ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red had all the emotions of senior day behind it and a 34-23 advantage in shots on goal, but Cornell and Dartmouth skated to a 0-0 tie in the last regular season game at Lynah Rink this season.
No. 4 Cornell (21-5-1, 16-3-1 ECAC Hockey) got the puck close to the goal line late in overtime, but Jessica Campbell‘s stuff from behind the net was ruled no goal after video review. The puck went underneath Dartmouth’s Lindsay Holdcroft, and though she was in the net, the puck was not visible. The referees could not determine if the puck was over the goal line.
“I asked my players and they said it was definitely in,” coach Doug Derraugh said. “Unfortunately [the video] was not decisive enough to be able to overturn it.”
Even though the team did not win, Cornell claimed at worst a share of the Ivy League title for the fourth consecutive season. The team celebrated with the trophy on the ice after seniors Erin Barley-Maloney, Laura Fortino and Lauriane Rougeau were honored for the tremendous accomplishments in their Cornell careers.
“You look back to the very first year that they arrived here at Cornell, and we were picked I think seventh in the ECAC that year,” Derraugh said. “We ended up going to the national championship game. Obviously they had a huge impact on our program right from the beginning.”
Cornell would win the Ivy League title outright if Harvard loses or ties either of its games next week against Brown and Yale.
Dartmouth (15-7-5, 10-6-4) is the first team to shut out the Big Red since Quinnipiac and Cornell tied 0-0 on Feb. 5, 2010. Cornell had previously scored a goal in 108 consecutive games.
“It was obviously tough because we didn’t come out with the win, but our team battled hard right from the start,” Fortino said. “Unfortunately today some bounces didn’t go our way and we didn’t capitalize on our chances.”
Lauren Slebodnick had a great night in net, stopping all 23 shots that Dartmouth put on her, including two in overtime. The shutout was her fourth of the season.
The Big Red put five shots on net in overtime, but none came closer than Campbell’s shot that went to video review.
Campbell was sprung on a mini breakaway by Hayleigh Cudmore, and her initial shot was saved. The puck bounced behind the net, where Campbell threw it into the pads of Holdcroft. The goalie’s momentum brought her partially over the goal line, but the puck was not visible and the referee on the ice immediately waved no goal. A brief video review confirmed the call.
The teams were tied at 6-6 in shots on goal through a slow first period, and the Big Red had a narrow 15-14 lead after two. Cornell had five power plays and Dartmouth had three opportunities with the man advantage in regulation, but the goalies stayed strong in the net. Cornell had multiple quality chances, and Dartmouth nearly struck on a three-on-one but the scoreboard remained blank.
“Dartmouth is a very tough team to play against,” Rougeau said. “They play a tough trap, and they’re very talented. Last time we played against them we had to fight into overtime to get the win, and tonight we just couldn’t do it.”
Neither team had a power play in overtime.
Cornell remains unbeaten at Lynah Rink this season, now sitting at 13-0-1. The Big Red also is still in first in the ECAC Hockey standings, one point ahead of Clarkson and two ahead of Harvard.
The Big Red closes out its regular season with contests at Rensselaer and Union next weekend. Cornell and the Engineers square off on Friday at 7 p.m.
