February 13, 2009

Action-Packed Third Period Sends Harvard Past Cornell

Boxscore

ITHACA, N.Y.-The Big Red women's hockey team lost 5-2 to Harvard on Friday night. The two teams combined for six goals in an action-packed third period that would see the Crimson come out on top. Sophomore Rebecca Johnston scored both of the Big Red's goals with Catherine White earning two assists. Freshman Amanda Mazzotta made 29 saves in net for Cornell.

Harvard was plagued by penalties in the first period giving the Big Red three power-play opportunities. The Crimson penalty kill held strong keeping the game scoreless after the first. The Big Red outshot Harvard, 11-8 for the period.

At 9:07 of the second period, senior Sarah Vaillancourt put her team on the board for the first time after grabbing her own rebound and flipping the puck past Mazzotta. Katharine Chute was credited with the assist.

The Crimson held the lead heading into the third, but Cornell would quickly tie the score at 1-1. White won the faceoff in Harvard's zone and the puck went right to Johnston. Johnston skated to the left side of the net and slid the puck past netminder Christina Kessler's left leg.

The game remained tied until 6:49 of the third when Harvard would score four unanswered goals in less than 10 minutes. Valliancourt notched three more goals with Jenny Brine adding a short-handed tally.

Despite trailing its opponent, the Big Red did not slow and the team continued to create scoring opportunities.

Johnston notched her 21st goal of the season at 18:33 of the third period. White won the face-off with the puck going to defenseman Kelly McGinty on the point. McGinty shot through traffic and the puck deflected off Johnston's stick, straight past Kessler.

The Big Red outshot Harvard 37-34. Kessler made 35 saves to pick up the win.

Cornell will play its final regular season home game of the season at 4 p.m. on Saturday against Dartmouth.