The women’s hockey team defeated the University of Connecticut 4-2 yesterday at Lynah Rink. The icers earned their second straight win against the second-year Connecticut program, which has pulled off wins against strong teams this season, including nationally-ranked Northeastern.
The Red (7-16-1, 5-8-1) scored early, as senior Sarah Oliver scored her eighth goal of the season at 5:45 of the first period. Connecticut (11-19-2, 7-11-1) was able to cut Cornell’s lead late in the first on a goal by freshman Kimberly Berry, its leading scorer.
In the second period, the Red’s penalty killing unit was the standout, as junior Lindsay Murao netted two shorthanded goals on feeds from senior captain Jenel Bode. Sophomore Briana Jentner added another score at 13:35 in the second on a Cornell power play.
The Red headed into the third with a 4-1 lead, but inconsistent play allowed Connecticut back in the game. Connecticut’s Jacquelyn McGuire put one past Cornell junior netminder Sanya Sandahl at 5:24.
“We could have tightened the screws on UConn,” says head coach Carol Mullins. “They had chances to make it close at the end, but Sanya had some good saves.”
The Huskies tried for one last push, pulling goalie Shannon Murphy for the final minute, but the Red halted Connecticut’s scoring chances to come out on top. Murphy had 24 saves for the Huskies, while Sandahl stopped 23 for the Red, earning her second win of the season.
Senior Jenel Bode remarked on the Red’s lackluster play in the third period.
“We came out as a team in the beginning of the game, but fell flat in the third. We yrig to show up for the whole game, not just twenty or forty minutes of it,” she said.
The team is hoping to extend its win streak next weekend against Colgate before heading to Dartmouth for the ECAC playoffs.
“Consistent play will help us build momentum for the playoffs,” said Mullins.
Sandahl had been sharing time between the pipes all season with the Red’s other netminder, senior Liz Connelly.
“The team has a lot of confidence in both of us,” commented Sandahl.
Lindsay Murao, the Red’s leading scorer with nine goals, shared the same sentiment.
“Both of our goalies have been playing solidly. We are confident with whomever is in net,” she added.
Next weekend, the Red travels to Colgate on Friday night and hosts the Raiders the following evening at Lynah for its final two regular season games.
Archived article by Jonathan Auerbach