HAMDEN, Conn. -- No. 6-seeded Cornell saw its NCAA Tournament run end in the national semifinals, falling 2-0 to No. 2-seeded Minnesota at People’s United Center in Hamden, Conn., Friday.
The Big Red had advanced to their fourth Frozen Four all-time (2010, 11, 12, 19) by taking down No. 3-seeded Northeastern, 3-2 in overtime, on March 16.
Following a string of three-straight Frozen Fours from 2010-12, Cornell has established itself as a perennial postseason contender. The Big Red have appeared in seven of the past 10 NCAA Tournaments, but had not made it back to the Frozen Four since 2012.
“I got spoiled a bit as a young coach—it maybe came a little bit too easy to get to the Frozen Four,” said Cornell head coach
Doug Derraugh. “Over the last few years, we’ve realized just how difficult it is to get to this point and to get here each year.”
ECAC Hockey regular-season champion Cornell concludes the season 24-6-6. The Big Red were the Ivy League runner-up and also reached the championship final of the ECAC Hockey tournament, falling to two-time defending national champion Clarkson, 4-1.
Senior net-minder
Marlene Boissonnault registered an unblemished first period for the Big Red, stopping eight Minnesota shots, including an improbable save off the post to keep the Golden Gophers off the scoreboard.
No. 2-seeded Minnesota broke through with a power-play tally with 7:51 remaining in the second period, when leading point-getter redshirt senior forward
Nicole Schammel flipped a rebound through traffic in front of the goal mouth and over the glove of Boissonnault.
Sophomore defender
OIivia Knowles took the initial shot from the point, which was redirected on frame by freshman forward
Emily Oden. Both were credited with assists for the Golden Gophers on the man-advantage.
With 4:24 remaining in the third period, Minnesota sophomore forward
Taylor Wente picked up a penalty for roughing, affording Cornell its second power-play opportunity of the contest. As it did early in the first period, Minnesota was able to kill off the two-minute infraction to maintain its one-goal advantage.
Big Red head coach
Derraugh made the call to pull Boissonnault in favor of an extra skater with a minute to play in the third period and Minnesota capitalized as redshirt junior forward
Sarah Potomak sent the puck the length of the ice for the empty net tally that provided the final margin.
Boissonnault made 25 saves in the losing effort, while junior forward
Amy Curlew led the Big Red with three of the team’s 15 shots in the contest.