ITHACA, N.Y. – Colgate and Cornell in women's ice hockey usually means a dogfight to the end. Tuesday's nail-biter in Lynah Rink was no exception.
Megan Sullivan scored her team-leading fifth power-play goal but it wasn't enough as Colgate dropped a 3-1 decision to Cornell.
Sullivan's goal was her sixth overall – also a team-best. But Cornell sandwiched goals early in the first and third periods before adding an empty-netter in the closing seconds for the two-goal margin.
Colgate's
Ashlynne Rando stopped 23 Cornell shots, while the Big Red's Paula Voorheis made 21 saves.
Cornell goals came from Kaitlin Doering, Hanna Bunton and Emily Fulton.
Colgate returns to action next Tuesday and Wednesday at Mercyhurst.
Bottom Line• Cornell 3, Colgate 1
Won-Lost Records• Colgate is now 3-9-0 overall and 1-4-0 in ECAC Hockey.
• Cornell moves to 3-4-0 overall and 3-2-0 in ECAC Hockey.
Can't Get Any Closer• Since
Greg Fargo's debut behind the Colgate bench in 2012-13, when Cornell outscored the Raiders 18-2 in a pair of regular season meetings, these Central New York rivalry games have been extremely close.
• Cornell is getting the wins, but here are the last five scores: 5-4 (ot), 3-2, 4-3 (ot), 3-1 and 3-1.
Power-Play Perfection• Colgate tied the score late in the second when
Megan Sullivan backhanded a rebound home to cap a 5-on-3 chance.
Shelby Perry and
Annika Zalewski earned the assists.
• For Sullivan, it was her fifth power-play goal out of eight Colgate man-advantage goals this season.
• Sullivan also leads the Raiders with six overall goals and 11 points.
Facts & Figures• Shots in the game favored Cornell, 26-22. Colgate committed just three penalties to seven for the Big Red.
• Colgate finished 1-of-5 on the power play to Cornell's 0-of-3. The Raiders have now killed of 44 of 49 opponent power-play chances for 89.8 percent.
• Colgate's power-play unit is now 8-of-61 for 13.1 percent.
• Perry took over the team lead in assists with seven, while Zalewski is in a three-way tie with six helpers.
Turning Point• The Big Red took the lead for keeps just 57 seconds into the final period.
• Hanna Bunton found the net when her shot bounded home after caroming off the knee of a Colgate defender. Erin O'Connor and Morgan Richardson picked up the assists.
More Key Info• Cornell's first-period goal was scored by Kaitlin Doering. She found herself alone in front of the net after the Big Red's Jillian Saulnier turned an outlet pass from Emily Fulton into a 2-on-1. The goal was Doering's second of the season and came at 4:02 of the period.
• Cornell's Emily Fulton closed out the scoring with an empty-netter just three seconds before the finish.
From the Sources• Colgate head coach
Greg Fargo: (On the deciding goal being a bad bounce) "It really was. It was kind of a 2-on-1 that we had good back-pressure on. It was a pass that hit a shin-pad and just directed in.
"Those kinds of bounces happen. Sometimes you get them at home, and they got one tonight. We didn't find the bounce we needed to tie it up."
(On the inadvertent third-period whistle when Colgate was pressing with an extra attacker) "It was a play the ref didn't see. He was watching the play in front of him and counted six maroon jerseys. He didn't see that Rando had come to the bench; he just didn't look behind him. Those mistakes happen. That's hockey."
(On Rando) "She was solid. For at least the first 40 minutes of the game, our team did a great job of possessing the puck and keeping them away from our zone. When called upon, Rando made some key saves at key times.
"She didn't have to be spectacular, but she was there for us and stood tall for us when we needed her. We hung around and hung around and, in the end, had a chance to win the hockey game. That's all you can ask."
(On Sullivan's knack for power-play goals) "She's sneaky out there and she ends up on the scoresheet. She finds ways to be available and get open in front of the net. That's why she's where she is on the power play. She's got a great opportunity to score some goals and she's usually in the mix."
• Colgate goalie
Ashlynne Rando: (On the deciding goal from a bad bounce) "It was an unlucky bounce. It went off our D's skate, but that happens."
(On the third period) "They came out swarming and we responded well. You can't control a bad bounce, so you bounce back from there."
(On her defense) "It was very clear. Our D-zone was awesome. They cleared people out in front and made my job really easy."
• Colgate right-winger
Megan Sullivan: (On her goal) "I was in my regular position in front and there were a couple of rebounds. I shot it once, it hit off her pads, and I put the second one in the back of the net."
(On how she's having such power-play success) "I have no idea but it seems to be working. We seem to move the puck well and we've been finding the back of the net. We'll keep it up."
Gate Grab Bag• Cornell now leads the series against Colgate 17-11-3
.Up Next• Colgate takes advantage of the Thanksgiving class break for a Tuesday-Wednesday matchup at Mercyhurst (10-2-1). Start time Tuesday is 7 p.m.
