Box Score (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. – In a matchup of one of the biggest teams in college hockey against a team with a smaller build, not only did the bigger team win Friday but the biggest man on the ice spearheaded the effort. Junior forward Christian Hilbrich, standing at 6 feet, 7 inches, scored twice and added an assist, and Cornell never trailed in a 4-1 victory over nationally ranked Denver to kick off a big non-league weekend series at Lynah Rink.

Sophomore goaltender Mitch Gillam made 32 saves for the victory, which was the fourth straight for Cornell (5-4-1). It was the first time this season the Big Red played against a ranked opponent.

Denver, which is ranked 10th and 11th in the major national polls, was coming off a bye week and came out with early jump. But it was the Big Red which struck first after a Pioneers defenseman lost an edge on a breakout, allowing the forechecking Hilbrich to break in from the right circle on a quick two-on-one. With senior forward Cole Bardreau breaking down the slot and drawing the attention of the defender, Hilbrich opted to shoot and beat Denver goalie Evan Cowley with a shot under the Florida Panthers draft pick's blocker.

The Pioneers countered with a goal by Trevor Moore, set up by great individual effort by Daniel Doremus, late in the first period. But Hilbrich put the Big Red back ahead midway through the second period after a fortuitous bounce left him with an open shot from the slot. The Big Red had just finished killing off a penalty, with freshman defenseman Ryan Bliss and Bardreau working the puck up the left wall to send sophomore forward Jake Weidner into the zone. Weidner attempted to send the puck toward goal, but it deflected off a defender and into Hilbrich's path coming down the slot. He made the most of the opportunity, this time burying a shot past Cowley's glove.

Cornell then padded the lead just 40 seconds into the third period on junior forward John Knisley's third goal in the last two games. Hilbrich created the play by make a slick move — absorbing a big hit to do so — along the wall to set up sophomore defenseman Patrick McCarron in space at the right point. McCarron's shot was kicked away by Cowley, but Knisley beat his defender to the rebound and flipped a shot inside the near post to give the Big Red a two-goal lead. Knisley was coming a two-goal effort in a 3-1 victory over Penn State last Saturday in The Frozen Apple at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Sophomore forward Eric Freschi then closed out the scoring with a short-handed empty-net goal. Junior defenseman Reece Willcox notched his first assist of the season on the play, and Weidner added the second assist off a faceoff win. Weidner now leads the team with six assists, and both of Freschi's goals this season have come short-handed.
 
Cornell and Denver meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lynah Rink.