Freshmen Lift Cornell Over Niagara

Box score

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. -- The Big Red women's ice hockey team got back to its winning ways on Saturday afternoon as it defeated Niagara, 6-2, on the road at Dwyer Arena. Freshmen Rebecca Johnston and Karlee Overguard each scored two goals for the Big Red, while Brianne Gilbert and Amber Overguard each added a tally of their own. Sophomore goaltender Jenny Niesluchowski was in net for the win. Cornell improved to 3-3 for the season while Niagara moved to 3-2-1.  

Johnston put the Big Red on the board first as she grabbed her fifth goal of the season 5:42 into the game. Freshman defenseman Sam Wauer notched her first collegiate point on the assist.  

Less than two minutes later, Johnston scored again to put Cornell up by two. Freshman Hayley Hughes and senior captain Caeleigh Beerworth assisted on the goal.  

Junior Brianne Gilbert scored her first goal of the season 18 seconds later. Brianne Schmidt and Karlee Overguard assisted on what would prove to be the game-winning goal for the Big Red.  

The Big Red would continue its scoring streak as Amber Overguard scored her first collegiate goal at 9:25 of the first period. Schmidt picked up her second assist of the night on the goal.  

After a little under 13 minutes in net, Niagara replaced goaltender Jill Zelonis with Nikki Rudy.  

The Purple Eagles scored their first goal of the game with a little under 30 seconds left in the first period. Ashley Riggs got the puck past Niesluchowski on the power play, with assists by Marie Kenriksen and Shannon Moulson.  

The Big Red's three goal lead remained until 13:27 of the second period when Karlee Overguard scored on the power play for Cornell. Beerworth and Schmidt assisted on the goal.  

Karlee Overguard scored again at 14:57 of the third period to put Cornell up 6-1 off a feed by Beerworth.  

With three seconds left in the game, Riggs scored her second goal of the night on the power play to end the game with a score of 6-2.  

Niesluchowski earned her second win of the season making 33 saves in goal for Cornell. Zelonis had five saves for Niagara while Rudy had 17.  

The Big Red will return home next weekend as it opens its ECAC Hockey action when it plays host to Yale and Brown.