March 8, 2010

Cornell to Face Harvard in NCAA Tournament First Round

ITHACA, N.Y. -- When the Cornell women's hockey team makes its NCAA tournament debut next weekend, it will take comfort in the fact that its opponent is one that the Big Red knows very well. Cornell was selected to open play at rival Harvard on Saturday, March 13, at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Mass.

Cornell earned its way into the field of eight teams after winning its first-ever ECAC Hockey championship with a 4-3 overtime victory against Clarkson on Sunday afternoon at Lynah Rink. Kendice Ogilvie scored the game-winning goal and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for her heroics. Cornell, making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament, enters the tournament with a 19-8-6 record.

Harvard, meanwhile, was awarded one of the five at-large berths into the field after falling to Clarkson in the semifinals of the ECAC Hockey tournament on Friday. The Crimson enter the NCAA tournament for the eighth time in program history and is 20-7-5 on the year.

Cornell and Harvard know each other very well, having met twice already this season. The Big Red picked up a 4-3 victory on Oct. 31, in Ithaca, N.Y., and earned a 4-4 tie on Jan. 15 in Cambridge, Mass. Cornell will be looking for a measure of revenge, though, as it has been the Crimson that has ended Cornell's season in each of the past two seasons in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals.

Cornell and Harvard were two of the three ECAC Hockey teams to make the field of eight teams, as Clarkson was also awarded an at-large berth and will play Minnesota in the opening round.

The winner of Saturday's quarterfinal match will take on the winner of top-seeded Mercyhurst and Boston University, in the national semifinals on March 19 in Minneapolis, Minn.