BURLINGTON, VT. - The no. 5-ranked Cornell women's ice hockey team fell 4-3 to the Vermont Catamounts on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Big Red dropped to 9-3-1 on the season, while the Catamounts improved to 6-9-2 on the year.

Avi Adam, Delaney Fleming, and Lindzi Avar scored goals in the game for the Big Red. Georgia Schiff, Grace Dwyer, Rose Dwyer (three), and Nora Curtis were credited with assists for Cornell. Julia Mesplede (two), Lauren O'Hara, and Ashley Kokavec were the Catamount goal-scorers. Zarcone (two), Podein, O'Hara (two), and Brochu (three) dealt assists for Vermont.

Annelies Bergmann made 19 saves in net for the Big Red, allowing four. Bergmann dropped to 9-3-1 between the pipes this season. Vermount goaltender Ellie Simmons made 27 stops and allowed three goals in the win for the Catamounts. Simmons improved to 3-5-2 in net this year.

The Catamounts put away the opening goal five minutes into the contest on a power-play. The Dwyer sisters fed Adam who made no mistake on a breakaway at the 10 minute mark to bring the score back equal at 1-1. Fleming put her skating skills on display with 2:44 left in the first period and finished the job to give Cornell it's first lead of the game. Abby Thibodeau saved the lead by stepping in front of the Vermont shot when the Catamounts had an opportunity with a wide open net as the period wound away.

Kokavec flung the puck toward the net from near the blue-line, finding the back of the net to tie the game up at 2-2 just 25 seconds into the second frame. Vermont went ahead 3-2 three minutes later when Mesplede got one past Bergmann. The nation's leading power-play unit struck again 14 minutes into the second period when Avar found space on the top shelf to knot the game up at 3-3. O'Hara responded five minutes later with a greasy goal to put the Catamounts back in front 4-3.

Cornell had a prime chance to find the equalizer 15 minutes into the third period during a power-play. The Big Red produced a few dangerous chances but none good enough to alter the scoreboard. Moments later Bergmann left the net, and Cornell did more of the same, managing quality chances, to no avail. The Catamounts would skate away with the upset victory over Cornell at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Top Performer: Lauren O'Hara (UVM) - 1g, 2a (GWG)
Winning Goaltender: Ellie Simmons (UVM) - 27 saves, 13 of those came in the third period while the Catamounts held just a 4-3 lead.

Next Up
The no. 5 Cornell women's ice hockey team will return to the ice tomorrow for game two of the series against the Vermont Catamounts. Puck drop between the Big Red and the Catamounts is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.