first of Harvard Coach John Kerr's career with the Crimson, but it answered many of the questions that had been raised by the Creighton game.

Against the Lions, Harvard switched to a staggered back four, with Kelly stepping forward into the back of the midfield and freshman Mike Lobach moving deeper into his own half. The formula seemed to work.

Lobach, freshman defender Colin Eyre and junior defender Matt Edwards were stellar, and Meagher made a number of terrific saves. Most importantly, Meagher seemed to come off his line with a confidence he did not have the day before.

"In the Providence and Creighton games I was still a little timid around the goal mouth," Meagher said, "but in the Columbia game I finally felt real confident playing at the college level and playing with the four guys in front of me."

Creighton 6, Harvard 0

The Bluejays (3-0-1) captured the top spot in the nation after upsetting then-No. 2 St. Louis on the road last Sunday with a last-second strike in the pouring rain. At Ohiri Field on Saturday the Jays exhibited their road-tested poise as they stifled the Crimson in each third of the field.