Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- With Harvard down 2-1 entering the final 20 minutes of play, Jenny Brine tallied two power-play goals in the third period to propel No. 1 Harvard to a 3-2 victory over Cornell in game one of the ECAC quarterfinals.

In front of the home crowd at Bright Hockey Center, Brine earned the game-winner with eight minutes to go in the game, as she jammed home a rebound created from a shot by Kate Buesser. Buesser's blast bounced off the Cornell goalie, finding Brine's stick. Brine picked up the puck and capitalized on the doorstep, giving Harvard the 3-2 lead.

The Crimson skated onto the ice down 2-1 entering the third period, but Cornell was called for holding at 0:18. On the ensuing power play, Brine netted her first power-play goal of the game exactly one minute into the final stanza. Brine tied the game with assistance from Caitlin Cahow and Sarah Vaillancourt

Harvard (28-1-0) opened the scoring with an unassisted goal by Vaillancourt at 8:32 of the first. Vaillancourt, who paces the Crimson with 22 goals, took a wrist shot from just inside the left circle that flew past Cornell goalie Jenny Niesluchowski's glove.

The Big Red tied the game on an even-strength tally by Hayley Hughes on an attempt from in front of the Harvard net with 1:29 remaining in the period. Brittany Forgues and Caeleigh Beerworth collected the assists, moving the puck to Hughes between Crimson defenders.

Cornell grabbed a 2-1 lead with only 57 seconds left on the clock in the second, as Karlee Overguard scored on an even-strength situation. Beerworth picked up her first of two assists on the evening, while Steph Ulrich also collected an assist on the play.

The Big Red almost grabbed the lead earlier in the second on scoring chances by Melanie Jue and Rebecca Johnston. Midway through the period, Brittany Forgues hit Jue with a pass from behind the net, but Jue's one-timer floated over the top of the Harvard goal, hitting the top of the boards. Johnston, meanwhile, skated across the Crimson zone towards the left side and hit the left post with a wrist-shot attempt.

For the game, the Crimson led 56-22 in shots, including a 21-4 advantage in the final 20 minutes, as Harvard improved to 14-0-0 at home this season.

Niesluchowski turned aside 53 shots for Cornell (12-16-1), while Christina Kessler made 20 stops for Harvard en route to her 26th victory.

After being held scoreless on its power plays in the first two periods, Harvard went 2-for-5 in the third to finish the game 2-for-9. The Crimson was a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including 3-for-3 in the third period.

The Crimson and Big Red will meet for game two of the best-of-three quarterfinal series Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bright Hockey Center.