For the second consecutive game, the Cortland women’s ice hockey team scored goals in the first and second periods and held off Chatham late in the third period to record a 2-1 win in ECAC West action Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. With the win, the Red Dragons eliminated the Cougars from ECAC West playoff contention.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Ryan (Binghamton/Adrian College) and freshman Makenzie Wright (Burlington, ON/New Jersey Rockets) scored goals for Cortland (4-19-2, 3-12-1 ECAC West). Junior Chelsie Hausberger (West Seneca/Buffalo Bisons) registered two assists, and junior Abbie Adams (Potsdam/Cornwall Typhoons) chipped in with one assist. Sophomore goalie Deanna Meunier (Parsippany, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) turned aside 23 shots.
Freshman Brianna Rice (Newmarket, ON/Willowdale Red Wings) netted the goal for Chatham (4-19-2, 3-13 ECAC West), which needed at least a point in the game to keep its playoff hopes alive. Freshmen Kaitlyn Perrins (Calgary, AB/Notre Dame Hounds) and Jenny Jones (Kernersville, NC/Anaheim Lady Ducks) each assisted on Rice’s score. Junior goalie Megan Buchanan (Ottawa, ON/Rideau St. Lawrence) made 31 saves.
The Red Dragons took a 1-0 lead at nine minutes, 50 seconds of the opening period on the power play. After Hausberger won a faceoff, Wright fired a wrist shot from the left point through traffic that found the upper corner for her first career goal.
At 3:53 of the second period, Ryan tallied her second goal of the season also on the power play when she knocked in a loose puck on a scramble in front of the goal.
The lead help up until late in the third period. Chatham pulled Buchanan for an extra skater with 2:34 on the clock and capitalized 20 seconds later as Ryan tucked a backhand from the slot over Meunier’s shoulder at 17:46. Cortland also took a penalty on the play to give the Cougars a power play. With one minute remaining and still up a skater, Chatham again pulled Buchanan for the two-skater advantage for 46 seconds. Despite pressuring the Red Dragons, the Cougars couldn’t score the equalizer to send the game into overtime.
Cortland’s two seniors, Gina Tomei (Bronx/Sound Shore Warriors) and Caralie Fennessey (Fairport/Sodertalje Sportklubb), were honored prior to the game.
Score by periods:
Chatham 0-0-1 1
Cortland 1-1-0 2
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Chatham: Brianna Rice 1-0, Jenny Jones 0-1, Kaitlyn Perrins 0-1
Cortland: Kaitlyn Ryan 1-0, Makenzie Wright 1-0, Chelsie Hausberger 0-2, Abbie Adams 0-1
Saves: Megan Buchanan (Chatham) 31 saves (2 GA in 58:40), Empty Net 1:20; Deanna Meunier (Cortland) 23 saves (1 GA in 60:00)
Shots on goal: Cortland 33 (14-9-10), Chatham 24 (12-6-6)
Penalties: Cortland 6-20:00, Chatham 9-18:00
Power Play: Chatham 0-5, Cortland 2-9
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 4-19-2, 3-12-1 ECAC West; Chatham (Cougars) 4-19-2, 3-13 ECAC West
