Power-Play Goals Propel Big Red Past Quinnipiac

Box Score

ITHACA, NY - With four power-play goals, the Big Red women's ice hockey team handed Quinnipiac a 4-3 loss Friday evening in Lynah Rink. Sophomore forward Liz Zorn had a hand in all four of Cornell's goals, netting one and assisting on the other three. Cornell improves to 6-4-1 overall and 3-1-1 in ECAC Hockey.

The Bobcats (1-10-1, 0-7-1 ECAC Hockey) were plagued with penalties early in the first period, and the Big Red took full advantage of the opportunity. Zorn put her team on the board first at 3:06 of the first period. Seniors Brittany Forgues and Brianne Schmidt set up the play and with a pass to Zorn, the forward moved the puck past goaltender Jamie Miller on the left side of the net.  

Quinnipiac sent another player to the box after the goal, with Breana Burton earning two minutes for body checking. The trio of Forgues, Schmidt and Zorn were once again on the ice and in complete control of the puck. Zorn and Forgues made a play on the right side of the net, and with a quick pass to Schmidt, the senior flipped the puck into a wide open net at 4:41 into the game.  

The Bobcats continued to rack up the penalties, and with one player in the box, Forgues gave the Big Red a three-goal lead, netting one at 9:38 of the first period. Zorn and Schmidt picked up their third points of the evening on the assists.  

Quinnipiac coach, Michael Barrett, called a time out after the third goal to gather his team to try and get them back into the game. The referee's whistle started to go in the Bobcats' favor late in the first period. With a player already in the box, the Big Red bench was handed a penalty for too-many players on the ice. Twenty seconds into the three-on-five, Elyse Cole put her team on the board, with the assist going to Erica Bolognino and Anny Kallum.     

At 18:37 of the first period, Quinnipiac had the puck in front of the Big Red's net with freshman goaltender Kayla Strong trying to find the puck amidst a cluster of players in and around the crease. The Bobcats' Vicki Graham shoved the puck past Strong to put her team within one goal of the Big Red.   With 53 seconds left in the second period, Quinnipiac had control of the puck when Cornell was called for a penalty. Miller skated to her team's bench, and the Bobcats added an extra player to the attack. Cornell could not get a hold of the puck to stop play.  With a shot by Quinnipiac's Janine Duffy, Strong made the initial save, but Graham found the rebound. With a push the puck rolled into the net to tie the game.  

Cornell created numerous chances to score in the third period, but was unable to get the puck into the net. Midway through the period, the Big Red was on the power play once again. Deep behind Cornell's net, freshman Rebecca Johnston dug the puck out of the corner away from a Bobcat forward. Johnston made a pass up to center ice finding the stick of Zorn, who moved it ahead to senior Caeleigh Beerworth. Beerworth shot the puck from the right hash marks, and it deflected off a Quinnipiac defenseman's stick right into the net. Beerworth notched the game-winner at 12:59 of the third period.   The Big Red suffered a late tripping call at 17:48 of third to put the Bobcats on the power play. With 53 seconds left in the game, Quinnipiac pulled their goaltender in favor of having six players against the Big Red's four. Cornell fended off the Bobcat attack to win the game, 4-3.  

Strong earned her fourth win of the season in net for the Big Red making 10 saves. Miller made 29 saves in goal for Quinnipiac.  

The Big Red will return to action Saturday afternoon when it will take on Princeton at 4 p.m in Lynah Rink. Cornell will continue its Girl Power weekend where women and girls of all ages will be admitted to the game for free. Complimentary team posters will be available for fans that will be signed by the Big Red players after the game.