Stickmen Favored in NCAA Semi-Finals

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-Harvard is the favorite as the NCAA's two Cinderella teams, Harvard and Minnesota, prepare to meet in tonight's semi-finals for the right to face Boston University, last night's semi-final winner.

B.U. was the decisive victor last night at the Onondaga County War Memorial, downing Denver, 4-2. The Pioneers were big and rough, but they were also young and couldn't match the Terrier attack. From the start, Boston indicated that it had recovered from its ECAC slump, and held the upper hand. Late in the first period, Toots Cahoon deflected a slap shot from the right point past Denver goalie Ron Grahame and B.U. went ahead to stay, 2-1.

Domination

As the play went on, B.U. increased its domination of the game, and the frustrated Pioneers pressed. Even though heavily penalized in the second period, the Terriers continually stifled Denver's unimpressive power play.

In the third period, holding a 3-1 lead, B.U. put 21 shots on Grahame,barely missing several good opportunities. Cahoon completed his team's scoring when he tipped a shot over Grahame on a scramble in front. Grahame complained vigorously that Cahoon had put it in with his arm and not with his stick, and he pounded his stick against the glass in front of the goal judge to emphasize the point.

By their performance last night, the Terriens proved their right to the number one national rating they hold and established themselves as the team to beat here this weekend. "We win Saturday and we're in clover," a confident Cahoon remarked while riding the elevator to his Holiday Inn room last night.

Harvard Happy

But the win pleased most of the Harvard team, which would rather play a squad it's familiar with. And the ECAC triumph gave the Crimson confidence that it can beat the top-rated Terriers.

Of course, Harvard may never get to play B.U. If the Crimson has momentum on the basis of its ECAC win. Minnesota has even more. The Gophers have won five consecutive collegiate games, dumping surging North Dakota, 5-2, in the WHCA finals last weekend.

Statisties are overwhelmingly in the Crimson's favor since Minnesota has an uninspiring 11-16-2 record. B.U. trounced the Gophers, 6-0.

But most of those losses came early in the season, before Minnesota put Dennis Erickson in the net. He played the last 12 games, shutting out North Dakora twice. The rest of the team has apparently improved in his presence.

In fact, the experienced Minnesota defense should make it difficult for Harvard's top two lines to maintain their present scoring streak. All-American Wally Olds and captain Frank Sanders are an intimidating pair.

Harvard wing Dan DeMichele didn't seem too worried, though, as he munched his popcorn in section 2 last night. "We're going to fill the net." he predicted. "We haven't done that for quite a while. Maybe eight or nine."

Ice Forms Ridges

Since its arrival Wednesday afternoon. Harvard has practiced once at the War Memorial. All-American captain Joe Cavanagh explained that the boards are new and therefore not too lively. Other teams have complained that the ice quickly forms ridges.

Aside from playing hockey, the Crimson has simply tried to get some deep relaxation. At night, some members of the team escaped to the 20th floor of the Holiday Inn to the Top 'o the Inn Lounge. There they are entertained by the Little Foxes, Holiday Inn's version of Playboy bunnies. But the drinks are $1.25 each.