Soviets Tip Team USA, 7-5

The U.S. hockey team ran out of miracles last night, falling to the Soviet Union, 7-5, in their first Winter Olympic meeting since the stunning American victory at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

This one fell just short for the United States, which cut a 6-2 deficit to 6-5, but could never knot the score despite outshooting the high-powered Soviets 12-4 in the final period.

The loss left the Americans on the brink of elimination from making the medals round, with a 1-2 record and having to beat Norway and West Germany to even have a chance. The defending gold medalist Soviets are now 3-0 and are virtually assured of a spot in the medals round.

Although Team USA fell, Harvard's three icemen were well represented, tallying America's first four goals. Lane McDonald scored twice, and Scott Fusco and Allen Bourbeau each tallied once.

With Vaicheslev Fetisov, the Soviets' all-star defenseman from their main Red Army club, leading the way with two goals and three assists, the Soviets continued the domination of Americans in international play.

The victory was the sixth in eight meetings with the United States in Olympic play since the Soviets played their first Olympic game in 1956. The only time the Americans have beaten the Soviets in the Olympics came in the gold-medal winning years of 1960 and 1980, the last time a dramatic 4-3 victory that was coined the "Miracle on Ice" at Lake Placid, N.Y.

The Soviets have never lost to the Americans at the World Championships, holding a 22-0 advantage.

The Soviets looked every bit the team that U.S. Coach Dave Peterson called the strongest in the Winter Olympics.

Team USA, and in particular Harvard's icemen, made things interesting. McDonald, who had earlier scored on a breakaway at 1:30 of the second period, added his second goal of the game when he tipped in a rebound at 3:15.

Fusco then drove one in from the high slot at 5:47. The USA's rally continued when Brian Leetch scored with 7:30 left.

But the Soviets held on to improve their chances for the six-team medal round and dampening those of the Americans.

Fetisov then scored the clincher when he sailed in from the blue line, split the U.S. defense and put a backhander past Chris Terreri with 2:01 left.

The Soviets have two games left in the preliminary round, against unbeaten West Germany on Friday and third-seeded Czechoslovakia on Sunday.