No. 3 Cornell Showcases Power-Play in Win Against No. 5 Boston University
ITHACA, N.Y. – No. 5 Boston University came into Friday
night's game with the nation's best penalty killing unit. That
didn't stop the No. 3 Cornell Big Red from scoring three power play
goals in a huge 3-1 win against the team that knocked it out of
last year's NCAA Semifinals.
In a whistle-heavy game that saw 17 penalties called, 811 fans saw
Cornell as the only team to capitalize. The Big Red went on the
power play 10 different times and came away with three goals
combined from Emily Fulton and Rebecca Johnston, dropping the
Terriers to fifth in the country on the kill.
Johnston, a senior captain, scored the game-clinching goal just 22
seconds into the third period, but the play was developed mostly by
teammates Laura Fortino and Brianne Jenner.
In the waning seconds of a five-on-three opportunity, Fortino took
the puck up the ice and cross the blue line in the middle. She
dished the puck to Jenner on the left side, and Jenner immediately
found Johnston open on the right side of the crease for the
tap-in.
The Big Red's five-on-three chance came right after it had killed
off a similar advantage by the Terriers. Boston University went on
the power play seven times, but came up empty-handed thanks to a
staunch penalty kill by the Big Red and the triumphant return of
netminder Amanda Mazzotta.
The senior had missed the team's last two games, but she was
stellar against the nation's fifth-ranked team, saving 20 of the 21
pucks fired at her.
Cornell got on the board 13:28 into the game on a tough goal in
front of the net by freshman Emily Fulton, the reigning ECAC Hockey
Rookie of the Week. Fulton's fifth goal of the year came on a scrum
in front of the net after a shot by Fortino. Fulton was in the
right place at the right time, and she buried the rebound to make
it a 1-0 advantage for Cornell.
The Big Red made it a 2-0 game 4:34 into the second period when
Johnston got her first goal of the night and sixth on the year.
Taking a pass from Lauriane Rougeau, Johnston skated down toward
the net on the right side, cut in and fired through the legs of
Boston goalie Kerrin Sperry.
The Terriers scored six minutes later on even strength when Jill
Cardella stole the puck right in front of Mazzotta, turned and beat
Mazzotta to the far side. But Johnston's goal early in the third
period added the insurance Cornell needed to hang on.
Cornell has now scored goals in 26 of its 27 periods played this
year, and it has a school-record streak of nine three-goal games to
open the season. The Big Red remains unbeaten (2-0) against ranked
opponents this season and is a perfect 2-0 in out-of-conference
contests. Against non-Ivy League teams, the Big Red is 3-0.
Cornell doesn't have much time to rest, though, as Boston
University is staying in Ithaca for a 4 p.m. game on Saturday
afternoon.












