Cornell Completes Sweep of Vermont

Box score

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Big Red women's hockey team completed its weekend sweep of Vermont with a 4-2 victory at Lynah Rink on Sunday afternoon. It was Cornell's first season opening sweep since the 1998-99 season. Freshman Karlee Overguard scored the game-winning goal and was joined with goals by Liz Zorn, Caeleigh Beerworth, and Rebecca Johnston. Freshman goaltender Kayla Strong earned the win in her first collegiate start for the Big Red. Johnston finished the weekend with five points, while Beerworth tallied four.  

Less than three minutes into the game, the Big Red faced a two man deficit after making two early penalties. Cornell killed off the first penalty and with less than 15 seconds left in the second, senior captain Brittany Forgues stole the puck away from the Catamounts by the Big Red goal and sent it up the ice to Zorn. Zorn sent the puck past goaltender Ashley Walenty to score a shorthanded goal and give Cornell the early lead.  

At 12:15 of the first period, Beerworth received a pass from freshman Amber Overguard and went flying down the ice. Coming up the center, Beerworth faded left before sending the puck past Walenty to give Cornell at two goal advantage. Johnston also assisted on the goal. The Big Red dominated play in the first period jumping out to a 14-1 shot advantage.  

After going to the locker rooms with a two goal lead, Cornell came out strong and fast again in the second period. At 2:45 into the second, freshman Karlee Overguard lengthened the Big Red's lead to three with her first collegiate goal. Her linemates Beerworth and Johnston assisted on the goal.  

At 10:09 of the second period, Vermont created its best scoring chance of the game with a shot by Molly Morrison. Strong blocked the shot, but it trickled past her to put the Catamounts on the board for the first time all weekend.  

Just over two minutes later, Caroline Donahue had similar success. She shot the puck at Strong who thought she had it covered, but Donahue shoved it past her to put Vermont within a goal. Strong made eight saves in the second period to retain Cornell's lead going into the last intermission.  

A little over two minutes into the third period, Amber Overguard slid the puck to freshman center Hayley Hughes who launched a slap shot towards Vermont's goal. The puck deflected off the stick of Johnston to lengthen Cornell's goal to two.  

The Big Red had two more penalties that it had to kill off in the third period including about 10 seconds of Vermont having a two-man advantage. Cornell continued its strong play, and after the Catamounts pulled their goaltender in favor of an extra attacker, the Big Red fended them off for over a minute to win the game 4-2.  

Strong totaled 17 saves for the Big Red earning the win. Walenty made 21 saves in the loss. The Big Red outshot Vermont, 25-19.  

The Big Red continues its home action next weekend when it will play host to Wayne State. The game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, and the puck drops at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.