Harvard Ends Cornell's Season with Shutout
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-The No. 7 Harvard women's hockey team shut out
the Big Red for the second day in row to win the ECAC Hockey
quarterfinal series. Cornell continued to create numerous scoring
opportunities, but the Crimson's goaltender held firm to defeat the
Big Red, 4-0. Freshman Amanda Mazzotta made 27 saves in her team's
final game of the season. The Big Red ends its 2008-09 campaign
with a 12-14-5 overall record.
The Big Red outshot Harvard, 8-3, in the first period, but the game
was scoreless after 20 minutes of play.
The Crimson went on the power play early in the second and took
advantage of the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead at 2:50. Sarah
Vaillancourt slid the puck to Anna McDonald in the slot, and with a
wrist shot, she sent the puck past Mazzotta. The Big Red goaltender
made 13 saves in the period.
The Crimson lengthened its lead to two at 2:29 in the third period.
Vaillancourt and Katharine Chute created a two-on-one scoring
opportunity skating down the ice into the Big Red zone.
Vaillancourt passed off to Chute who flipped it past Mazzotta on
the right side of the net.
The Big Red came on strong midway through the period with a power
play opportunity. The Cornell offense riddled Kessler with shots,
but the Big Red could not get the puck past the Crimson
netminder.
Liza Ryabkina sealed Harvard's win with two goals to end the third
period, including one during a five-on-three advantage.
Kessler made 26 saves in the win for Harvard.
Melanie Jue and freshman Catherine White led the Big Red with five
shots each.
Liza Ryabkina netted two goals in the third period and Christina
Kessler made 26 saves for her second shutout in two days to guide
the seventh-ranked Harvard women's hockey team to a 4-0 victory
over Cornell in Game 2 of the ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series.
Sarah Vaillancourt handed out three assists, while Anna McDonald
and Katharine Chute also tallied goals for the Crimson.
With the win, Harvard advances to the conference semifinals where
it will serve as host for the remaining two rounds of the 26th ECAC
Hockey women's tournament. The Crimson will play a yet to be
determined opponent in the semifinal round March 7 at 1 or 4
p.m.
Harvard had a few other quality scoring chances later in the
second, including one off a rebound shot by Vaillancourt. The
senior forward slapped the puck from the left circle, but Mazzotta
could not control it. Katharine Chute picked up a long rebound and
attempted another shot, which Mazzotta kicked aside. In the final
minutes of the period, Vaillancourt and Kate Buesser had a 2-on-1
chance, but Vaillancourt's pass to Buesser from the right side
bounced off her teammate's stick and went wide of the net.
Through two periods of action, the Crimson held an 18-12 lead in
shots and controlled faceoffs, 25-18.
The Crimson tallied its first of three goals in the third period on
a score by Chute at 2:29. Vaillancourt earned the primary assist
after weaving through the defense and dumping a perfect pass to
Chute, who was camped out at the left side of the crease. Chute
lifted the puck over Mazzotta, giving Harvard a 2-0 lead.
Ryabkina increased the Crimson's advantage to 3-0 with 7:32
remaining in the frame, as her wrister from in front squirted
through Mazzotta and trickled into the goal. Amy Uber and Randi
Griffin were credited with assists on the goal.
The Big Red (12-14-5) was called for tripping and delay of game
penalties at 17:01 and 17:04, giving the Crimson a 5-on-3 power
play for almost a full two minutes. Harvard's offense went right to
work, putting several shots on net until Ryabkina poked home a
rebound in front at 17:14, capping the scoring for the contest.
Harvard led the final count in shots, 31-26, and finished the game
2-of-7 on the power play, while holding Cornell scoreless on its
six chances with an extra attacker
