ITHACA, N.Y. - The Cornell women's ice hockey team has been named the #1 team in the final USCHO poll of the 2019-20 season. This marks the first time in program history the Big Red has been ranked #1 on the final USCHO poll, with the 2011-12 squad getting the closest with a third-place rank.
 
In order to help in the efforts to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big Red's season was cut short before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Before the season ended, Cornell finished 2019-20 as the regular-season champion of the Ivy League and the ECAC Hockey league. 
 
By finishing the season with a 28-2-3 record, Cornell's winning percentage (.894) led the nation (for the first time in program history) with (its season-ending win percentage ever). It also serves as the nation's highest winning percentage at season's end since 2016, when Boston College went undefeated throughout the regular season, losing only the NCAA Championship. 
 
Within the ECAC Hockey league, the Big Red stood out just as much. Consistently a leader on the ice, Cornell led its league in winning percentage (.932), team offense (3.82 goals per game) and team defense (0.73 goals against average). With a 19-0-3 conference record, the Big Red finished league play as the first team in program history to complete the regular season undefeated. Its 41 points gave the team a six-point cushion for its sixth, and second-straight, regular-season trophy. 
 
Similar to the team as a whole, the Cornell defense led the 2019-20 squad to finish as the top defensive team in the country. The Big Red ranked first in the nation in team defense by surrendering less than one goal per game - including a team-low 22 even-strength goals in 33 games. Its 0.94 goals against average (GAA) serves as the lowest a National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey team has seen since the 2016-17 season when Wisconsin finished with a 0.88 GAA. 
 
Combined with its team defense, the Big Red offense helped bring the team to the top of the nation. Through the end of the season, Cornell's offense scored 127 goals in 33 games. Its average of 3.85 goals per game ranked fifth in the nation and was the highest posted by Cornell since 2011-12 - a team that also finished with 3.85 goals per game. The 2010-11 squad holds the current record with 4.60 goals per game.
 
To cap off the 2019-20 season, the Big Red's All-Americans will be announced on Tuesday, Mar. 24.