ITHACA, N.Y. – Matt Steinberg capitalized on a turnover by Colgate with 1:28 remaining in the game to break a 1-1 tie and lead fourth seeded Cornell to a 3-1 victory over fifth seeded Colgate in the first game of the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals at Lynah Rink.
 
A scoreless first period began with a slow start by both teams with each team having only one shot in the game's first 7 1/2 minutes. The period could not have been played much closer with each team taking a total of 13 shots. Colgate placed seven on goal while Cornell was right behind with six. Colgate had the better of the faceoff circle with 15 wins to 10 for the Big Red. Neither team was able to convert on power play opportunities with Cornell 0-2 and Colgate not scoring on an abbreviated advantage following a four on four.
 
Cornell dominated the second period, outshooting the Raiders 38-9, but Colgate emerged from the stanza with a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Matt Verboon from Nick Anderson and Alex Young. Colgate worked the puck from the left circle to the center of the blue line to Verboon who drilled a slapshot from above faceoff dot in the right faceoff circle at the 16:17 mark. It was Verboon's eighth goal of the year. Raider goalie Mitch Benson was a wall in the period making 20 saves, several of the spectacular nature.
 
Cornell opened the third period with a man advantage for the first 59 seconds, but couldn't convert. The Big Red went on another power play at the 18:06 mark. Following a video review Colgate was assessed a five-minute major for cross checking. 2:18 into the man advantage Ben Berard snapped a wrist shot from the right side of the crease to get the first goal of the night past Benson. The Raiders managed to kill the last 2:42 of the penalty. Benson continued his stellar play throughout the period making 14 saves prior to Steinberg's goal. The Big Red added an empty net score for the final tally.
 
Cornell dominated play after the closely played first period outshooting the Raiders 43-17 shots on goal. Benson made 40 saves in the contest while Ian Shane stopped 16 Colgate shots. Cornell had the better of the faceoff dot by a 39-32 advantage. The Raiders were assessed six penalties including the major, while the Big Red was whistled for two infractions.

FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Don Vaughan

"I was very happy with our effort tonight. It's a tough place to play against a very heavy team. We were prepared for that kind of game and did a lot of things very well. I would like to see our power plays get a little more opportunity. In two games we have had three power play opportunities. In the end we battled very hard. Mitch Benson was great again tonight in goal. We have another opportunity tomorrow and I know our guys will be ready to grind again."

UP NEXT
Colgate (16-17-4) will play the second game of the best of three series at Lynah Rink at 7:00 Saturday evening.