Cornell 2 at Yale 1 (final)

[Tom Lento]

[quote Trotsky]Cornell women leading Yale 2-0 after 2.  Sounds like they may have improved this year.[/quote]

Cornell's women's team is much improved over 3 years ago. I can't really compare them to more recent squads, since I haven't been to a women's game in 2-3 years.

Improvement or not, Yale was a much better team, and it showed - Yale got 4 goals in about a 10 minute span in the third plus an empty netter with ~4 minutes left. 5-2 final, Yale wins.

Cornell was without leading scorer and super-frosh Rebecca Johnston, who was playing for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Cup (or maybe the U-19, I can't remember and don't feel like looking it up). If she had helped Cornell get another goal in the first two periods, she might have made a difference, but Yale was better - faster, stronger, better shooters, better goaltending. Cornell handled the puck well and set up both goals with some pretty puck movement, but once Yale evened it up there was little to no hope for a Cornell win. Cornell looked to be tiring and Yale's speed won out.

I don't know how good the top 4 teams are in the ECAC (or even which teams are likely to be in the top 4, although I imagine three of them are Harvard, Dartmouth, and SLU), but Yale could wind up playing, and winning, at home in the first round. They've got tons of upside on that roster. Cornell should be in the playoff hunt (top 8 qualify, unless they changed it) but isn't likely to make it out of the first round if they do get there. This team's 2 solid recruiting classes away from challenging for home ice and playoff wins, but it's nice to see the talent level picking up.

Overall, I thought Cornell played an incredible second period and a strong third period, but they didn't have the legs to hold on to the lead.

I now return you to your men's hockey discussion. I'm off to bed.

[RichH]

[quote Tom Lento][quote Trotsky]Cornell women leading Yale 2-0 after 2.  Sounds like they may have improved this year.[/quote]

Cornell's women's team is much improved over 3 years ago. I can't really compare them to more recent squads, since I haven't been to a women's game in 2-3 years.

I now return you to your men's hockey discussion. I'm off to bed. [/quote]

Actually...thanks, Tom.  I've missed your women's team updates.  Johnston is definitely a key player.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Trigger]I knew somebody was missing from last week. Where's Tyler Mugford?[/quote]
From Saturday's Ithaca Journal:  "Notes: Center Tyler Mugford did not make the trip to New England after suffering an injury this week. Chris Fontas has stepped in to pivot the checking line in his absence."

[Tom Lento]

[quote RichH]Actually...thanks, Tom.  I've missed your women's team updates.  Johnston is definitely a key player.[/quote]

Well, I'm glad someone likes them. I missed the Brown game, which is too bad since it seems Cornell pulled out a point with a last second PPG. Brown's struggling early this year, and may have a tough time making the playoffs. Historically, Brown's had an excellent team under Cornell alum Digit Murphy, but they've been on a bit of a downturn lately.

If I make it to another women's game I'll post a brief recap.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Cactus12]The Yale commentator was convinced they would come back after that goal... very odd[/quote]
For what it's worth, in Sunday's game against Colgate, Yale scored six seconds after the opening faceoff of the second period.  A tying goal Friday night was not impossible, although very, very unlikely.

[David Harding]

[quote Tom Lento]
If I make it to another women's game I'll post a brief recap.[/quote] You're even allowed to start a new thread. :-)