Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Cornell women's ice hockey team made its first NCAA tournament appearance a memorable one, advancing to the Frozen Four with an impressive 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Harvard on Friday evening at the Bright Hockey Center. The Big Red improves to 20-8-6, while ending Harvard's season with a 20-8-5 mark.

Women's hockey becomes just the second women's team to advance to an NCAA semifinal game, joining the 2002 women's lacrosse squad that lost to eventual national runner-up Georgetown in overtime. It's the 22nd national semifinal appearance for Cornell athletic teams, with the last being men's lacrosse in 2009.

Amanda Mazzotta made 34 saves and was helped out by six different Big Red goal scorers as Cornell, despite being out-shot 36-18, was able to advance with its first NCAA win. Chelsea Karpenko had a goal and two assists, while Kendice Ogilvie had a goal and assist. Also lighting the lamp were Melanie Jue, Catherine White, Karlee Overguard and Laura Fortino, while Laurianne Rougeau, Amanda Young and Laura Danforth were credited with assists.

Randi Griffin and Leanne Coskren each tallied goals for the Crimson, while Laura Bellamy and Kylie Stephens combined for 12 saves.

The Big Red scored on two of its first three shots, including a shorthanded score to make it 2-0, and overcame any jitters it may have had playing in its first NCAA tournament contest.

After the Crimson controlled play in the first two minutes against an understandably skittish Cornell team, the Big Red lit the lamp to give the visitors first blood. Cornell capitalized on its very first chance of the game just 2:34 in when Catherine White leaked out and Amanda Young found her streaking down the left side. The Ivy League and ECAC Player of the Year  did the rest, beating Bellamy glove side to make it 1-0. Less than 30 seconds later, Mazzotta turned away a shot on the doorstep to preserve the lead. Melanie Jue broke out two other times for scoring opportunities, but the Crimson was able to get  back into the play and break up both opportunities.

Less than four minutes later, with 6:26 off the clock, the Big Red scored shorthanded, as Karlee Overguard split two defenders and again beat Bellamy with a quick move and shot to make it 2-0. The goal came shortly after an outstanding pad save by Cornell's sophomore goalkeeper 20 seconds before the goal, setting up the long puck that turned into the Big Red's offensive opportunity. Mazzotta made two huge saves with under three minutes to go in the period, sprawling across the goal mouth for the second after giving up a rebound on a hard slapper. The play evened out over the final 10 minutes, and the visitors went into the locker room with a 2-0 advantage. Harvard out-shot Cornell 10-6, but Mazzotta was up to the test, turning away all 10 shots. The Big Red has now outscored its last 10 opponents 15-2 in the first period, consistently getting out to good starts.

Mazzotta continued her roll with three saves in the first minute of the second period, and Cornell got a great chance five minutes in when Liz Zorn got out on a breakaway, but her shot went just wide. Then it all fell apart for the Crimson in a span of 3:03. The Big Red took a 2-0 lead and turned it into a near-insurmountable five-goal advantage to serve as the knockout punch.

Fortino started it off as she took a loose puck at center ice and streaked to the cage. Her give-and-go pass to Karpenko ended up back on her stick in front of an open net after Bellamy went to the sophomore and the freshman buried her 12th goal of the year. Another two minutes went by before a scrum in front of the cage ended up with a loose puck that went off Jue's pads after attempts by Laura Danforth and Kendice Ogilvie. The rout continued with a power play goal by Karpenko made it 3-0 with Laurianne Rougeau getting the assist at 9:45 of the period.

The Crimson got a goal back on the power play with 6:13 left in the second, as Randi Griffin buried a shot from the right side after two quick passes from Kate Buesser and Kathryn Farni made it 5-1. Their momentum was short-lived however, as Ogilvie slammed home a one-timer in front of the goal on a nifty pass from Karpenko from the right side against backup Kylie Stephens less than two minutes later to stem the tide. 

Despite Harvard's 23-13 edge in shots, Mazzotta's stoic goaltending and Cornell's continuous fastbreak mentality on offense allowed the Big Red significantly more dangerous chances. Cornell had six different players score goals in the first two periods, and only Karpenko (goal, two assists) and Ogilvie (goal, assist) had multiple points despite the barrage.

Harvard got on the board first in the third, scoring with 6:49 left shortly after a power play expired when a tough angle slap shot form the left circle whistled over Mazzotta's shoulder to cut the deficit to four. Harvard had pressure for nearly the entire final 20 minutes, but couldn't convert again. As the seconds ticked off, Cornell's bench started erupting, up until there was a whistle with 0.6 seconds remaining. The Big Red hit the ice the second the puck dropped for the face-off and stormed Mazzotta's net in celebration.

The Big Red will meet the winner on Saturday's matchup between No. 1 Mercyhurst (29-2-3) and Boston University (17-8-12) in the national semifinals on Friday, March 19 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The time will be announced later this week. The championship game will take place on Sunday at noon  and will be televised by CBS College Sports Network.