January 30, 2009

Last Minute Goal Sends No. 4 St. Lawrence Past Big Red

Boxscore

ITHACA, N.Y.-The No. 4 ranked St. Lawrence women's hockey team slipped by the Big Red, 2-1, on Friday night in a closely matched ECAC Hockey contest in Lynah Rink. Cornell looked to be headed into overtime with the Saints, but St. Lawrence scored with 23 seconds left in the game to hold on to their first place conference slot. Sophomore Rebecca Johnston scored for the Big Red in the second period. Freshman goaltender Amanda Mazzotta made her first appearance in net for Cornell making 30 solid saves against the Saints.

Goaltending was key in the first period as each teams' netminders made 11 saves to keep their opponents scoreless in the first period.

Johnston notched her 29th point of the season and 15th goal at 16:39 of the second period. Defenseman Sam Wauer dug out the puck from two St. Lawrence players along the left boards and passed to freshman Chelsea Karpenko on the left side of the crease. Karpenko fed the puck across the crease to Johnston who flipped it past SLU's Brittony Chartier.

Mazzotta remained perfect in net for the Big Red until 1:07 of the third period. The Big Red freshman, who missed the beginning of the season due to injury, made the save off a huge slapshot from Britni Smith on the point. The puck rebounded right to the stick of Alison Domenico, who tied the game at 1-1 with the goal.

The Big Red and St. Lawrence traded scoring opportunities back and forth throughout the third period. With 23 seconds left in the game, Carson Duggan netted the game-winner after a scramble behind the Big Red net. Karell Emard and Lisa Batchelor assisted on the goal.

Chartier made 29 saves in the win for St. Lawrence and moves to 18-5-3 for the season. Mazzotta took the loss in her first collegiate contest. The Saints were 0-1 on the power play while the Big Red was 0-3.

Cornell will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when the Big Red will play host to Clarkson for a 4 p.m. contest.