Three first-period goals powered No. 2/3 Cornell to a 7-1 victory at league-leader Quinnipiac, causing the Big Red (7-1, 6-1 ECAC Hockey) to overtake the Bobcats (6-7-1, 5-2-1) atop the conference standings.
The offense got going quickly, putting up its highest goal total in more than two weeks.
Cornell got on the board midway through the first period on a goal right in front of the net by Chelsea Karpenko. The senior benefitted from great passing behind the net by newcomers Emily Fulton and Erin-Barley Maloney, who got her first Cornell point on the play. After the Big Red held possession in Quinnipiac's zone for more than a minute, Karpenko backhanded pass from Fulton past Victoria Vigilanti for the team's first goal.
With three minutes remaining in the first, Cornell struck again. Senior Amanda Young passed the puck ahead to Catherine White, creating a three-on-two rush. White hesitated before passing to her left, where Karpenko was waiting for the putaway. The goal was Karpenko's 10th of the season.
With one minute to go in the first, the Big Red made it a 3-0 lead. Rebecca Johnston earned her fifth goal of the year when she stole the puck at the blue line and came through on a breakaway against Vigilanti.
Cornell did not let up in the second period, scoring early on a rebound by Brianne Jenner off a Jessica Campbell shot. That goal caused a goalkeeping change, but it didn't stop the Big Red's offense.
Cornell made it 5-0 on a power play goal with terrific passing from Laura Fortino to Jenner to Fulton, who earned her fourth goal of the season.
The score moved to 6-0 two and a half minutes later when Monika Leck, behind the net, found Campbell in front. Campbell converted her second goal of the year, and a small number of boos could be heard from the fans at TD Bank Sports Center.
White got a goal of her own to go along with her two assists five minutes into the third period, ending the Big Red's scoring.
Goalkeeper Lauren Slebodnick had an excellent evening, saving 30 shots and coming just two minutes shy of her seventh career shutout. The Big Red defense was stellar as well, killing off five Bobcats power plays.
The Big Red extends its winning streak against the Bobcats to five games and remains undefeated at 2-0 against non-Ivy teams. Cornell also now holds a seven-game winning streak against teams from Connecticut (Yale and Quinnipiac) and is unbeaten in its last 11 games againstConstitution State opposition.
Cornell has now scored at least three goals in the season's first eight games for the first time in school history. The previous record of seven was set last season.
Cornell can extend that record to nine with at least three goals against No. 5 Boston University at Lynah Rink on Friday night. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m.
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