Cornell Tops Syracuse 6-2

Tuesday, December 2

Ithaca, NY

7 pm

Syracuse University

4-8-7

Cornell

4-6-1

Syracuse

Cornell

12/2/2014 9:08:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

Piacentini scores twice in loss

Ithaca, N.Y. – The Syracuse hockey team couldn't overcome a three-goal third period by Cornell (4-6-1, 3-2-0 ECAC) and fell 6-2 to the Big Red on Tuesday night.

Cornell scored a pair of power play goals and scored another two even strength goals within 10 seconds of a power play ending and junior forward Melissa Piacentini scored both Orange goals in the game.

Brianna Veerman opened the scoring with just over three minutes to play in the first period as she finished from right on the doorstep to give the Big Red a 1-0 lead. The goal came just seconds after the Orange had returned to full strength.

Cornell's second goal came in similar fashion. After 'Cuse had successfully killed off the carry over penalty from the end of the first period, Jillian Saulnier took advantage of a feed from Brianne Jenner to give the Big Red a 2-0 lead 22 seconds into the second period.

Piacentini answered on a power play just moments later. Jessica Sibley and Stephanie Grossi got the play started as Grossi sent the puck to Sibley in the corner who shot a pass to a wide open Piacentini in front with 12:21 remaining in the period.

Piacentini's goal was her fifth power play goal on the season, which moves her into a tie for second in the nation in power play goals this season.

It took just 2:05 for the Big Red to answer on a power play of its own though. The Cornell extra man unit found a streaking Hanna Bunton towards the far post on a three-on-one opportunity. Bunton fired a low shot to the back of the net before Gilligan could reach the post to take a 3-1 lead.

Cornell jumped on the Orange coming out of the locker room for the third, as Emily Fulton scored the Big Red's fourth goal just 16 seconds into the period.

The Big Red lit the lamp again when Erin O'Connor rifled a shot from the point that deflected past Gilligan.

Piacentini got it right back for the Orange as she netted her second goal of the game, which was set up by Burriss.

Cornell tacked on its final goal with under four minutes to play off a short angle shot that squeaked past Gilligan.

Junior Jenn Gilligan made 24 saves in the contest and allowed more than two goals for the first time in five games.

'Cuse will play its final game for a month when it hosts RIT on Saturday at 7 p.m.