BOSTON--Thanks to missed opportunities and a third-period collapse, the Harvard men's hockey team squandered a chance last night to pull out a huge upset and break No. 3 Boston University's five-year stranglehold on the Beanpot tournament.

Harvard, which kept the game close throughout, surrendered three goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period, falling 4-0 to B.U. in the Beanpot semi-finals held at the Fleet Center.

Enjoying the most impressive performance of his young career, B.U. sophomore winger Jack Baker pocketed a hat trick--including the eventual game winner--to lead the Terriers past Harvard in front of a sold out crowd of 17,728.

"We gave ourselves a chance to win in the third period," Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni said. "We had our chances on the power play, but just didn't capitalize on our opportunities."

On five power play opportunities in the game, the Crimson could only muster three shots and could not maintain control of the puck in the B.U. zone.

"The big difference in the game was their execution on the power play and our inability to capitalize on our power play chances," Mazzoleni said.

Scoring on 2-of-7 opportunities on the power play and adding a shorthanded goal late in the game, B.U. feasted on the Crimson's poor special teams play.

"For a while we were a little snake bitten, but to get my first hat trick at the Fleet Center is a huge thing," Baker said. "I've been watching the Beanpot since I was a kid, but the big thing is that it helped get us into the finals."