Box Score (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. --- A pair of empty-net goals sealed No. 9/9 Princeton's 5-0 win over Cornell women's hockey Saturday afternoon at Lynah Rink, dropping the Big Red to 9-12-4 on the season and 5-9-4 in ECAC Hockey play.

Five different Tigers scored, while leading scorer Kelsey Koelzer chipped in three assists. Junior Hanna Bunton recorded eight shots for the Big Red, moving to No. 14 in Cornell history with 261 career shots on goal.

The Big Red outshot Princeton, 11-6, in a scoreless first frame, with most of the Tigers' shots resulting in routine saves from Cornell goaltender junior Paula Voorheis. Cornell got its first power play opportunity 5:26 into the opening frame, and junior Hanna Bunton sent in a backhand from the point, looking for senior Jess Brown in front, but Koelzer swatted the puck out of danger.

Midway through the stanza, junior Brianna Veerman sent a pass from the right post to senior Taylor Woods in front, and Woods' one-timer slid just wide to the left of Tigers goaltender Kimberly Newell. Just moments later, Newell snapped her glove shut on a quick wrist shot from freshman Lenka Serdar in the slot.

The Big Red had another man-advantage late in the first period, and Serdar, sophomore Erin O'Connor and freshman Christian Higham jammed away at a loose puck in the crease before Newell eventually sprawled to cover up and halt play.

Back at even-strength, Veerman found Bunton in front of the net with just over a minute to go in the stanza, but Newell kicked away Bunton's one-time attempt.

The Tigers (19-5-1, 12-5-1 ECAC Hockey) thought they had taken the lead early in the second, but the officials had blown the whistle before the crossed the line. But Princeton then used a power play of its own to open the scoring 9:27 into the second when Cassidy Tucker put in a low shot from the right post.

The Tigers doubled their lead less than four minutes later. Voorheis made the save on Koelzer's initial shot, but the puck bounced around in the crease until Cristin Shanahan poked it in.
With the score 2-0 in favor of Princeton, a group of determined Cornell penalty killers shut the Tigers out on a 5-on-3 opportunity in the opening moments of the third period.

A puck squirted out to Kimiko Marinacci in the high slot 8:28 into the final frame, and she sent a high shot in to five the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

The Big Red pulled Voorheis with over six minutes to go, but Morgan Sly and Hilary Lloyd both put shots into the empty net to solidify the Tigers' victory.

Cornell will take its final regular season road trip on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13, when the team travels to Brown and Yale for a pair of crucial ECAC Hockey and Ivy League matchups.