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Highlights

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Senior forward Matt Buckles was glad history repeated itself at Lawler Rink on Saturday, and senior goaltender Mitch Gillam was happy it didn't in the Cornell men's hockey team's 1-0 victory over Merrimack. It was Buckles' second goal in as many games at Merrimack this season, and Gillam rebounded from a rough start in the season opener with an 18-save shutout in his return to the facility.
 
Cornell (9-4-1) survived an early surge from Merrimack (7-10-3) in a game with few scoring chances, taking over the game in the second period with Buckles' third goal of the year and stifling the Warriors the rest of the way. Gillam had little to do for the majority of the second period and early portions of the third before Merrimack started to fire more pucks toward goal from distance. Gillam was equal to them to record his ninth career shutout and exorcise some demons after being pulled on three goals against in two periods of play against the Warriors in October.
 
After a fairly quiet first period in which both teams had just a couple of scoring opportunities and one unsuccessful power play, Cornell started to generate more scoring chances toward the middle part of the second period. Junior forward Trevor Yates fired a shot from the left circle on the rush at the 6:30 mark that rang off the crossbar. He had another chance from the slot a couple minutes later, but the puck sailed wide.
 
Eventually, a solid shift from the line of senior Matt Buckles, junior Jared Fiegl and sophomore Beau Starrett drew a penalty on a three-on-two rush. While the Big Red ultimately came up empty on the man advantage, it kept possession in the Merrimack zone and set up the game's first goal. Sophomore forward Mitch Vanderlaan threaded a pass from the left halfwall to senior forward Jeff Kubiak in the opposite circle. His shot was knocked down by the right arm of Merrimack goalie Collin Delia, but the puck stayed behind him near the crease. Buckles got a touch to it in a battle with a couple Warriors defensemen, and the puck eventually slid over the goal line.
 
Cornell didn't capitalize on a major power play soon thereafter, setting the stage for a one-goal third period. Merrimack had the game's last power play in the final frame, with one of the game's biggest saves coming from an unlikely source. With Gillam sprawled out and a rebound bouncing into the slot, sophomore defenseman Alec McCrea blocked a shot from close range to keep the Big Red in front for good. Cornell's penalty kill — which entered the game ranked fifth in the nation — is now 31 for its last 33 (93.9%).
 
Cornell concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 5-2 record, now turning its attention to ECAC Hockey play for the 15 games of the regular season. The Big Red travels to Princeton next Friday and Quinnipiac on Saturday before playing nine of its final 13 contests at home.