Box Score
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Junior alternate captain Nick D'Agostino scored a pair of power-play goals 56 seconds apart in the first period, then the Big Red protected and expanded on a one-goal lead in the third period for a 4-2 victory over Harvard in a men's hockey clash on Friday night at Bright Hockey Center.
 
Cornell (2-2, 2-1 ECAC Hockey) took a three-goal lead after 10 minutes before Harvard (0-2-1, 0-2-1) took advantage of six consecutive power-play attempts to draw within one heading into the final frame. For Cornell, it was a similar scenario to last Saturday's game at Brown, but with one major difference – this time, the Big Red held on. The win pulls Cornell into an eight-way tie for first place in ECAC Hockey.
 
The third period of Friday's game didn't offer much in the way of offensive chances until Harvard's Colin Blackwell broke free from the bottom of the left circle with about four minutes remaining, but Cornell sophomore goalie Andy Iles made his biggest save of the night to keep the visitors in front. About 30 seconds later, freshman Brian Ferlin set up junior John Esposito for a two-on-one goal to clinch the game in front of 3,076 fans – many of them backing Cornell.
 
The Big Red appeared to be en route to an easy victory after a fast start. A pair of freshmen notched their first collegiate points on the first goal 5:09 into the contest. Harvard attempted to clear its zone with a hard-around up the left wing. Cornell's Locke Jillson tied up a Harvard winger to allow defenseman Jacob MacDonald to collect the puck at the point and fire a shot through developing traffic. Harvard starting goalie Raphael Girard made the save, but kicked the rebound into the slot for Cole Bardreau to convert. MacDonald was also making his season debut.
 
About a minute and a half later, a Big Red player was smashed into the boards from behind. While no penalty was called, a scuffle ensued after the next whistle, leading to Harvard's Alex Killorn grasping the facemask of Cornell defenseman Braden Birch. That resulted in a five-minute major and game misconduct to one of the Crimson's offensive leaders and – after the two minutes of a minor penalty on a Big Red player – a unique three-minute power play for the Big Red. The opportunity became even more favorable for Cornell after Harvard's Alex Fallstrom was whistled for tripping MacDonald after Sean Collins won a faceoff in the offensive zone.
 
D'Agostino scored on the five-on-three advantage at the 9:04 mark. Passing back and forth with freshman Joakim Ryan at the top of the zone, D'Agostino drifted to the right and swapped spots with Ryan to set up a blistering shot that sailed past Girard's glove for his first goal of the season.
 
The second came a mere 56 seconds later. A Greg Miller shot from the left circle was kicked out by Girard and deflected by Esposito on the weak side back up top to D'Agostino. With the defense sagging, D'Agostino had time in the high slot to pick the same spot over Girard's glove for a 3-0 Cornell advantage. By the time the first frame was complete, Cornell had an 18-3 advantage in shots on goal.
 
But the game was far from over, primarily because the Big Red offense went dry and the team couldn't stay out of the penalty box. Both of Harvard's goals in the second period came on the power play, including Fallstrom's strike with 11 seconds remaining before the second intermission. Iles made 18 saves for his 10th career victory and second at Bright Hockey Center.
 
Cornell wraps up its four-game road trip on Saturday at No. 17 Dartmouth (3-2, 2-1), which was blanked on Friday by visiting No. 18 Colgate.