B.U. Terriers Bark, N.U. Huskies Run, 5-4

BOSTON--After the Harvard hockey team defeated Boston College, 5-4, to advance to the Beanpot championship game, the Crimson players agreed that it didn't matter what kind of four-legged creature would show up for the 9 p.m. contest.

The Boston University Terriers or the Northeastern Huskies? Who cares. Harvard was just happy to be in the title game for the first time since 1981.

Next Monday night at Boston Garden, a pack of Terriers will face the Crimson for the 1989 Beanpot Championship.

Boston University (12-16-1) added a new chapter to "Pot history in last night's other opening round game, scoring two goals late in the third period and defeating Northeastern in overtime, 5-4, at the boisterous Garden.

Chris Lappin tipped a shot that deflected off N.U. goalie Rich Burchill with 4:41 left in the sudden death period to lift the Terriers to their sixth appearance in the title game since 1982.

"I really didn't know it went in," said Lappin, brother of 1988 ECAC Player of the Year Peter Lappin. "I didn't know I scored it. It just hit the goalie and it went in."

Lappin's game-winning tally finished a B.U. rally that began with 5:20 left in the final period.

The Huskies (14-12-2) led, 4-2, when B.U. Captain Mike Kelfer slipped the puck into the open side of the net to narrow the N.U. lead.

After Burchill made a strong save off a two-on-one opportunity by Kelfer and Shawn McEachern, the Terriers kept barking.

With B.U. down a man, MacEachern rushed down the right side of the zone and took the shot in front of Burchill. The N.U. goalie, who finished the game with 29 saves, couldn't control the rebound, which Mike Sullivan stuffed into the net with exactly 3:00 left to play in regulation.

"I went over to [N.U. Coach Fern Flaman] before the overtime period," B.U. Coach Jack Parker said," and told him, 'Isn't this something?' This tournament's so emotional and that's what makes it so great."

Underdogs

It was even greater for Parker when the scoreboard favored his Terriers--the tournament underdogs--who couldn't figure out how to crack Burchill until late in the game.

B.U. goalie Peter Fish, however, got stronger as the game grew longer. The Terrier netminder closed the contest with crucial blocks in the overtime period to finish with 28 saves.

In contrast to Harvard's Beanpot woes in the 1980s, the Terriers have captured three titles since 1982. B.U. also has the most 'Pot crowns (15) of any of the other tournament squads.