Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – Two first-period blasts from the point coupled with two-point evenings by junior Jillian Saulnier and freshman Hanna Bunton helped the Big Red to a 3-1 victory over Rensselaer on Friday night at Lynah Rink. Cornell improves to 6-0-1 on the season and 4-0-1 against ECAC Hockey opponents. With the loss, RPI falls to 2-7-1 and 1-2-0 in conference games.

The first period got off to a shaky start for both teams, as neither had extended presence in the offensive zone until midway through the opening frame. The Engineers had Cornell on its heels early, and drew two Big Red penalties in the first six minutes.

Cornell's special teams units were the star of the opening session as the Big Red killed off both early penalties and kept the Engineers scrambling in neutral ice with an aggressive forecheck and command of its own blue line. The visitors generated just three scoring attempts on their first period power-play opportunities. 

An interference call on RPI's Jenn Godin gave Cornell its first man-advantage of the night with just under six minutes to play.

The power-play was the first time the Big Red was able to establish a rhythm in its offensive zone. Saulnier and linemates Emily Fulton and Jessica Campbell cycled along the right half-wall and pushed the Engineers penalty-kill unit back towards the goal mouth, opening up the point for Bunton and senior Alyssa Gagliardi.

Campbell won a battle on the boards and got the puck to Bunton on the left side as Gagliardi slid down low to screen RPI netminder Kelly O'Brien. Bunton and Saulnier passed back and forth to each other a few times – giving Fulton an opportunity to also set up in front – before Saulnier let go of a shot from the right side that beat O'Brien low, through traffic at the 15:40 mark of the first to give Cornell a 1-0 lead.

With time winding down in period, Cornell again cycled along the right half-wall. This time, it was RPI who won the battle along the boards, but the falling defender was unable to clear the zone and instead put the puck right on the stick of Gagliardi. The Raleigh, N.C. native's slapshot was deflected in front by Bunton and crossed the line with one-tenth of a second on the clock to give the Big Red a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. The goal is the first of Bunton's career for the Big Red.

Fulton had a chance to put her team up 3-0, just two minutes into the third, after forcing a turnover on the RPI blue line. Skating in one-on-one an RPI defender, the Stratford, Ontario native had an open look, but her wrist shot hit O'Brien in the mask and she over-skated the rebound.

RPI spoiled Slebodnick's shutout bid and cut the Cornell lead to 2-1 at the 8:58 mark of the third when Jordan Smelker played the puck from the left circle to senior defender Madison Marzario on the right point. Marzario didn't get good wood on her one-timer, but she got enough to beat Cornell's Lauren Slebodnick with a high floater on the blocker side.

Cornell regained its two-goal lead just over four minutes later, beating the Engineers in transition.

The play started when Poudrier connected with Fulton on a two-line pass out of Cornell's defensive zone. Fulton picked up speed along the right boards and sent a perfectly-placed, cross-ice pass to a crashing Saulnier who simply redirected the puck into the open net past O'Brien for a 3-1 Big Red lead.