Cornell Women's Ice Hockey Clinches Ivy League Title with 7-1 Victory Over Yale

Courtesy of Cornell Athletic Communications

ITHACA, N.Y. – A four-goal second period was all the Big Red women's ice hockey team needed to blow away Yale and clinch its second straight Ivy League title this afternoon, as Cornell defeated the Bulldogs, 7-1, at Lynah Rink. The win improves the Big Red to 25-1-1 overall (19-0-1 ECAC) and gives Cornell back-to-back Ivy League titles for the first time since the 1980-81 season.

Yale took an early 1-0 lead after scoring in the opening minutes of the first period, but the Big Red answered with seven goals from seven separate skaters to take the victory.

“It [Yale's goal] was early in the game so it didn't deter us. If anything it motivated us,” said captain Amber Overguard. “We just played our game and kept the intensity up and good things happened. It was a great way to end the season at home. From day one it was our goal to win an ECAC championship and an Ivy League championship.”

Brianne Jenner, Rebecca Johnston and Chelsea Karpenko all finished with a three-point night as the trio each registered one goal and one assist apiece. Catherine White (one goal, one assist) and Hayley Hughes (two assists) were Cornell's only other multi-point scorers. The Big Red spread the wealth on offense as Olivia Cook, Jessica Campbell and Laura Fortino all registered a single goal.

Yale (7-16-3, 6-11-2) was kept in the game by Ladiges Genny, who finished the game with 45 saves, while Lauren Slebodnick made 16 saves to pick up the victory.

Cornell went 2-for-4 with the extra skater, while the Bulldogs finished the game scoreless on its one power-play chance.

Yale got on the got on the board at 2:52 in the first period when Aleca Hughes and Bray Ketchum teamed up for a give-and-go that finished with Hughes beating Slebodnick top shelf.

If took more than 15 minutes for Cornell to get the equalizer as White scored an power play goal to knot the game at 1-1.

Fortino scored what would prove to be the game-winner just over four minutes into the second period, but it was an onslaught of three Big Red goals in a span of 1:41 that put the game out of reach. Goals during the stretch were scored by Cook, Jenner and Campbell.

“I thought we were getting a little anxious after being scored on first, so I just told the team to stick to the game plan,” said head coach Doug Derraugh.  “In a big game like this, that was tight early on, it was great to have a couple of lines finish their chances.

Cornell closes out the regular season next weekend with a road trip to Dartmouth and Harvard. Cornell will take on Dartmouth on Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m., before battling Harvard the following afternoon in a 4 p.m. contest. The Big Red will then be home the following weekend for the ECAC Hockey quarterfinal round against an opponent to be determined.