Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior forward Greg Miller scored his eighth goal of the season late in the third period, but the men's hockey team was already multiple goals behind and could never catch up to Quinnipiac on Friday in a 4-1 loss at Lynah Rink. It's the sixth straight loss for the Big Red.
 
It didn't take long for the Bobcats (20-3-4, 13-0-2 ECAC Hockey), ranked second in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, to find the scoresheet and put Cornell (8-12-2, 4-9-2 ECAC Hockey) on its heels. Just 1 minute, 13 seconds into the game, Mike Dalhuisen wristed a point shot that banked off the back of a defenseman's leg, then off the stick of Clay Harvey and between the knees of Cornell goalie Andy Iles to give the visitors an early lead. It was the 11th time in the last 12 games there was a goal in the first four minutes (six of those goals have been scored by the opposition).
 
The Big Red got its footing and played a solid period, generating two golden opportunities to tied the score late. Both Greg Miller and Erik Axell had open shots from the slot, but both were swallowed up by Quinnipiac goaltender Eric Hartzell.
 
Cornell got into some penalty trouble in the second period, facing a five-on-three disadvantage for 28 seconds. The trio of Joakim Ryan, Nick D'Agostino and Axell killed that off, leaving the Big Red a perfect 6-for-6 in two-man disadvantage scenarios this season.
 
But, just like when Quinnipiac and Cornell first squared off this season on Nov. 10, the Bobcats struck on the ensuing five-on-four power play. Jordan Samuels-Thomas flew down the right side and beat Iles through the five-hole with a hard wrist shot to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.
 
Iles had to come up big in the second for the Big Red as he made 10 stops, including one off of his mask from Zack Currie early in the period, and a strong stop late in the frame on a partial breakaway.
 
The Bobcats struck early again in the third period. Danny Federico's shot from the left point was blocked, but not cleared – hitting the tape of Matthew Peca's stick. The Quinnipiac sophomore then beat an off-balance Iles with a shot to the blocker side.
 
Hartzell made 24 saves for his 20th victory of the season, but his shutout attempt was thwarted with 2:13 remaining on a quirky goal. Freshman defenseman Reece Willcox gained the zone, then freshman Christian Hilbrich and Miller cycled in the right corner. Miller's attempted pass from behind the net to Hartzell's left was intended for Hilbrich cutting to the top of the crease, but the puck bounced into the net off the goalie. Connor Jones then tapped in an unassisted empty-netter to cap the scoring.
 
Cornell returns to Lynah Rink on Saturday, when its hosts Princeton at 7 p.m. The game is sold out.