![\"Raymond](\"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/images\/colorscans\/20052006\/cor_r_sawada_1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUnlike Cornell defenses of the past, only four of the eight rostered rear-guards are listed at six feet or taller. In adjusting to the times, Schafer has recruited smaller, quicker, more agile defenders who are more likely to defend with speed, awareness and skill than with brute strength, as in previous years. That said, the head coach also stressed the importance of playing a more confident, physical game than the Red did last season.<\/p>\n
Incoming BCHLers Jordan Berk and Mike Devin each demonstrated keen vision and first-pass ability, racking up considerable assists in an admittedly offense-heavy league.<\/p>\n
Goaltending:<\/b> Now-sophomore Ben Scrivens only played half the number of games of junior Troy Davenport last season, but had a goals against average 11 points better, and a save percentage 12 points above his elder counterpart. The duo platooned through most of the second half before Schafer handed the reins over to Davenport in February. <\/p>\n
“The question mark again will be goaltending, and who will rise,” the coach said. <\/p>\n
The Cornell crease will be an interesting place this season, as each netminder will have a shot to earn the starting job. The Big Red haven’t had anything close to resembling a true goaltending platoon since 2001-02 when Matt Underhill played 21 games, and David LeNeveu played 14 … and 1999-2000 was the last real split, when Underhill and Ian Burt saw 17 and 15 games of action, respectively. <\/p>\n
Is Cornell due for another crease controversy? Hard to pick a winner at this juncture, that much is certain.<\/p>\n
Outlook:<\/b> Schafer is a pretty sharp guy, so it would be foolish to think that his players won’t get any better than what they were a year ago. However, how much<\/i> better, is the pertinent question.<\/p>\n
The offense looks reasonably well-stocked, but hasn’t proven any specific strength yet. The defense allowed about two and a half goals a game, and won’t fare any worse this year, though the ceiling on potential improvement is probably limited. <\/p>\n
The keys to Cornell success this year are pretty clear: significantly more productive and reliable scoring than last season, and a dependable — if not exceptional — man between the pipes every night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Offense: The Big Red are without three of their top six scorers from last season, a campaign in which they averaged just shy of three goals a game in league and overall. Cornell’s 64 league goals were only eighth-best, and the top sniper-freshman Greening-only totaled 11 goals in the full 31 games. On the flip […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[322],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n