After a disappointing first-round playoff exit at Cornell a year ago, Coach Mark Mazzoleni has one goal in mind for the Harvard men's hockey team entering the 2000-01 season.

"I want home-ice," Mazzoleni said. "That means someone's got to come in here and beat us which won't happen. Then we get to Lake Placid and anything can happen there. Anything."

Maybe Mazzoleni is hoping for a little 1980 magic to get the Crimson past the second-round of the playoffs, but an opening round win on home-ice isn't asking too much of a talented squad with a lot of scoring punch up front.

The Crimson, which posted an 11-15-2 (9-10-2 ECAC) record last season, only needed a win in its final game to secure a top-five finish and home-ice advantage. A 2-0 loss to RPI instead forced Harvard to travel to Cornell where it was swept in straight games in arguably the hardest rink for a visiting team to play in college hockey.

The Crimson hopes it will be different this year. All the top scorers from last season are back, while a year of seasoning and a couple young rookies should make this team more dangerous offensively than it was a year ago.

The problem is going to be on defense. It was the weak link on last year's team and situation isn't looking any better this season.

"I don't think scoring goals should be a problem for us," Mazzoleni said. "Our biggest challenge as a team, and I think it will be a real indication of how far we can go this year, will be the health of our blueline and our team's willingness to play good sound fundamental team defense."

The defensive core is young, but it's also hurting with injuries that will force the team to start the season with only five healthy defensemen.