The pool's shallow end gives Iona an advantage in virtually every home game, and created a greater challenge for the Crimson than Iona's boisterous home crowd.

"It was terrible," said sophomore Istvan Zollei. "Coming from Hungary, I'd never played in a shallow-end pool before, and it made things incredibly difficult for us."

Harvard adjusted its strategy quickly, beginning with its goaltending situation. The larger half of Harvard's two-headed keeper, junior Gresham Bayne, played the two quarters that found Harvard defending the shallow end of the pool. Sophomore Paul Tselentis guarded net in the other two.

Aided by a solid team defensive effort, the two combined to hold a Gaels squad that averages 12.7 goals per game to below its usual output.

"We figured out how to play that pool early, and it proves what a great team we are," Zollei said. "We could have beaten them by a lot more in a normal pool, but overcoming that adversity made it a greater victory for us."

Harvard 10, Brown 7

The second game took place in Lehman College's Apex, an athletic complex more hospitable to top-flight collegiate competition. The matchup between Harvard and Brown promised just that.

Prior to this year, the Crimson hadn't beaten the Bears in several years. Harvard had opened the 2000 preseason with a breakthrough 9-7 victory over the Bears. Saturday's win was the Crimson's first league victory over the Bears since 1992.