The Quinnipiac Bobcats (3-2-1 overall, 0-1-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference) cut the ribbon on a brand new season of conference play in the ECAC Friday. However, they were bested by the visiting Cornell Big Red (3-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 ECAC) by the score of 2-1.
Though the Bobcats are largely considered the quicker, more agile team, it was the Big Red who came out of the gate firing, putting pressure on Andrew Shortridge and the Quinnipiac defense early and often. They had multiple chances at the net in just the first minute, but Shortridge was able to parry any incoming shot that would have given Cornell the early 1-0 lead.
Play evened out as the period progressed, and by the time the period came to a conclusion, Quinnipiac had pulled to within one shot of Cornell. Not only that, but they were handed two golden opportunities off of Cornell defensive gaffes late in the period. However, of the 17 shots that were taken in the first 20 minutes, zero lit the lamp, taking the two teams to a scoreless intermission.
“Their goalie was really good, he made some really big saves. We had our chances,” Pecknold said on the missed opportunities.
The scoreboard finally changed just under nine minutes into the second period as Cornell defender Brendan Smith received a pass on an odd man rush and beat Shortridge to the top left corner. The goal, Smith’s first of his career, came while the Big Red were on a man-advantage.
The second period, though less physical, was not without pain. 11 minutes into the second period, Thomas Aldworth was trapped on the ground during a battle for the puck at center ice and was slashed by a skate. Aldworth got on his feet but quickly skated his way to the Bobcat locker room favoring his right wrist, leaving a trail of blood on the ice behind him.
The Bobcats opened the third period already down one forward, and a Craig Martin penalty left them shorthanded as they conceded a second goal to the Big Red. The goal can only be described as unconventionally lucky—Alec McCrea took a shot from the top of the zone that deflected off the pad of Bobcat forward Alex Whelan. The deflection, however, went straight behind goalie Andrew Shortridge and into the goal, putting Cornell ahead 2-0 with seven and a half minutes to play.
The Bobcats found the net just two minutes later, as freshman Matthew Korchuk scored his first collegiate goal of his career, keeping Quinnipiac’s hope at a victory alive.
“It feels good. It’s been a few games, so getting the first one feels good,” Korchuk said on capturing his first goal.
The Bobcats went on the power play just a few seconds later, but Cornell’s penalty kill did their job. Quinnipiac chose to pull Shortridge for the last two-plus minutes to keep the man advantage, but the Cornell defense held up, locking down their third straight win and keeping their perfect season alive.
“We need to be better in all aspects of the game,” captain Chase Priskie said on the close loss. “We need to compete harder, we need to win more battles, we just have to play with more heart.”
Cornell’s physical style of play is a gameplan that they stick to, and as one of the biggest teams in the nation, it has proven time and time again that it is a strategy that works for the Big Red.
“They love to trap, they have big bodies and they play defense. They play dump-and-case type hockey. We’ve got to find a way to fight through it better and win races and battles,” Pecknold said on Cornell’s play style.
“They’re just a big team,” Priskie said. “They stick to playing their style of game and they don’t deviate from that and that’s what makes them successful.”
The Bobcats can’t take too much time to dwell on the loss, as they have a chance to bounce back at home against the Colgate Raiders (3-2-4 overall, 0-0-1 ECAC) tonight at 7 p.m.
