Cornell Women take Second-Straight ECAC Title

Photo by: Robyn Wishna/the Ithaca Journal

The Cornell women captured the ECAC Championship on Saturday with a 3-0 shutout victory over Dartmouth.  Dartmouth had been the only team to beat the Big Red in ECAC play this season, but this time Cornell played a grinding game and gave up zero opportunities, ensuring their second straight title.

“They didn’t make many mistakes,” said senior Dartmouth defenseman Katie Horner. “We’ve been the kind of team that capitalizes on another team’s mistakes.  When you play a team like that, that doesn’t mess up often, there isn’t too much you can capitalize on.”

Dartmouth’s win over Cornell came with a lot of help from their power play, but Cornell had clearly been studying tape as they shut down all six extra-man advantages.  Cornell scored a goal in each period, with the first two coming from tournament MVP Chelsea Karpenko.  Hayley Hughes scored the lone goal in the third period.

Cornell Women Sweep Weekend, Remain Undefeated in League Play

The Cornell women’s ice hockey team continued their dominance over the rest of the league this past weekend with shutout wins over both Union College and RPI, winning by a combined score of 14-0.  Freshman goaltender Lauren Slebodnick got a nine-save shutout Saturday night against RPI to equal Katie Wilson’s job the night before.

“I’ve definitely had more shots in a game, but it’s a hard game to stay focused in,” said Slebodnick, “You kind of find your mind drifting, so you have to make sure you’re still in the game.”

Saturday night was time for Hayley Hughes and Brianne Jenner to shine, each recording two goals in the team’s 6-0 victory.  It took a penalty kill to get the scoring going, when Jenner opened the game with a shorthanded goal off a 3-on-1 rush for the Big Red.  Cornell went on to score three more goals within two minutes of each other to bury RPI before the first intermission.

“It was kind of embarrassing, the whole arena was quiet,” a laughing Hughes said of her second goal, which seemed to slip in without anyone noticing, “It was good though.”

Cornell Women Rout Union 8-0, Extend Streak to 17

After a lethargic first period, the Cornell women’s ice hockey team was explosive in the second en route to an 8-0 rout of Union.  Katie Wilson had a nine save shutout and Canadian Olympic Gold-Medalist Rebecca Johnston added a hat trick to power the Big Red to a win.

While nine saves may seem like an easy night, it wasn’t in the first period for Wilson. Cornell gave up several odd-man rushes, and Wilson had to be sharp from the start.

“We talk about with the goalies is its not necessarily how many saves you make, but when you make them,” said head coach Doug Derraugh “and that was huge for us to keep us in the game there early on, and then we got our feet under us and started rolling.”