The referees conferred and awarded both players yellow cards. According to an existing rule, a yellow card results in a point for the opposing team. MIT was then awarded game point and the third game abruptly came to end.

Reaction from the largely Harvard crowd was mostly confusion and some irritation. The alumni section, which was comprised of Mike Meyer '94, Evan Mager '99 and last year's crowd favorite Joe Herger '00, weighed in with its general assessment of the melee.

"It was the dumbest thing I've ever seen," Meyer said.

After Bookman's yellow card prematurely ended the third game, Harvard was awarded a point for Roy's yellow card, which was assessed to begin the fourth game. The Crimson shook off the odd turn of events and went on an offensive roll. Harvard won the fourth and final game, 30-26, with a Kowell block acting as an exclamation point for the match.

"The important lesson from the third game was that even if we were not going to come back and win, getting some momentum back was crucial to carrying the fourth game," said Bookman, who finished with 56 assists.

Harvard now turns its attention to preparing for its league schedule. The Crimson, which was Odeneal Divisional winners last year, has moved into the tougher Hay division and will face old rivals Springfield and Queens later in the season. League games begin next week after a final tune-up game against Rivier College tomorrow.