Big Red Battle for No. 2 Standing

The following article appeared in the February 5 issue of the Cornell Daily Sun.

By Reena Gilani

The regular season for women’s ice hockey is drawing to a close, with only six games remaining, and the Red is striving to earn a No. 2 spot in the ECAC. Playing well is pivotal for Cornell during these next three weekends; this will be the first time the team earns a position in the top-4 of the conference, and ranking second would boost the team’s morale tremendously. The games start this weekend, as Cornell hosts Quinnipiac at Lynah Rink tonight at 7 p.m., followed by another home game tomorrow afternoon against Princeton.

Coming off the first weekend all season in which the team failed to earn two points, the Red (10-8-5, 9-2-5 ECAC Hockey) is ready to make a comeback with what it hopes will be a sweep starting tonight against the Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-8-6, 7-4-5). The Bobcats are coming off a split weekend against RPI and Union, and have seen a 7-1 record over the past eight games. The team is on the top of its game, most exemplified by its strong defense and netminder who together have failed to surrender more than one goal over the course of those games –– the one coming against Syracuse; during this time, Quinnipiac’s freshman goaltender Victoria Vigilanti also earned two career shutouts.Making history: Sophomore goaltender Amanda Mazzotta needs only one more shutout to beat the Cornell record from 1988 of six in one single season.Making history: Sophomore goaltender Amanda Mazzotta needs only one more shutout to beat the Cornell record from 1988 of six in one single season.

Ivy League foe Princeton (10-9-4, 8-4-4) is in a three-way tie for the spot behind Cornell in the ECAC standings, and will be bringing its best game in an attempt to usurp the Red and maintain a hold on home ice for the beginning of the ECAC playoffs. The Tigers are coming off a three-point weekend consisting of a win against Union and a tie with Rensselaer. That weekend was a return to play for the Tigers, as Princeton had a three-week layoff period for exams prior to that. The Tigers will be taking on Colgate tonight before playing the Red at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Complete article can be accessed via the Daily Sun Web site by clicking here.