DESERT HOCKEY CLASSIC – Tempe, AZ
CORNELL 4, University of Massachusetts 2 … Box Score | Game Recap | Video Highlights
CORNELL 0, Arizona State University 4 … Box Score | Game Recap
It certainly was great to be back in action, even though I didn’t like Saturday night’s results, I am very happy overall with our team, and I feel we have turned a corner. We played the type of hockey that will lead to success, and we were consistent both nights.
On Friday night vs. UMass, we came out flying and spent a lot of time on their end of the ice. With 32 seconds remaining in the first period, the Minutemen took a 1-0 lead when a shot had an unfortunate bounce off goaltender Ian Shane’s glove and trickled into the net.
At 16:18 of the second period, sophomore forward Ryan Walsh tied the game with a wrist-shot off a faceoff twelve seconds into our power play. The goal was unassisted. UMass retook the lead with 17 seconds remaining in the period on a power play goal.
We came out flying to start the third period, and it was a good comeback showing the resiliency in our team. At 6:52 of the third period, senior defenseman Tim Rego tied the score at 2-all. Rego took a took a cross-ice pass from sophomore defenseman Ben Robertson along the half-wall, and scored a wrap-around goal past a sprawling goaltender. Less than six minutes later, we took the lead for good. At 12:18, junior forward Dalton Bancroft scored a beautiful goal as he deked the goaltender and fired a shot over the goaltender’s near-side shoulder. It was a highlight reel goal and topped the night for us. Sophomore forward Jonathan Castagna won a faceoff in our end with 14 seconds remaining and sent the puck nearly the length of the ice into an empty net.
Shane made 22 saves in goal, and the UMass netminder stopped 31 shots. We were 0-for-2 on the power play, and they were 1-for-1.
On Saturday evening, we faced a much-improved Arizona State team. I felt we played well against the home team. Hockey comes down to who capitalizes on chances and that is exactly what happened.
Arizona State scored twice in the first period at 10:23 and 19:33. They increased their lead to 3-0 at 11:39 of the second period, after a stretch of eleven shot attempts over a span of 73 seconds. With twelve seconds remaining in the second period, Arizona scored on a 4-on-3 power play for a 4-0 decision.
We dominated the third period with 17-5 shots-on-goal against a goaltender we had seen briefly last season.
Shane made 24 saves and the Sun Devils goaltender stopped 34 shots. We saw him last year when he entered the game in relief and made 22 saves, bringing his total saves against us to 56. He was outstanding on Saturday evening. We were 0-for-1 on the power play, and they were 1-for-4. Even though we lost, I feel we played well against ASU. It has been a long time since we lost a non-conference game. The shutout ended our consecutive goal scoring at 49 games. Cornell’s longest goal-scoring streak is 262 games (Dec. 29, 1972-Dec. 5, 1981).
We continue a seven-game road trip this weekend in Fairfield, CT with a two-game set against non-conference opponent, Sacred Heart (11-8-3). Friday night’s game is at 7 pm; Saturday is at 5PM. If you are in the area, we hope you can attend and cheer us on to victory.