ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior defenseman Nick D'Agostino set up junior forward John Esposito's power-play goal in the first period, then scored the winner 2 minutes, 46 seconds into the third period to help the Big Red men's hockey team fend off the University of Guelph, 3-2, on Friday night in its first exhibition game of the season.

Cornell enjoyed a lead of one or two goals for the remaining 50-plus minutes after Esposito's perfectly executed strike on the man advantage. Junior forward Greg Miller worked the puck to D'Agostino at the center point, and D'Agostino delivered a perfect hard pass that deflected off Esposito's stick just off the right post upward into the net.

Freshman Cole Bardreau gave the Big Red its other goal, doubling the hosts' lead with 55 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Senior defenseman Keir Ross started the play with a breakout pass up the left side of the defensive zone, and senior forward Locke Jillson carried through center before sending Bardreau up the left wing. Bardreau tried to center a pass from the bottom of the left circle, but the puck caromed off a defender. With Guelph goalie Scott VanBommel drifting away from the near post in anticipation of the pass, Bardreau alertly jammed the puck shortside along the ice.

That was the only moment the game appeared to have a chance of being broken open by the Big Red, which is now 14-1-2 in its exhibition games since 2000. The visiting Gryphons struck just 46 seconds into the second period when Zachary Lillie forced a turnover in the Big Red zone and snapped a shot past sophomore goalie Andy Iles to cut his club's deficit in half.

But as quickly as Guelph jumped back into the game, the Big Red answered with D'Agostino's goal. Good work down low by sophomore Armand de Swardt and junior Erik Axell down low in the Guelph zone created space for D'Agostino to rip a shot from the left point that sailed through traffic and over VanBommel's shoulder just two minutes after the Gryphons got on the board.

Cornell squandered a golden opportunity to increase its lead when it started the third period on a two-man advantage for 1:51, but nothing came of it. The teams played the remainder of the game at even strength, including an uneventful two-minute stretch of four-on-four. But shortly after that scenario ended, Guelph's Kris Belan broke down the right wing and around a defender, forcing a strong save from Iles. Andrew Merrett then swept in to convert the rebound, assuring a tense finish.

The Gryphons pulled VanBommel -- who was excellent in stopping 32 shots -- for the final 1:24, but never seriously threatened to equalize.

Cornell wraps up its exhibition season at 7 p.m. Saturday, welcoming another Ontario-based university to town when Carleton takes the ice at Lynah Rink.

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