Laxmen Roll, 16-3, As Cats Crumble

Five-and-a-half minutes.

It's enough time to run a mile...if you're in shape, drink a beer...if you're pounding (or maybe less), and beat Vermont...if you're on the Harvard men's lacrosse team.

Harvard attacker Mickey Cavuoti's low-angle shot past Catamounts goalie Chris McCabe just 5:26 into the first quarter of yesterday's matchup proved to be the game-winner. The goal put the Crimson up, 4-0, en route to a 16-3 blowout of the overmatched Vermont squad at muddy Ohiri Field.

Prolific attacker David Kramer led the Crimson with seven goals, raising his season total to an impressive 25 tallies. But despite the senior's performance, it was strong all-around play which catapulted undefeated Harvard (6-0 Overall, 2-0 Ivy) to its sixth straight victory.

"We were just outmatched all the way down the line," Catamounts Coach Jeff Thomsen said. "They got off real quick and we weren't ready for them."

A quick start is somewhat atypical of the Crimson, who had to rely on big comebacks to win its last two contests over Army and Penn. But yesterday, Harvard sophomore Chip Linehan stuffed a Tim Reilly pass into the Vermont twine just 28 seconds into the game.

After the Crimson controlled the ensuing faceoff, a powerful low shot by Kramer made the score 2-0 before the game was one minute old. Three minutes later, another Kramer low shot dribbled into the net.

While Harvard Coach Scott Anderson has been apprehensive about his squad's inexperience in the midfield, a mid-quarter shift by sophomores Paul Faust and Don Rogers and freshman Chad Prusmack must have eased the coach's pain. Strong control of the middle by the second-liners allowed beautiful transition play, leading to two Cavuoti goals and Linehan's second tally, and a 6-0 lead.

"As Paul, Chad and Don Rogers get experience and gain a better understanding of the game, they are becoming very effective," Anderson said.

Before the first period ended, Harvard Co-Captain midfielder Perry Dodge fired a shot off the top post which made it just past Vermont goalie John Snyder, subbing for the beleaguered McCabe. Linemate and Co-Captain Mark Donovan put Harvard up, 8-0, to start the second period, firing a high shot into the twine.

Kramer then netted a second period hat trick, making the score 11-0 by the half. With such a commanding lead, it was easy for Harvard to slack off. And that is exactly what the squad did.

A sloppy, penalty-loaded third period left the Crimson consistently

Crimson, 16-3 at Ohiri Field Vermont  0-0-2-1--3 HARVARD  7-4-1-4--16

Goals: UVM--Tim Moriarity, Frank Shipman, Tom Egan; H--David Kramer 7, Mickey Cavuoti 2, Chip Linehan 2, Mark Donovan, Tim Reilly, Perry Dodge, Matt Hutter, Seth Handy.

Assists: UVM--Moriarity, Jose Toirac; H--Cavuoti 2, Linehan, Reilly, Kramer, Chad Prusmack.

Saves: UVM--Chris McCabe 2, John Snyder 19; H--Chris Miller 10, Dan Chepaitis 3. on the man-down. After Crimson defender DanBerkery was called for slashing a Catamountplayer, Vermont forward Tim Moriarity got his teamon the scoreboard.

But the experienced Harvard defense held theCatamounts at bay, allowing few shots on Crimsonnetminder Chris Miller. Unlike the Boston Collegematchup earlier this season, the Crimson'ssecond-half letdown lasted only through the thirdperiod and resulted in only two Vermont goals.

"We did really well on the man down," Harvarddefender Dan Berkury said. "When we made mistakes,Chris Miller bailed us out."

Miller was brilliant in the net, recording 10tough saves on the afternoon. The Crimsondefense's confidence this season in the sophomoreallows the long-stickers to give up longer shotsto prevent easier ones.

"One of the reasons the defense is playing wellis that they can extend themselves in a smallerperimeter," Anderson said. "They can count onChris to make saves on longer shots.