A third period goal and successful penalty kill to end the game earned the Cornell Big Red its first victory of 2007. After an early Colgate goal, Cornell battled back and peppered Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich until they were able to tie and score the go ahead goal.
This is a great opportunity for us to move forward and hopefully start to string some victories together. Cornell boss Mike Schafer said after the game.
Schafers win marked 231, the most of any in coach in Cornells long history.
The first period saw no goals from either team but plenty of good chances for Cornells offense. Colgate net-minder Mark Dekanich was excellent in the first stanza, turning away 13 shots, including several flurries in front of his net. Dekanich, who leads the league in goals against average and save percentage finished the game with 34 saves.
Colgate broke into the scoring column early in the second period, when junior Tyler Burton snuck a wrist shot through Cornell goalie Ben Scrivens five hole on a wrap around shot from just inside the face-off circle. Cornell responded later in the second on a fortunate bounce. Brendan Nash fired a shot from the point which bounced behind the right side of the net and came out on the left, where Mitch Carefoot was there to put it home.
I just kind of planted myself in front, weve been talking about that lately, and I got a lucky bounce and snuck it in between the post and the goalies pad. Carefoot opined after the game.
The third period was dominated by Cornells offense, who pressed the puck in the zone and controlled the neutral zone possession. Dekanich withstood the pressure until midway through the stanza, when a centering pass from behind courtesy of Topher Scott gave Dan Glover a shot, which then created a rebound for freshman Justin Milo, who fired in the go-ahead goal. The goal was only the second in his young career.
We were working it well down low, moving our feet. I got the rebound and banged it home. said Milo after the game.
Cornell looked as if it had the game well within its. grasp, but a five minute major with just under five minutes to go gave Colgate a chance to get back in the game. However a stingy Cornell defense barely allowed Colgate to get near the net. They were able to attempt only two shots during the power play that ensued for the rest of the game.
I thought we forced things, played with a lack of composure. Colgate coach Don Vaughn opined after the game.
It was understandable for the Raiders, given the noise level that shook Lynah Rink. A whistle with ten seconds remaining was not heard by the players, and the final whistle was entirely inaudible.
This is a tough building to play in. Vaughn added.
Cornell moves to 10-9-3 overall and 6-6-3 in the ECAC, while Colgate drops to 12-13-4 overall, 6-6-3 in the ECAC.
We stayed positive and stuck together but it was getting pretty frustrating. It felt great to win this one. Milo, the game winner, added.
