Box Score (PDF)

HAMILTON, N.Y. – Senior Emily Fulton tallied twice in the final 6:29 and once more with 2:54 remaining in overtime to lead Cornell women's hockey to a gutsy 3-2 comeback victory over Colgate on Tuesday evening at Starr Rink. It was the first career natural hat-trick for Fulton, as the Big Red moved to 11-3-2, setting up a huge matchup Friday evening in a battle for first place at fifth-ranked Quinnipiac.
 
Both teams had an early chance in the extra session, before sophomore Caroline DeBruin drew a checking call on the rush to set Cornell up with its fifth powerplay chance of the game. The Big Red executed a set play right off the faceoff to score the sudden-death winner. Jenner won the puck back to O'Connor, who moved to the center point. She saucer passed the puck back to Jenner who swung out to her standard spot in the left circle. The captain one touched a pass to Fulton, who had somehow found space between three Colgate defenders between the circles. She one-timed a bomb five-hole past Colgate netminder Ashlynne Rando; getting mobbed by her exuberant teammates as soon as the puck hit the twine.
 
Jenner would finish with three assists, in the process moving past Cornell great Digit Degidio (1979-83) for third place on the program's all-time scoring list with 215 career points. Senior Jillian Saulnier, junior Cassandra Poudrier and freshman Erin O'Connor would add helpers in the contest.
 
Sophomore netminder Paula Voorheis (W, 11-7-3) played a solid game in net, finishing with 24 saves on 26 Colgate shots. She made several strong stops to keep the Big Red in the contest, before the squad put on incredible offensive pressure as the clock wound under 10-minutes in the third period.
 
The game looked well in doubt, as time began to dwindle. Colgate's junior goaltender Ashlynne Rando looked like she would assuredly be the difference maker, after repeatedly deny grade-A chances from the Big Red's snipers throughout the game. However, Cornell (13-7-3, 11-3-2 ECAC Hockey) remained calm and stuck to its game plan with a quiet confidence that it would eventually pay off.
 
Finally, the Big Red broke through with 6:29 remaining on Fulton's first of three straight tallies. With the Big Red generating fantastic zone time in the Colgate (7-20-1, 4-11-1 ECAC Hockey) end, Saulnier worked a puck free to space at the right point. Jenner raced to the puck to track it down before it could cross the blue-line. She worked her way down the right wing boards behind the net, before dropping a no-look pass to Fulton who was sitting at the near post with inside position on the Raider defender. Her first shot was denied by Rando with a fantastic toe save, but Fulton would not be denied the second time, popping the puck into the cage.
 
With work still left to do, Cornell continued to press the issue with long stretch passes, but the Raiders held strong with tight defense on the advanced forwards to prevent them from receiving the attempted passes. The Big Red caught a break when Colgate freshman Breanne Wilson-Bennett was whistled for hooking junior defender Taylor Woods as the two battled for a puck deep in the Cornell zone.
 
Head coach Doug Derraugh elected to put all his chips into the middle of the table, pulling Voorheis for the extra-attacker, to set up a six-on-four for the remainder of the game. The Big Red took only 12 seconds to capitalize, to tie the score at 2-2. Junior Cassandra Poudrier through a puck through a crowded mass in front of the Raider net. Jenner located the puck off the scrum in front and sent a glorious feed to Fulton at the backdoor. She pumped it into the open four-by-six for her 16th of the season to pull Cornell level.
 
The Big Red nearly won it in regulation with 26 seconds remaining, as Saulnier ripped a one-timer from point blank range, but the puck was smothered in Rando's pads. The game would go to overtime; setting up the dramatics from Fulton. Rando would finish with 36 saves in the heroic effort.
 
From the outset it looked like the Big Red would be in for a battle. Voorheis was extremely sharp early  to make several strong reaction saves, including a couple of denials of Colgate dynamic freshman Breanne Wilson-Bennett in close. The sophomore made several denials, as the Raiders did a nice job of creating transition offense. The Big Red would hold up strong in the defensive zone, killing a late period penalty, but struggled to establish a rhythm in the offensive end.
 
Colgate finally broke through with 32 seconds remaining in the period. After the Big Red top-line controlled play with an extended shift in the Raider end, the home team worked its transition game to senior Melissa Kueber, who slashed through center ice one-on-two. She swung right and dipped her inside shoulder on a power move to the net. Voorheis made the initial pad stop, but Kueber was able to get just enough of a second chance tap on the puck to squeak it five-hole past the sophomore netminder for the 1-0 Colgate lead.
 
Cornell came out determined in the middle period, making a concerted effort to get pucks to the net. Just two minutes into the period, the Big Red got a three-on-one break into the zone, but Erin O'Connor's one-timer from between the circles was denied by the Colgate goaltender. Just a minute later, Woods made a nice play to peel off the wall and fire a backhand that was also denied by Rando.
 
The Big Red continued to press and looked to surely tie the game with 12:05 remaining in the middle frame. Junior Jess Brown sprung seniors Emily Fulton and Jillian Saulnier on a two-on-zero break. Fulton moved down the right wing, feeding Saulnier in the crease. Saulnier touch passed it back to Fulton who was charging the near post with Rando slightly out of position. Fulton ripped a first touch shot, but Rando sprawled back with an unbelievable reach and snared the puck in her glove in one of the highlight saves of the season.
 
The home netminder continued her strong play as the Big Red created a litany of chances on a powerplay just two minutes later. Rando made several denials, including stops on one-timer chances from Jenner and Fulton.
 
Matters worsened as the Raiders tallied another late period goal, again on a net front scrum. After Cornell had another pressuring shift in the Raider zone, the home squad charged back into the Cornell end. Raider freshman Megan Sullivan stopped up at the right half wall and whipped a backdoor pass to sophomore Kayla Haus at the far post. Voorheis stretched out with the pad to deny the first shot, but the rebound found its way back to the opposite post where Wilson-Bennett made the easy backhand tap-in to the open cage to double the Raider lead.
 
The Big Red continued to push for the elusive goal as the period wound to conclusion. Jenner fed Fulton for another glorious look between the circles, but Rando made another fine stop, shrugging her shoulder to just catch a piece of the puck to turn it away. The Raiders took a 2-0 lead to the third.
 
Needing offense in quick order, Cornell pushed hard on the forecheck to begin the period. The squad's efforts paid off as it earned an early powerplay chance. O'Connor and Taylor Woods both got powerful point shots through traffic, but Rando stood tall to deny both chances. Just two minutes later the Big Red had to kill off a penalty of its own, when sophomore Caroline DeBruin went off for tripping. Jenner and Saulnier both got off dangerous shorthanded chances, but Rando was too tough on this night, gobbling up both shots with the chest pad.
 
Fulton's breakthrough sparked the Big Red to the much needed victory to into a tie with Clarkson for third place in the conference with 24 points. The squad trails Harvard by a single point, while it trails the conference leading Bobcats by two.
 
Cornell will return to action on Friday evening when it travels to Quinnipiac for a huge road matchup with the Bobcats. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.