ITHACA, N.Y. — After falling behind 1-0 midway through the second period, the 11th-ranked Cornell men's hockey team responded with five unanswered goals — the first three in a blistering 4:27 span — to cruise past visiting St. Lawrence 5-1 before 3,762 at Lynah Rink on Friday night.

Junior forward Ryan Walsh led the charge with a three-point effort, scoring once and setting up two other tallies for the Big Red (19-8-1, 14-6-1 ECAC Hockey). Junior defenseman George Fegaras and senior forward Nick DeSantis each contributed a goal and an assist, while junior forward Jake Kraft added two helpers as Cornell closed out the opening night of its final regular-season weekend in dominant fashion.

The Big Red held St. Lawrence (7-23-3, 6-14-1 ECAC Hockey) to just 15 shots — the fewest allowed by Cornell all season — while generating 33 of its own.

The first period was scoreless despite a lively start, with both teams combining to ring three posts — two off Cornell sticks — in a game that carried an early playoff feel.

"They kind of had some jump into their game — kind of caught us off guard," DeSantis said. "I think a couple shifts in a row where we had them down in their zone, that kind of gave us momentum."

St. Lawrence broke through 17 seconds past the midpoint of the game when senior defenseman Isack Bandu's shot fom the point evaded traffic in front of Cornell freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer.

The Saints' lead would last just 65 seconds as freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux answered quickly, wristing a shot from the top of the slot through traffic to level the score.

Veilleux's tying goal was his sixth of the season, breaking the program record for points by a freshman defenseman.

"They always say the shift after a goal is one of the bigger shifts of the game," Walsh said. "To be able to respond right back helped give momentum back in our favor."

Cornell didn't stop there. DeSantis put the Big Red in front for good, pouncing on a loose rebound inside the crease after St. Lawrence goaltender Cameron Smith stopped a Fegaras shot.

"George had a chance, it hit off the pad, hit my shin and was right there for me to poke it in," DeSantis said, who scored for the first time since facing St. Lawrence in Canton on Dec. 6. "It felt good to score, especially this weekend — it's a really special time for me and my classmates."

Freshman forward Caton Ryan extended the lead to 3-1 just 47 seconds later — his 10th goal of the year, making him just the eighth Cornell freshman in the last 20 seasons to reach double digits in goals.

Fegaras and Walsh each added third-period insurance to close out the victory.

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM CASEY JONES '90, RYAN WALSH & NICK DESANTIS


GAME NOTES
• Cornell extended its all-time series lead over St. Lawrence to 73-48-9 and has gone 16-4-1 over the last 21 meetings, holding the Saints to two or fewer goals in every one of those games — the longest such streak against a single opponent in program history.

LONGEST STREAK OF HOLDING OPPONENT TO TWO GOALS OR LESS
Against Active Division I Programs
• 21 games - St. Lawrence (Dec. 4, 2015 – Present)
• 17 games – Yale (Feb. 10, 2001 – Jan. 26, 2008)
• 16 games – RPI (Feb. 19, 2000 - Nov. 26, 2006)
• 12 games – Vermont (Feb. 12, 1999 - Present)
• 12 games – Brown (March 22, 2019 - Present)
• 11 games – Brown (Nov. 14, 1998 – March 21, 2003)
• 11 games – Colgate (Jan. 18, 2002 – March 17, 2006)
• 11 games – Dartmouth (Feb. 11, 1967 – Jan. 29, 1972)

• The win marks Cornell's first regular-season sweep of St. Lawrence since 2019-20, when the Big Red swept the Saints for the fourth straight season.

• After scoring six and seven goals in its last two games against St. Lawrence, Friday's five-goal output marked the first time Cornell had scored at least five goals against the Saints in three consecutive games since logging victories of 8-3 (Feb. 8, 1985 in Ithaca), 7-6 in overtime (Nov. 23, 1985, in Ithaca) and 7-4 (Feb. 7, 1986 in Canton).

• Veilleux's goal was his sixth of the season and first at even strength, giving him 24 points on the year (6-18—24). That breaks the Cornell freshman defenseman scoring record previously shared by Chris Norton '88 (4-19—23 in 1984-85) and Ben Robertson (5-18—23 in 2023-24). His six goals are second-most by a first-year Big Red defenseman, behind only Joakim Ryan's seven in 2011-12.

MOST POINTS BY A CORNELL FRESHMAN DEFENSEMAN
Cornell Program History
• 24, Xavier Veilleux (6-18—24), 2025-26
• 23, Chris Norton (4-19—23), 2011-12
• 23, Ben Robertson (5-18—23), 2023-24
• 21, Mark McRae (5-16—21), 1999-00
• 19, Bruce Frauley (1-18—19), 1987-88

MOST GOALS SCORED BY A CORNELL FRESHMAN DEFENSEMAN
Cornell Program History
• 7, Joakim Ryan (2011-12)
• 6, Xavier Veilleux (2025-26)
• 5, Mark McRae (1999-00)
• 5, Ben Robertson (2023-24)

• Veilleux also became the fourth Cornell freshman this season to score at least six goals, matching program records set by the 2002-03 and 2011-12 teams.

MOST FRESHMEN WITH 6+ GOALS IN SINGLE SEASON
Cornell Program History
• 2002-03, Matt Moulson (13), Shane Hynes (11), Cam Abbott (7), Daniel Pegoraro (6)
• 2011-12, Brian Ferlin (8), Joakim Ryan (7), Joel Lowry (6), John McCarron (6)
• 2025-26, Caton Ryan (10), Gio DiGiulian (9), Aiden Long (9), Xavier Veilleux (6)

• Ryan's second-period strike was his 10th of the season, making him the eighth Cornell freshman in the last 20 years to reach double digits in goals.

MOST GOALS SCORED BY A CORNELL FRESHMAN
Last 20 Years (Since 2006-07)
• 12, Michael Regush (2018-19)
• 12, Ondrej Psenicka (2021-22)
• 12, Ryan Walsh (2023-24)
• 12, Riley Nash (2007-08)
• 11, Colin Greening (2006-07)
• 11, Anthony Angello (2015-16)
• 11, Jonathan Castagna (2023-24)
• 10, Caton Ryan (2025-26)

• Cournoyer, who made 14 saves on the night, registered his 16th win of the season in his 23rd career game, becoming the eighth Big Red netminder to accomplish the feat.

MOST GOALTENDER WINS IN FIRST 23 CAREER GAMES
Cornell Program History
• 22, Ken Dryden (1966-67)
• 20, Brian Cropper (1968-70)
• 19, Dave LeNeveu (2001-03)
• 17, Brian Hayward (1978-79)
• 17, Matthew Galajda (2017-18)
• 16, Dave Elenbaas (1970-72)
• 16, Corrie D'Alessio (1987-88)
• 16, Alexis Cournoyer (2025-26)

• Cornell dominated the faceoff circle, winning 44 of 68 draws (64.7 percent). Sophomore forward Charlie Major went 11-for-14 (78.6 percent), matching his career high, while junior forward Jonathan Castagna won 15 of 21 (71.4 percent).

HOBEY BAKER MEMORIAL AWARD VOTING
Cornell fans are encouraged to continue to support junior forwards Ryan Walsh and Jonathan Castagna, both of whom have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Fan voting for college hockey's top player runs through midnight on Sunday, March 8.

Fans can vote online at hobeybaker.com/vote or text their vote to 844-623-9688 (text "26089" for Walsh or "26090" for Castagna). Fans may vote for one player per day.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 10, in Las Vegas during the NCAA Frozen Four.

UP NEXT
Cornell closes out the regular season Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Clarkson (15-15-3, 9-9-3 ECAC Hockey) on Senior Night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., with the annual Senior Night ceremony to follow.

Clarkson arrives having beaten Colgate 4-1 on Friday, with four different players finding the net. Tristan Sarsland had two assists, while goaltender Shane Soderwall made 30 saves in the victory.