Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Karlee Overguard scored 1:28 into overtime after Rebecca Johnston's last-second goal sent the contest into an extra period as Cornell took a 1-0 lead in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series over Rensselaer on Friday evening at Lynah Rink. The second-ranked and top-seeded Big Red improved to 27-2-1 on the season, while RPI fell to 10-17-7 with the heartbreaking loss.

With time running out and the Engineers clinging to a 2-1 advantage, Cornell got off shot after shot, only to be turned away by RPI goalkeeper Sonja van der Bliek, who posted 34 saves. The Big Red finally lit the lamp on an apparent score by Johnston with just over a minute to play, but it was wiped off the board after a video replay. Facing a 1-0 deficit in the series straight in the face and with an extra attacker, the Big Red finally equalized with just 6.7 seconds left on the clock. Brianne Jenner collected a loose puck near the end boards which squirted over to Chelsea Karpenko. Karpenko slotted it to Johnston and the All-American delivered with a quick shot that beat van der Bliek to send the game into overtime It was the last of a third period that saw the attacking Big Red outshoot the visitors 18-0.

The overtime was all Cornell, with just 1:28 going off the clock as the last of the Big Red's four shots on goal was capitalized. This time it was Jenner and Johnston assisting on Overguard's score as the deflated Engineers crumpled to the ice and the jubilant Big Red celebrated the game one win.

Prior to the third period, nothing seemingly was going right for Cornell and RPI capitalized. Catherine White got the home team on the board more than halfway through the first period, but Jill Vandegrift was able to knot the score at 1-1 with less than three minutes remaining before intermission. With less than five minutes left in the second RPI shocked the partisan crowd gathered despite the snowstorm in Ithaca, with Kendra Dunlop giving the visitors a lead it would hold for more nearly 25 minutes of game action before Johnston's score sent Cornell's fans into hysterics.

Cornell held a decisive 37-12 advantage in shots, including a 32-3 edge in the first and third, as well as overtime. Cornell killed off all four of its penalties and scored just once on the power-play, converting the first goal of the game.

The Big Red will attempt to close out the series in an elimination game two tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Lynah Rink.