ITHACA, N.Y. - The no. 3 Cornell women's ice hockey team defeated the Union Garnet Chargers 3-2 in game two of the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals round on Saturday afternoon at Lynah Rink. The Big Red improved to 22-4-5 on the season, while the Garnet Chargers concluded its season with a 13-23-1 record.

With the victory, Cornell will advance to the ECAC Hockey semifinal game, where it will host the lowest-seed remaining following the quarterfinals.

Grace Dwyer, Karel Prefontaine, and Gabbie Rud registered Big Red goals in the contest. Katie Chan, Mckenna Van Gelder (two), Avi Adam, and Dwyer were credited with assists in the game. Annelies Bergmann made 17 saves on the afternoon.

In the first-period, Bergmann (8) and Matsoukis (13) were tested at a fairly equal rate, with both standing tall against all of the attempts. Cornell managed a pair of penalty kills and the Garnet Chargers earned one in the opening frame to keep the game scoreless after one. 

Dwyer found the back of the net on a power-play in the second period to get the scoring started. Union responded in a timely manner when Maddie Leaney snuck the puck past the top shoulder of Bergmann four minutes later. Maren Friday put the Garnet Chargers in front with under one minute remaining in the second.

The Big Red pulled Bergmann with roughly three minutes remaining as it searched for the equalizer. Adam shot wide and Prefontaine grabbed the rebound on the opposite side and put the puck behind Matsoukis to tie the game. Bergmann returned to the net to make it even strength, but the Big Red kept the heat on. Van Gelder handled the puck and found Rud in the slot who slid the puck behind Matsoukis again with 28 seconds left in the game to give Cornell its second lead of the game.

The Big Red shut down the 28 second Union empty-net situation to complete the comeback and advance to its second consecutive ECAC Hockey Championship weekend.

Next Up
The Cornell women's ice hockey team will return to Lynah Rink to host the lowest-seed remaining in the ECAC Hockey semifinal game on Friday, March 7. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.