SYRACUSE, N.Y.—No. 3 Cornell used a three-goal second period to get past the Syracuse ice hockey team, 5-2 on Tuesday (Dec. 3) night at the Onondaga War Memorial. The Orange (7-7-2) took an early 2-0 lead but could not hold off the Big Red (10-1-2), which capitalized on its seven power play opportunities throughout the game.
Cornell scored two power play goals in the second period to cover its deficit and take a lead over SU. Syracuse killed five penalties but failed to convert on any of its seven man-up opportunities.
Kallie Billadeau was the goalie in charge for Syracuse and made 40 saves while allowing four goals, a .909 save percentage. Paula Voorheis, who has seen action in two games this season, made 39 saves for the Big Red and allowed just two goals.
Both teams had nearly the same number of shots on goal with Cornell taking the slight advantage, outshooting SU 45-41. The Orange outshot Cornell on power plays, putting 20 shots on target while the Big Red managed 13 shots on net, two of which slipped past Billadeau.
Four Cornell skaters had multi-point games, with Cassandra Poudrier scoring two goals, Caroline DeBruin notching a goal and an assist and Emily Fulton and Hayleigh Cudmore each tallying two helpers.
Julie Knerr opened scoring early in the game, notching her second goal of the season 6:51 into the first period. Heather Schwarz passed from the middle of the left circle to Knerr who was set up at the bottom of the right zone. She flicked one into the top of the net to give the Orange an early 1-0 lead.
The Orange increased its lead to 2-0 with 6:51 remaining in the first stanza when Margot Scharfe rebounded a shot taken by Kaillie Goodnough. The Big Red wouldn’t settle for a scoreless start to the game, however, and DeBruin notched the first Cornell goal of the game with 1:01 remaining in the first period.
Cornell would then score three more in the second period to take the lead and seal its victory. Poudrier started things off when she took a hard slap shot directly in front of the goal that cruised through defenders and went untouched into the left side of the goal, tying the game at 2-2 with 16:14 to go in the period.
Jillian Saulnier notched the game-winner with some hard work in front of the goal. Saulnier hit two shots into Billadeau’s pads before forcing one in to take a 3-2 lead with 12:22 remaining in the second period, which the Orange would not answer. Poudrier scored her second power play goal of the game to bolster the Big Red advantage when she wristed one into the net from the left faceoff circle, giving Cornell a 4-2 lead with 49 seconds left in the second.
Syracuse fended off the Big Red for nearly the whole third period but Cornell would score an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining in the game to bring the score to 5-2.
The Orange closes out its six-game homestand to finish the 2013 portion of the season this weekend against Lindenwood. Syracuse faces the Lions on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at Tennity Ice Pavillion.
