Cornell Closes Out Season with Win Over Colgate

Photo by DSPics.com

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's hockey team closed out the 2007-08 season in fine fashion, defeating Colgate, 4-2, in the consolation game of the ECAC Hockey tournament at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

Seniors Doug Krantz and Raymond Sawada both scored a goal in their final games in a Cornell uniform, while sophomores Colin Greening and Justin Krueger both added a single tally. Junior Michael Kennedy added three assists for the Big Red, which closed out the year with a 19-14-3 mark.

Colgate got goals from Sean Carty and Tyler Burton as the Raiders closed out their campaign with an 18-18-6 record.

In the post-game press conference, Cornell head coach Mike Schafer referred to the consolation game as "the game nobody wants to play in." But from the opening drop of the puck, the Big Red appeared energized and ready to play, carrying much of the play in the early going.

With 12:02 to play in the first, Cornell got its first power play chance on a cross-checking call on the Raiders' Carty. A shot from the point by Brendon Nash was stopped by Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich, with the rebound coming off to Gallagher, but he could not get a stick on the puck to wrap it around the leg of the senior netminder. Seconds later, the Big Red had another great chance, as Topher Scott made a pass from the corner to Mike Devin at the point. Devin one-timed a pass to Michael Kennedy at the faceoff dot to Dekanich's left, but his one-timer was gloved down by the netminder with seven seconds left on the penalty.

Cornell got the first goal of the game with 6:15 to play in the first period. Some nifty passing in offensive zone led to Doug Krantz getting the puck from Michael Kennedy and circling around the zone, then slotting a shot on net that deflected off the stick of Dekanich and between his legs, trickling across the goal line for the early Cornell lead.

The lead lasted just over two minutes as Colgate got the tying tally on a 2-on-1 rush. Mike Werner brought the puck up the left side and made a pass through Doug Krantz to a rushing Sean Carty, who slipped the puck underneath Cornell netminder Ben Scrivens to knot the score at one. The goal was the first of Carty's career in 16 contests for the Raiders.

Cornell took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, converting on a penalty on Colgate's Matt Torti. Raymond Sawada tipped home a shot from Mike Devin at the center point to give Cornell the advantage.

Just 30 seconds later on yet another power play following a contact to the head-roughing call on Colgate's Kevin McNamara, the Big Red added to the lead as Michael Kennedy laced a pass to Justin Krueger on the right wing, and the sophomore defenseman ripped a shot that beat Dekanich high to the near side.

Dekanich went to the bench with 8:25 to play in the second period, as fellow senior Justin Kowalkowski came on for his final collegiate action.

The Big Red made it 4-1 with 3:16 gone in the third period, as, on another power play, Brendon Nash ripped home a shot from the center point after taking a feed from his brother, Riley. The elder Nash's shot was tipped home in front of the goal by Greening, camped out in front of Kowalkowski.

Two and a half minutes later, Scrivens kept the margin at three, making a nice save on a shot from the doorstep by Colgate senior Tyler Burton as the Raiders were on the power play.

Cornell head coach lifted Scrivens with 3:18 to play in the game in favor of junior netminder Dan DiLeo, who was making his collegiate debut. DiLeo made a stop on a the first shot he saw, a shot from the corner, but the rebound came off to Burton, who popped the puck into the back side of the net. DiLeo finished the game with three saves in the final 3:18.

Scrivens finished with 22 saves in taking the win for the Big Red, while Dekanich had the loss for Colgate with 12 saves. Kowalkowski gave up one of the Cornell goals and made eight stops. Cornell finished the game with three goals on the power play in six chances, while holding the Raiders scoreless in their six attempts with the man advantage.