Box Score Box Score (PDF)
 
HAMILTON, N.Y. — Not many players inside the Cornell men's hockey locker room knew how the winning goal was scored Friday night, but even fewer really cared.
 
Freshman defenseman Ryan Bliss was credited with the winner 57 seconds into overtime, sending a shot from the left point toward goal that bounced in off the back of a Colgate defender standing on the edge of the crease, powering the Big Red to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against the Raiders.
 
It's the second dramatic victory on a late winner in as many weeks for Cornell (9-9-2, 7-6 ECAC Hockey), with senior defenseman Joakim Ryan started the play with a cross-ice pass from just inside his blue line to lead the Big Red into the offensive zone. Sophomore forward Jeff Kubiak drove up the boards on the left side and circled behind the net. He sent the puck toward the middle, but it slid all the way to Bliss. With forwards Trevor Yates and Matt Buckles in front of net, Bliss' shot banked in for his second goal of the season.
 
Cornell entered the game 0-8 when trailing after two periods, but found itself in that position after Tylor Spink's quick strike early in the second period. The Big Red slowly started to gain momentum by the second half of the stanza, then took control in the third.
 
Senior forward John Knisley scored the tying goal with 14:53 remaining in regulation. A Colgate player took a shot from the top of the left circle that missed the net to the wide side and caromed hard up the far wall. Junior forward Teemu Tiitinen corralled the puck near the Cornell blue line and sent Knisley speeding up the left wing. He slipped the puck between a Colgate defenders skate in the faceoff circle, then beat him wide before directing the puck toward goal on the backhand. Colgate goalie Charlie Finn got a piece of it, but Knisley got one last jab to the puck that sent it sliding just inside the far post.
 
Sophomore goaltender Mitch Gillam — who entered the night leading the nation in goals-against average and save percentage — made 20 saves for the victory.
 
The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lynah Rink in Ithaca for the inaugural Courage Classic, with honorary coaches assigned to each team from Camp Good Days and Special Times.