Rested from a two-week break in play, the Red netted a flurry of goals against Colgate this past weekend — matching the number scored in all of the team’s previous conference games combined.Entering the weekend having rattled off five in a row, the No. 2 Red (8-1, 6-0 ECAC) routed the Raiders (3-9-1, 0-5-1 ECAC) 9-0 Friday at Lynah and again, 9-2, in Hamilton on Saturday to extend the team’s winning streak to seven games. “It was definitely a fun game,” said junior forward Brianne Jenner after Friday’s victory, in which the star forward scored a career-high four goals. Jenner had missed the Red’s previous two games while playing for Team Canada.Cornell opened Friday’s game with three first period goals, including two by senior defenseman Laura Fortino. Jenner tacked on three more in the second period, while freshman forward Taylor Woods and junior defenseman Hayleigh Cudmore got in on the action with two more in the third. “After two weeks off, I thought we played sloppy in the first period, but the second and third we played solid and the best we have played all year … We did a good job in the middle of the ice and were able to keep them on the outside,” said head coach Doug Derraugh. “I think both forwards and defense did a good job defensively … [T]hey know how to handle the penalty kill.”In addition to her four goals, Jenner also had two assists to give her a career-high six points. The 9-0 thrashing also featured career-highs in assists from senior defenseman Lauriane Rougeau (four) and goals from Woods (two).“[I]t is nice sometimes to have a lucky game where the shots go in,” Jenner said. “We did a good job moving the puck offensively.”The Red was able to hold Colgate to a combined two goals during the weekend thanks, in part, to the efforts of sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Pippy. Pippy had previously made an impressive appearance on Nov. 3 against Quinnipiac, but was making her first two career starts against Colgate. “We are all really happy for [Pippy], for her to get a shutout [on Friday],” Jenner said. Pippy was especially helpful in holding back the Raiders even on their power plays. “Our goalie had a few big saves in the first period on the penalty kill,” Derraugh added. The momentum didn’t stop on Saturday at Starr Rink in Hamilton. The Red piled it on with six first period goals. Freshman forward Victoria Pittens put Cornell on the board early in the first period, and freshman forward Jess Brown and junior forward Jessica Campbell tacked on one goal each to extend the lead to 3-0 less than eight minutes in. Sophomore forward Monika Leck added two goals, with Woods and Jenner once again delivering multi-goal performances en route to a final score of 9-2. “When Brianne Jenner gets going and moving her feet, as a coach, you have to remember to coach the entire team and not just watch her as a fan,” Derraugh said. With the weekend sweep, Cornell remains undefeated in conference play this season. “We’ve got some real veteran leaders,” Derraugh said.The Red has now won its last nine contests against the Raiders and has scored in 91 consecutive games. Cornell’s Friday victory against Colgate marked the squad’s final game at Lynah until January 15th against Syracuse (5-5-1, 2-0-1 CHA). The team will hit the road to wrap up 2012, including two highly anticipated matchups against Dartmouth (4-1-1, 3-1 ECAC) and No. 6 Harvard (4-1, 4-0 ECAC) this coming weekend.Despite leaving Lynah for nearly a month, the Red is playing confident hockey and excited to continue what has been an impressive season for the program, according to Jenner. “[W]e … Have that road warrior mentality,” she said. “[W]e are not too concerned about being on the road the next couple of games.”
Original Author: Chris Mills