Box Score
DURHAM, N.H. -- The Cornell defense, with junior goalkeeper Kristen Reese posting the best game of her collegiate career, held a powerful New Hampshire offense scoreless for more than 31 minutes to knock off the 19th-ranked Wildcats 5-3 on Monday afternoon at Memorial Field. Cornell snapped a four-game losing skid, all to ranked teams, in improving to 6-4 overall, while UNH slipped to 8-5.
Reese finished with 13 saves and allowed just three goals in picking up the victory in goal, chipping in with four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers in the victory. New Hampshire entered the game averaging better than 13 goals per game, and after scoring less than three minutes in, did not dent the scoreboard for a 31:34 stretch as the Big Red took control. Tissy O'Connor had three of the team's 10 caused turnovers on the day.
On offense, freshman Shannon McHugh and Libby Johnson each scored a pair of goals, while Jessica Wiegand also found the back of the net. Jessi Steinberg was credited with an assist. Overall, Cornell held a 23-19 edge in shots and a 22-14 edge in ground balls.
Ashley Durepo had a goal and an assist in the loss for New Hampshire, while goalkeeper Kate Gunts had 10 saves and allowed just five goals in an outstanding effort between the pipes. Wildcats' leading scorer Sarah Von Bargen, who entered the game with 48 goals and 55 points this season, was held without a shot in a scoreless performance that included two turnovers. Second-leading scorer Susie Piotrkowski was also scoreless after entering the contest with 14 goals and 21 assists for UNH this season.
Reese was phenomenal in the first half against one of the nation's top-ranked offenses, allowing just one goal and making seven saves as Cornell went into the break leading 4-1. McHugh had both of her goals in the first half, including the game-winner.
In a quiet first half of offense, New Hampshire got on the board first when Ashley Durepo found the back of the net 2:31 in, but Jessica Weigand answered with her 12th goal of the season, a free position shot at the 20-minute mark to knot the score. Reese held the Wildcats in check with four early saves. Behind the defensive surge, the Big Red took its first lead at 2-1 when Jessi Steinberg fed Shannon McHugh for a goal at the 12:29 mark of the half. That lead climbed to 4-1 when Libby Johnson scored with under nine minutes to play and McHugh netted her second goal with 2:21 left. The visitors held a 14-11 shot advantage, though the Wildcats won 4-of-6 draw controls.
Reese opened the second half the same way she opened the first half, by stoning a New Hampshire shot on the very first possession for her eighth save of the evening. The home team finally broke its scoreless streak when Michaela Hardy tallied a goal four minutes into the second half, but Johnson got the goal back at the 20-minute mark with her second of the contest to extend the lead back to 5-2. Kate Keagins answered that goal just 20 seconds later to make it 5-3, but Reese made six saves and caused a turnover in the final 19 minutes to help the Big Red to the victory.
Cornell will return home after a three-game road swing when it meets Brown on Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field.
