A pair of first period goals, some tremendous special teams work and two empty-net goals helped the St. Lawrence women’s hockey team (13-10-3, 7-5-2) to a 5-1 win over Cornell (8-9-4, 4-6-4) in Ithaca on Saturday for a crucial two points in the ECAC standings.
In addition to killing almost a full two minutes of 5-on-3 late in the third period, senior Jenna Marks notched the team’s first shorthanded goal since December 2014 when Jacqueline Wand did it against Colgate.
Ten different Saints factored into the scoring on Saturday, with goals coming from Kennedy Marchment, Hannah Miller, Marks, Justine Reyes and Amanda Boulier, while Brooke Webster, Amanda McClure, Nadine Edney, Kirsten Padalis and Dominique Korakianitis recorded assists.
First-year goaltender Grace Harrison was outstanding in between the pipes for the Saints, making 20 saves in the win; her third of the season.
“That has been a long time coming against Cornell,” Head Coach Chris Wells said. “We have been real close over the last few years, but we were able to finish this one. Many great efforts, especially on the PK tonight.”
Marchment opened for the Saints near the midway point of the opening frame with her ninth of the season. McClure won a battle on the half wall and threw the puck deep where Webster touched it to the Courtice, Ont. native at the bottom of the left circle. A quick shot from Marchment beat Cornell netminder Paula Voorheis five hole for a 1-0 lead for the visitors.
Just over four minutes later, Miller extended the lead to 2-0 with the eventual game winner, beating Voorheis high on the glove side with a wrister from the slot.
At the 8:05 mark of the second and the Saints on the penalty kill, Marks intercepted a pass as the Big Red was trying to move the puck out of their own zone, skated in and unleashed a shot from the top of the circle to make it 3-0.
Cornell cut the deficit to two goals with a goal by Anna Zorn at the 14:18 mark of the second, but that would be all the Big Red would get by Harrison on the afternoon. The Auckland, New Zealand native made a sprawling save on an odd-man rush off the ensuing draw to keep it that way.
In the third period, Webster was whistled for cross checking at 11:06 and Hannah Miller was sent to the box for hooking just 24 seconds later, setting up a huge power play opportunity for Cornell. But Harrison and the Saints kill units were able to escape the threat unscathed, despite significant zone time for the Big Red.
In the final five minutes of the game, both Reyes and Boulier notched empty net goals, with Boulier’s coming from the opposite faceoff dot to ice the win.
“It was another very exciting game at Lynah!,” Wells added. “This crowd does such a good job creating a great atmosphere. There was plenty of excitement to go around and we are happy to get the two points.”
With three points on the weekend the Saints remain in sixth in the ECAC standings, but just three points separate second and sixth.
The Saints will take on rival Clarkson in a conference home-and-home next week, playing the Golden Knights at home in Appleton at 7:00 pm on Thursday, before traveling to Cheel Arena in Potsdam for a 3:00 pm puck drop on Saturday.
