Weekend Update: Heroics in Postseason
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The first day of quarterfinal action in the 2011
ECAC Hockey Women’s Postseason Tournament did not disappoint,
as it featured dramatic goals, explosive offenses, and clutch play
between the pipes. Day one of action featured two lower seeds
winning and two road teams scoring mild upsets.
At No. 1 Cornell 3, No. 8 Rensselaer 2 (ot):
Karlee Overguard scored 1:28 into overtime after Rebecca Johnston's
goal with 6.6 seconds remaining in regulation sent the contest into
an extra period as Cornell took a 1-0 lead in the ECAC Hockey
quarterfinal series over Rensselaer Friday evening at Lynah Rink.
Cornell held a decisive 37-12 advantage in shots, including a 32-3
edge in the first and third, as well as overtime. Cornell killed
off all four of its penalties and scored just once on the
power-play, converting the first goal of the game. Linemates Kendra
Dunlop and Jill Vandegrift netted the goals on the evening for the
Engineers. Both goaltenders made a number of outstanding saves.
Lauren Slebodnick stopped 10 saves for the victory, while Sonja van
der Bliek posted 34 shots in the loss. The win by Cornell sets up a
must-win situation for Rensselaer, as the two teams will meet in
game two Saturday. Face-off is set for 4pm at Lynah Rink.
At No. 2 Harvard 6, No. 7 St. Lawrence 1: A
four-goal first period proved to be all Harvard needed as the
second-seeded Crimson took a 1-0 series lead in the ECAC Hockey
quarterfinals via a 6-1 win over seventh-seed St. Lawrence Friday
at Bright Hockey Center. The victory pushes Harvard's overall
record to 16-10-4 on the season while St. Lawrence dips to 16-17-2
overall. The Crimson sprinted out to a 4-0 lead in the opening
13:00 minutes, while Jillian Dempsey scored two goals for the home
team. The Crimson closed with a narrow 31-30 advantage in shots on
goal, while the Saints had the lone power-play tally of the game
(1-for-8). Harvard was 0-for-6 with the extra skater. Maxie
Weisz closed with 24 saves in the game for the Saints, while senior
Nicolien Bongaerts made a stop on a breakaway try in 4:09 of
action. Laura Bellamy earned the win with a 29-save
performance.
No. 5 Quinnipiac 2 at No. 4 Princeton 1:
Sophomore forward Brittany Lyons' dramatic game-winning goal with
five seconds remaining in regulation gave Quinnipiac the victory,
2-1, in the first game of this best-of-three ECAC Hockey
quarterfinal matchup at Hobey Baker Rink. Victoria Vigilanti turned
away 20 shots in the contest, while Rachel Weber made 23 saves
overall. The Tigers would strike first in the game as Sasha Sherry
put Princeton up 1-0 in the first minute of the second period when
she netted her eighth goal of the season. The Bobcats responded
with a goal of their own on a blast from junior defender Bethany
Dymarczyk with 7:47 remaining in the second period. On the evening,
both teams went scoreless on its power-play chances. Quinnipiac and
Princeton return to action Saturday, afternoon Feb. 26, for game
two of this best-of-three series at 4 p.m.
No. 6 Clarkson 4 at No. 3 Dartmouth 1: The
Golden Knights had a solid performance at both ends of the ice as a
one-goal, two-assist effort by freshman Brittany Styner and 24 save
performance by Erica Howe highlighted Clarkson’s 4-1 victory
over Dartmouth in the first quarterfinal game in Hanover, NH Friday
afternoon. Dartmouth finally got on the board with two minutes left
in the second period off the stick of junior Jenna Hobeika.
Clarkson outshot the Big Green in the contest, 26-25. Lindsay
Holdcroft played well despite allowing four goals, making 22 saves
for ninth-ranked Dartmouth. The sixth-seeded Golden Knights, who
improved their record to 14-15-6, will face off against the
third-seeded Big Green (19-10) in the second game of their
quarterfinal series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. from Thompson
Arena.
