Despite a more positive and focused atmosphere during practice last week, the Red’s midseason losing streak continued against two ECAC rivals this weekend. Cornell (8-11-2, 4-8-2 ECAC) was defeated 4-2 by St. Lawrence (12-10-4, 5-5-4) on Friday and could not keep pace with Clarkson (6-13-7, 5-6-3) in a 6-3 defeat on Saturday. The Red has now lost five games in a row, as well as eight of its previous nine, dating back to a 6-4 loss to the University of Maine on Dec. 29.Against St. Lawrence, the Red surrendered a goal in the game’s second minute, but rebounded by taking opportunity of a first period power play. With a one-man advantage, sophomore forward Joel Lowry tied the game at one apiece with a quick shot past Saints’ junior goalie Matt Weninger.Sophomore forward John McCarron continued the momentum with another power play goal, this time in the second period, giving the Red a 2-1 advantage. St. Lawrence struck back in the third to tie the game at 2-2, and the Saints took the lead on a power play goal later in the period. Prior to the score, Cornell had killed all five prior St. Lawrence power plays of the evening. Finally, the Saints added an empty-netter to ice the game at 4-2.The Red’s penalty woes continued Saturday at Potsdam against Clarkson. The Golden Knights pressured the Red in the first minute and outshot Cornell 28-25 on the night. The Red struck first, however, off a McCarron pass to sophomore defenseman Joakim Ryan in the first period. With the Red leading 1-0, Clarkson bounced back after a five-minute major penalty on Cornell, allowing the Golden Knights to score three goals through the beginning of the second period. Cornell got back into the action during the second period as senior forward Greg Miller used a savvy fake to freeze the Clarkson defense, while senior defenseman Nick D’Agostino put the puck into the back of the net to narrow the opponent’s advantage to 3-2.Trading goals with Clarkson, sophomore forward Brian Ferlin struck next for the Red to make the score 4-3 heading into the third. For the second consecutive night, however, the Red was unable to keep pace in the third period, eventually falling 6-3. The Red will have some troubling trends to ameliorate as it enters the ECAC stretch run. The team has lost five straight for the first time since 1999, and has allowed 26 goals in the third period as compared to 17 and 15 in the first and second periods, respectively.Although remaining strong on defense and the penalty kill, the Red finds itself near the bottom of the ECAC in goals per game (2.38) and penalty minutes (401). The Red returns to Lynah on Friday to try and snap rival Quinnipiac’s 19-game unbeaten streak and will host Princeton on Saturday.
Original Author: Chris Mills