PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The women’s hockey team began the weekend series with a dominating 5-1 win over Brown on Friday night at Meehan Auditorium.
The result extends Cornell’s (4-3-0, 4-1-0 ECAC Hockey) undefeated streak against the Bears even further, with the program’s last loss against Brown (1-8-0, 1-6-0 ECAC Hockey) coming on Jan. 20, 2007.
Diana Buckley got things started 12 minutes and 20 seconds into the first period as she intercepted a pass from a Brown skater and slapped in a shot from the inside rim of the far circle. Just four minutes later, Grace Graham added on to make it 2-0 in the Big Red’s favor following a wild sequence.
After receiving feeds from Kendra Nealey – who recorded her first-collegiate point – and Amy Curlew, Graham turned around and took a shot at the puck as she was falling. The puck then deflected off of the goaltender’s pads and landed on top of the post where it rolled off and crossed the goal line for the score.
Senior captain Sarah Knee kept the momentum going in Cornell’s favor after the first intermission as she cashed in about six minutes in. Kristin O’Neill registered her first assist of the night after dishing out a drop pass to Knee, who sent in a laser from inside the circle that dodged the traffic in front of the net to light the lamp. After scoring just four goals in her first three seasons for the Big Red, Knee has already recorded three goals this year.
At the 14:36 mark of the second frame, Maddie Mills notched a goal to push the team up 4-0. O’Neill got her second assist after stealing the puck away from a Bear up against the boards, Mills then swooped in from behind to find the back of the net on a wraparound. The freshman is now on a four-game goal streak and a five-game point streak.
Brown would go on to score about a minute later to avoid the shutout, but the Cornell surge proved to be too much as the squad scored once more to ice the 5-1 decision. Willow Slobodzian would strike on a power play with 37 seconds left in the second period on a backhander to log her first-career goal. Both O’Neill and Mills earned credit on the assists.
Marlene Boissonnault was once again standing tall in the net, turning away 18 of 19 shots to earn the win. The Bears did have a few dangerous offensive sequences occur right in front of Boissonnault, but the junior showcased stellar instincts to make some athletic saves.
The team now turns its attention to Yale as the two squads are set to clash tomorrow, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. at Ingalls Rink.
