ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 4 Cornell women's hockey team downed Rensselaer, 2-1, in overtime to take Game One of the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals. The Big Red (21-3-6, 17-3-2 ECAC Hockey) recorded a season-high 65 shots and held the Engineers (13-17-5, 10-11-1 ECAC Hockey) to just seven.
 
Pippy Gerace netted the game-winner just under 16 minutes into the overtime period to put the Big Red ahead 1-0 in the best-of-three series. Paige Lewis attempted the initial shot that Rensselaer goaltender Lovisa Selander was initially able to turn away, but Gerace sent the rebound home.
 
Cornell had a plethora of chance in the first 47 minutes of the contest, but had nothing to show for it at the first intermission. Cornell fired a total of 39 shots on net, but Selander, the NCAA's all-time leader in saves, had the answer each time. Selander entered the contest ranked third in the nation in save percentage with a mark of .940.
 
It was the Engineers that struck first with a goal from Blake Orosz. The initial shot came near the top of the blue line from Jaimie Grigsby. The puck slightly brazed and snuck its way past Marlène Boissonnault in net.
 
The goal came on the power play, ending the Big Red's streak of 17 successful kills in a row.
 
The Big Red finally got on the board with 12:12 left in regulation. Kristin O'Neill collected the puck in its defensive zone. O'Neill spotted Gillis Frechette up the ice and fired the puck forward to her. Frechette received the puck and brought it into the offensive zone. Frechette weaved through two Rensselaer defenders and snuck the puck five-hole to even the score.
 
With the assist O'Neill recorded her 100th career point. O'Neill is the 23rd member of the program to reach the century mark.
 
Boissonnault, who stopped six of the shots seven shots she faced on the evening, won her 54th career game which passes Amanda Mazzotta for second all-time in program history.
 
The Big Red looks to close out the series with the Engineers at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Lynah in game two of the quarterfinal.

THE BIG RED'S LINEUP

NOTES TO KNOW

• Gerace has netted the game-winner in the Big Red's last three games, prior to the stretch she had just five in her career.
• This was the Big Red's 599th program victory. 
• Cornell has recorded 60 or more shots in back-to-back contests.
• Since 2010 the Big Red is now 17-3 in ECAC Hockey quarterfinal games.
• The Big Red extended its win streak against the Engineers to six straight.