PRINCETON, N.J. – The No. 6/6 Cornell women’s hockey team overcame an early 2-0 deficit to came back and tie Princeton 2-2 Saturday afternoon at Hobey Baker Rink. The Big Red is now 5-1-3 on the season and 3-1-1 in ECAC Hockey play, while the Tigers are 5-2-3 overall and 4-0-2 in league play.
With 6:46 left in the contest, and Princeton going on the power play with a 2-1 lead things looked bleak for the Big Red. Then, Cornell did something it has now done three times already this season – scored a shorthanded goal.
Lenka Serdar had the tally that evened the game with 6:20 left. The goal was created after Serdar won a faceoff at the right circle. The puck went straight back to Jaime Bourbonnais, who fired a slapshot on net that was initially saved. Serdar, who was in front of the net, quickly sent it into the back of the net.
The Big Red had plenty of opportunities to even the game in the second period and in the early stages of the third, but Princeton goaltender Rachel McQuigge had the answer each time. On the first 26 shots she faced, McQuigge made 25 denials.
Cornell’s first goal of the game came just under six minutes into the second period off the stick of Diana Buckley. For the second game in a row Buckley capitalized on rebound from a Bourbonnais shot attempt. Bourbonnais sent the puck on net from the point and Buckley cleaned up on the rebound to bring the Big Red within one.
Two penalties were assessed to Kristin O’Neill and Paige Lewis with 13:14 left in the first period. With a 5-on-3 advantage, the Tigers took the lead on a goal from Carlie Lund 25 second into the power play. The Tigers added their second goal 1:19 later with a tally from Annie MacDonald.
After allowing the first two goals, Marlène Boissonnault finished the game making 21 consecutive saves. The senior goaltender finished the day with a total of 29 denials in the net.
The Big Red narrowly outshot Princeton 33-29. At the end of regulation both teams had fired 28 shots on goal.
The Big Red returns to action next weekend when it concludes its eight-game road stretch with a weekend series with Robert Morris.
