Big Green Blanked by Cornell in Season Opener

Photo by DSPics.com

ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell scored in three different fazes of the game and shutout the Dartmouth women's hockey team, 3-0, as the Big Green had no answer in the season opener on Friday afternoon.

The Big Red got a power play, shorthanded and even strength goal, each coming in their own period. Dartmouth was shutout in a season opener for the first time since 1981 when the Big Green dropped a 1-0 decision to Vermont.

Cornell (1-2-0, 1-0-0 ECAC, 1-0-0 Ivy) got goals from three different skaters with Lauriane Rougeau leading the way with a goal and an assist. Kendice Ogilvie and Laura Fortino also added scores in the win. In net, Amanda Mazzotta pushed aside 22 shots to earn the shutout.

Dartmouth (0-1-0, 0-1-0 ECAC, 0-1-0 Ivy) got no offense going with only 22 shots and no goals in seven power play opportunities. Senior Mariel Lacina (London, Ont.) made 30 saves in her first start of the season in the loss.

Dartmouth did not help itself in the opening period as the Big Green committed three minor penalties. Dartmouth was able to kill off the first two Cornell advantages, but the third one came back to bite the Big Green. Cornell got on the board with 2:51 remaining in the opening frame with a power play goal from Ogilvie with the assists going to Rougeau and Catherine White.

Lacina faced 13 shots in the first and made 12 saves, while Dartmouth amassed nine shots. The Big Green also got four power play chances, but failed to capitalize on its opportunities.

The power play woes continued into the second period as Cornell made it 2-0, 2:44 into the period with a shorthanded goal from Rougeau with the assist going to Karlee Overguard. The goal came on Dartmouth's fifth power play in the first 22 minutes of action.  Cornell got only eight shots on net, but made one count, while Dartmouth only got six shots on the cage in the period.

In the final frame, Laura Fortino gave the Big Red more breathing room with an even-strength tally, coming with 5:07 left on the clock to push the lead to 3-0. That's all Cornell would need as the Big Red outshot the Big Green again in the third period with a 12-7 advantage.

Cornell finished the afternoon with one goal on six power play opportunities, while Dartmouth missed on all of its man advantage chances. The face-offs where a wash with Dartmouth winning 28 and Cornell earning 27 wins in the circles.

The Big Green doesn't have time to dwell on the shutout as the Big Green travels to Hamilton, N.Y., to face Colgate at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.