Photography by Celeste Cirillo-Penn

Photos can be found at:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151194128413078.1073741845.6048358077&type=1

Photography by Celeste Cirillo-Penn

The Cornell Baseball team played the University of Pennsylvania this past weekend.  Photos can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151184572853078.1073741839.6048358077&type=1

In Game 2, it continued to look as if Cornell was cruising. Although Harvard got across a run in the 1st, Cornell had a big inning in the 3rd scoring 3 runs, 2 of those runs off the bat of Chris Cruz who hit a towering home run into the parking lot in right field. Cornell was able to extend their lead to 7-3 by the bottom of the 5th after another 2 2-run innings, and T.J. Parthemer came into relieve for a struggling Brent Jones, and began to sail. But everything unraveled in the 7th. Parthemer walked the bases loaded and then let up two one-run singles. Eric Upton came in to stop the bleeding, but just wasn’t able to, and his defense didn’t help. Upton allowed a single and then a fielding error by Brenton Peters allowed the tying run to score. Upton then allowed a two-run single and another fielding error allowed the score to become 10-7 Harvard. Cornell developed a few opportunities in the 8th and 9th Innings but were unable to cash in and fell by that score. It was surely a crushing defeat for a team that seemed like it would easily secure two quick victories. Instead, they let that one inning get the better of them. The Big Red hope to turn it around today as they play the Big Green in Dartmouth in a doubleheader starting at 12 PM EST; the first game will be televised on Fox College Sports.

-Written By Matthew Provenzano

Producer: Yasmin Alameddine
Editor: Yasmin Alameddine
Writers: Joyce Wu, Lindsay Wershaw, Lucas Strombeck, Katrina Okano
Anchors: Katrina Okano, Joyce Wu

“I have shivers, because that’s just how much I was excited for this game… for me this game was huge,” explained Senior defenseman and team captain Laurianne Rougeau-7.

As always, the match-up between No.4 Big Red and No.5 Crimson was anticipated to be a contested challenge.  In its penultimate home exhibition of the season, the Big Red women’s hockey team defeated the Crimson 3-1 after a tight battle.

Senior forward Erin Barley-Maloney-22, who assisted in all three goals, said, “We came out tonight just trying to be focused and play our hearts out.  And we did.”

Cornell came out strong in the first period.  Rougeau scored the team’s first goal with assists from Barley-Maloney-22 and Taylor Woods-25.

The Big Red maintained its lead into the second period, but Harvard’s Hillary Crowe-8 soon tied the score up.  Both teams played their A-games, providing for little movement on either side.

“When we play consistent with discipline… we’re an aggressive team, a fast team,” Coach Dough Derraugh ’91 said of his team’s performance, “When we do play with that mindset, we’re a very tough team to beat.”  And that’s exactly what the Big Red was tonight.

Junior Forward Jessica Campbell-8, who Coach Derraugh described as “the fastest skater maybe anywhere,” scored the Big Red’s second and third goals in the third period, giving the Big Red the first of the two victories it needed this weekend to secure the Ivy League title.

“We know what we gotta do, and we’re on the same page.  I think we just communicate well and we talk well on the bench… We stick with our game plan,” explained Campbell of the team’s success.

Said Coach Derraugh, “It’s such a great sport, women’s ice hockey, and I think some people just don’t realize it.  And tonight (the fans) got a treat to a real good hockey game.”

The team shares a victory hug; Photograph by Celeste Cirillo-Penn

The Men’s Soccer team celebrates a goal.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

By Celeste Cirillo-Penn

In 2008, the Cornell Men’s Soccer team faced one of the most disappointing seasons in program history, ending with a record of 1-15. Now, four years later, the team has achieved its goals, turning around the program with an incredible season that culminated in an Ivy League Championship and bid to the NCAA national tournament.

“It’s just a spectacular feeling to achieve the goals that you’ve been striving for all this time,” senior midfielder, Nico Nissl said.  “All the hard work that you put in finally coming down to this.”

The road to the Ivy Championship and NCAA bid has been a long one, encompassing a four-year journey. Seniors, Nissl and Rick Pflasterer, who joined the team the year after the 1-15 season, and Tyler Regan, who transferred to Cornell the following year, experienced firsthand the challenges of a new coaching staff and culture.

“Obviously, in a new system the coaching staff is trying to grow and figure out what works best for the program, and while we’re in it we’re growing along with them,” goalkeeper Pflasterer said.

Despite the challenges, the team credits its ability to succeed to the new culture brought by head coach, Jaro Zawislan.

“It’s definitely a new philosophy,” senior, forward, Regan said.  “Coach Jaro lives the game; he breathes the game, and he expects everybody on the team to do the same.  He really has done a great job of not just taking players who are very talented, but players with a great mindset.”

From that first year the program grew because of the culture Zawislan created.

“We always look for the people…that don’t just come to the training sessions to punch in and punch out the card,” Zawislan said.  “We look for the players who are committed to studying the game, developing themselves and improving themselves on a daily basis…  That passion, that interest, that commitment to developing their game has been the key.”

However, with that level of intensity, strong team chemistry has been crucial.

“We do pretty much everything together,” Nissl said.  “Everyone’s got their unique individual personalities that they bring to the team, which really helps to lighten the load when you need it to be lightened.  But then everyone knows that when it’s time to get serious everyone has to be serious, and it’s pretty much game time.”

The team’s bond is essential, especially after last season when a late stumble put the Ivy League title and NCAA at large bid just out of reach.  These near misses pushed the team to come back stronger this season.

“It just motivated us to work that much harder because sitting in that room with all your teammates and then not hearing your name called [for the bid] is brutal,” Regan said.  “So the offseason – the winter, the spring, the summer – I think everyone just worked harder than they’ve ever worked.”

Zawislan believes that the extra work in the offseason allowed them to achieve so much success this year.

“When they went back home for the summer they took ownership to keep progressing,” Zawislan said.  “[It] was tremendous to experience the level of the players coming into the preseason.  We didn’t have to work on the cardio fitness; we were able to just jump in right away.”

With the increased fitness level, the team immediately showed that this season was going to be different.  Straight out of the gates in a series of games in California, the men were able to prove their ability, not only to the soccer world, but also to themselves.

“For the last four years we never really felt anything like this, so I think getting those first couple of wins in California was a huge boost for us,” Pflasterer said.  “We came in more confident to a lot of games.  We knew we could do it.”

Tyler Regan dribbles past a defender.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

From there the team went on to compile an impressive 12 game undefeated streak, which eclipsed the previous Cornell record of 11 games set in 1995.

However, despite the undefeated streak, the team remained focused on each successive game.

“I don’t think I really realized we were on a streak until the very end,” Nissl said. “We were so focused on each week that one game.  As soon as we get the result, we move on from it.”

That attitude allowed the team to combat the mounting pressure and continue to produce positive results.

“We had to take every game just one game at a time,” Regan said.  “If you look at the whole season, if you look at trying to get to the tournament, trying to win the Ivies, it gets very overwhelming.”

This attitude also helped the men bounce back from a tough loss to Brown that ended their streak and put their Ivy League championship goal in jeopardy.  The team lost 2-0 in a game that saw Cornell fall to second in the Ivy League standings with only three games left to play, and its future depending on Brown’s subsequent games.

“When it happened it sucked. I’m not going to lie,” Regan said.  “It’s one of those games where we felt like we played well.  We got chances, but we had some unfortunate breaks.”

However, the team pulled together and immediately regrouped.

“We met with the team, and we asked the team where are we going to go from here?  What are we going to do now?” Nissl said.  “Everyone straight away said our next game, Princeton, that’s a game we have to win, and if we win that we’ll move on from there. Everyone was just so determined to be able to step on the field again and to prove themselves.”

The team rebounded to beat Princeton 1-0, and went on to defeat Dartmouth 2-1 in a thrilling double overtime victory.

“If you’re getting tired, you make one more run.  You make one more tackle because it’s not like we get another chance,” Regan said.

That same day, Brown tied with Yale, allowing Cornell to reclaim the top of the standings with only one game to go and the squad’s future in its own hands going into the final game of the season against Columbia.

“It was a battle,” Pflasterer said of the Columbia game.  “When we won [1-0], it was crazy.  Everyone kind of erupted, and it was just fans and players running, and jumping up and down, and cheering.”

As a result of the Ivy League Championship victory, the team won an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.  However, the squad faced an early exit in the NCAAs after a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Syracuse in the first round.

Despite the loss in the NCAA tournament, the team has accomplished much and created a legacy at Cornell.

“The year before [the current seniors began playing at Cornell] we were 1-15, and now we are 15-1,” Pflasterer said.  “This year is a culmination of everything coming together for us, and I’m proud of being part of that legacy that said they could turn this Cornell soccer program around.”

“The environment was awesome… You see the pride that people have for our university, said Cornell Coach Mike Schafer, “There is a special bond at Cornell between the hockey program, its alumni, its faculty, and its townspeople, and there’s not a greater place to put it on display than Madison Square Garden.”

Despite the unusual venue, the Lynah Faithful turned out to the Garden in masses, clearly outnumbering Michigan fans in attendance.  Cornell fans, current families and alumni alike were as enthusiastic as ever, maintaining high energy levels from the start of the first period to the end of the third.

Cornell took control early when left wing Joel Lowry-28 scored the first goal of the game on the power play just over fifteen minutes into the first period.  Assists from Brian Ferlin, Joakim Ryan, and Greg Miller put the play in motion.

At the start of the second period, Cornell emerged in new camouflaged jerseys to pay homage American soldiers and to support the Wounded Warrior Project.  “It was such an honor and privilege to wear those jerseys, and to don not only the Wounded Warriers, but Cornell at the same time,” said Miller.  These game-worn and signed jerseys will be up for auction to support the Wounded Warriors foundation.

Perhaps deriving strength from thoughts of the men and women they were supporting, right wing Teemu Tiitinen and center Miller both scored goals for the Big Red during the second period.  Goalie Andy Iles-33 deflected several shots from Michigan, allowing the Big Red to keep a comfortable lead.

Cornell entered the third period with a 3-0 advantage.  Nearly eight minutes in, Cornell center Erik Axell-21 scored his first goal of the season with assists from Braden Birch and Dustin Mowrey. Nine minutes into the third period, Michigan’s Mac Bennett-37 scored the first and only goal for the Wolverines.  The final goal of the evening, though, went to Cornell.  Miller scored his second goal of the evening with less than three minutes left on the clock.  This brought the game to its final score of Cornell 5, Michigan 1.

“It was a great opportunity to come down to New York City.  Our team had been struggling a little bit as of recent, and to come on this kind of stage with all the distractions, I’m very proud of their efforts to come out here and secure the victory,” said Coach Schafer.

The win served as Cornell’s first victory at Madison Square Garden (after other Thanksgiving-weekend games in recent years), and a major turning point in the team’s season.

“Tonight gave us a good idea of what we need to do to win hockey games,” said Iles, “We’ll get back to work on Monday and use this as some momentum to try to finish off strong.” Miller added, “This is just a stepping stone in the right direction.”

Daniel Haber fights for the ball.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

By Celeste Cirillo-Penn

As the final whistle blew, a flood of sadness washed over the Cornell Men’s Soccer team.  Some players fell to the turf, some comforted each other, and others stood motionless watching as Syracuse’s players erupted into cheers. After a historic regular season for the Cornell men that included finishing 15-1 and winning the Ivy League Championships, their season came to an end with a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.

“It’s frustrating definitely,” junior forward, Daniel Haber said during a very solemn postgame press conference.  “I mean that’s the game of soccer.  It’s a game of inches.  It’s the battle with the defender and the forward.  If the forward can create that little bit of space to get around the defender and get the ball in the net.”

The Orange did just that, breaking down Cornell’s defense to net a goal 10 minutes into the game.  Syracuse defender, Tyler Hilliard passed the ball to forward Lars Muller, who was waiting in the box.  Muller was able to put the ball past Cornell keeper, Rick Pflasterer, to put the Orange on top 1-0.

Cornell bounced back from the early deficit, firing many shots into the box.  Syracuse’s defense, however, held strong.

“[We] had enough chances to put something away, especially in the first half,” senior forward, Tyler Regan said.  “We had some sitters in the box that just didn’t go in.”

In the second half, Cornell continued to outshoot Syracuse, but the majority of the shots did not challenge the Syracuse keeper, Alex Bono, who recorded a clean sheet in the match.

Cornell picked up the intensity in the final minutes of the game.  The men looked sure to finally break through and score, but the team fell just short.

However, despite the crushing loss, the men are determined to keep their heads up.

Nico Nissl keeps his head up after a tough loss against Syracuse.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

“We’re definitely sad with the result today, but we will definitely keep our heads high,” senior midfielder, Nico Nissl said.  “It’s been a privilege to play on this team.  We have a great squad … where we know that every single player’s got each other’s back.  We have got a great coaching staff that’s really committed to this team.”

Head coach, Jaro Zawislan agrees that despite the loss, the squad should still be proud of this season.

“As much as it is a great disappointment in the result, in the outcome of the game that we had today… we are not going to allow this result and this game to define our season,” Zawislan said.  “This still has been a very successful season for the Cornell soccer program, for the University, for the soccer community, and especially for the players.  I’m so proud of them, of the effort that they put forward this whole season … they are just a great example of the student athlete.  They put all the passion and love into this game.”

Zawislan also maintains that this season is just the beginning for the Cornell soccer program.

“We are going to turn around and use this as a momentum builder,” Zawislan said.  “[The] players left everything on the field, and we’re going to keep building on it …You want the instant gratification, but this group they know that they have to earn everything that they get out of this experience of being a soccer player at Cornell … for the returning players it’s the beginning of a new phase for the program.”

Photo by Patrick Shanahan.  Courtesy of www.cornellbigred.com

By Celeste Cirillo-Penn

The Cornell Men’s Soccer team (15-1, 6-1 in the Ivy League) finished an impressive regular season on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Columbia.  With that victory the Cornell squad claimed the Ivy League title for the first time as sole victors since 1977 and the first time in general since 1995 (the 1995 squad was co-champions).

“I am proud of the guys that they could deliver a championship for the people at Cornell and in Ithaca,” head coach, Jaro Zawislan said.  “For the program to reach that level of success it has to be a team effort, and the players credit goes to them first of all, but it has been a total team effort of the athletic department and the university.  We greatly appreciated the fan support, and…we want to thank everybody.”

However, although the men achieved one of their major goals by winning the Ivy League, their season is not over.  The victor of the Ivy League receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.  On Monday at 5:30 pm, the squad gathered, along with fans, to await the official announcement of their bid during the NCAA Selection Show.  During the show’s broadcast, it was also revealed that they would play Syracuse.

“We knew we had a bid, so the suspense was around who we would play,” senior goalkeeper, Rick Pflasterer said of the selection show.  “It will be a classic derby match, and we’re very proud and excited to be competing in the national tournament.”

The squad predicts that the matchup will be a battle, as the teams have had a history of close games.

“We played them my freshman year and lost in a tight battle,” senior midfielder, Nico Nissl said.  “My sophomore year we tied them 1-1 … They’re a young team this year, but they’ve always been very strong and athletic.  It will be a great game for sure.”

With the high stakes of a single elimination tournament, the team has immediately shifted its focus away from the Ivy League Championship and towards preparing for the upcoming game.

“The tournament is must win, so the focus is there more than ever from our guys,” senior forward, Tyler Regan said.  “We know they are a great team but we need to focus on ourselves and our style of play first and foremost.”

The men will take on Syracuse at home on Thursday November 15 at 7 pm.

Tyler Regan fights to maintain possession of the ball.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

By Celeste Cirillo-Penn

The Cornell Men’s Soccer team’s undefeated streak ended last week with a tough loss to Ivy League opponent, Brown.  However, at Berman Field on Saturday, the men rebounded to beat Princeton 1-0, improving their record to 13-1 (4-1 in the Ivy League).

“Sometimes you need a hard loss like that to wake you up, and show you that it’s not going to be a perfect season,” junior, forward Daniel Haber said.  “We’re going to have to work hard for every win.  We are better than the team that came out against Brown, and we were able to show it.  It wasn’t our best game but it was an improvement.”

The game got off to a fast paced start with both Cornell and Princeton taking shots on goal in the first half.  The defenses held strong in a physical matchup that saw yellow cards given to both sides.  Despite the intensity, the half ended in a scoreless draw.

At halftime, Cornell Head Coach, Jaro Zawislan, rallied the Red.

“We just had to raise the level of play, clean up a couple of things on both sides, attacking and defending,” Zawislan said.

The team did just that, netting a goal 2 minutes into the second half.  Junior midfielder and forward, Stephen Reisert charged down the field to find Haber waiting in the penalty box.  Haber shot far post, sending the ball sailing past Princeton goalkeeper, Seth MacMillan, and into the back of the net.

“Stephen Reisert got the ball and made a great run.  I was waiting for the ball, waiting for the ball, and just tried to stay onside,” Haber said.  “It was a great pass and I was able to put it in.”

Daniel Haber puts the pressure on Princeton’s defenders.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

Despite the goal, the game was far from over.  On a few occasions, Cornell looked sure to widen the lead, but Princeton’s defense held strong.  With time close to expiring, Princeton put the pressure on the Red with numerous set pieces and crosses into the box.  Cornell fought off a last gasp effort that saw the Princeton keeper charge forward to help on offense as time ran out.

“Sometimes you have to grind out that result at the end of the game and that’s what our team did,” Zawislan said.  “It wasn’t just purely soccer ability.  It was also character of the team, staying focused all the way through the last play.  They [Princeton] had the long throw-in with a few seconds left, and [we] had to come through even at that moment.  That’s what we pride ourselves on, playing one play at a time from the first to the last play of the game.”

The victory puts the Red back on track in the hunt for an Ivy League title.  However, earning that title will not be easy, with Brown still sitting atop the standings and only two more games left to play.

“At this point in the Ivy League season you have to keep getting results,” Zawislan said.  “Any result but a win practically can eliminate you from the competition for the Ivy League Championship because you start running out of the games where you can gain the points, and the other teams are running out of the games where they can lose the points.”

For this reason, the men will enjoy their hard-fought victory, but must immediately shift their focus to the crucial matchup at home against Dartmouth next week.

Andy Isles was tested early with several Brock shots on goal before a powerpay resulted in a goal for the visitors that propelled Brock to a quick lead. Tensions ran high and play was physical, with several penalties and ample contact in the first period and throughout the game.

The Big Red got their first good look with powerplay just after the midway point of the period. Much to the dismay of the Parents Weekend crowd, what appeared to be a goal by senior forward Greg Miller was called back. Cornell collected itself, however, and Braden Birch scored off the crossbar, evening the game.

With the score tied, the penalties kept coming and the play intensified. Minutes after the first Red goal, John Esposito gave the Cornell the lead, scoring off of a tight pass by Greg Miller. The Big Red seemed to be in a rhythm as time expired in the period.

When play resumed in the second, Brock wasted no time in finding the net and evened the score when Jason Andrews shot the puck past Isles. It would be the last goal scored on the day. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, and Cornell played hard in the overtime period, outshooting Brock and having several near misses, though none found the back of the net.

In a very active contest, Cornell dominated Brock in shots on goal, taking 34 to Brock’s 22. Andy Isles was strong as always in the net for the Big Red and the rotations looked good. While Cornell did not convert late opportunities, the exhibition was very promising and the team is anxious to get to work as the season gets underway.

The Big Red will open the regular season with a series against Colorado College, before ECAC conference play begins.

Photo of Andy Isles from Ithaca Journal gallery by Simon Wheeler.

Tyler Regan dribbles past Yale defenders to score a goal for the Red.   Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.

By Celeste Cirillo-Penn

The Cornell Men’s Soccer team defeated Yale 3-0 on Saturday in a game that not only preserved their undefeated record, but also broke the previous attendance record of 983 at Berman field.  The Red took to the field in front of a crowd of 1,121 to claim their 12th straight victory, bringing their record to 12-0-0 (3-0-0 in the Ivy League).

“It’s wonderful to have so many people come out and support us, and it really helped us to get the win today,” sophomore midfielder, Atticus DeProspo, said.  “I absolutely give a lot of credit to the fans.  We really felt the momentum swing because of those cheers we heard throughout the second half and throughout the whole game … It was really nice to have them here and to break the Berman record, so hopefully that continues for the rest of the season as well.”

Following a scoreless first half that featured stout defending from both squads, Cornell ramped up the intensity in the second half.  Within seconds of an injury to Conor Goepel with 26 minutes to go, the Reds charged down the field to score their first goal of the match, a header by senior forward, Tyler Regan.

“When someone goes down you rally,” Regan said.  “I don’t know if it was a coincidence, and Yale was getting tired and we were getting energized … but it definitely sparked something.”

Regan headed the ball past Yale keeper, Bobby Thalman, to put Cornell up 1-0.

“Its everyone going up and not giving Yale a clean header,” Regan said of the goal.  “I got lucky.  I put the ball up, and it went in. I chipped a 6’5” keeper. I mean it wasn’t on purpose.”

After a multitude of other shots on goal, Cornell scored its second goal with 14 minutes remaining.  Nico Nissl passed the ball to DeProspo, who sent it sailing into the back of the net.

“It was a great team effort to get the ball up the field.  Yale is a very good team.  It was hard to break through the pressure, but we did a really good job and started to get the momentum,” DeProspo said.  “I was taking a shot far back post, and it deflected and went in.”

Senior forward, Daniel Haber capped off the night with a goal off of a penalty kick, awarded for a Yale handball with 9 minutes left in the game.  Yale tried to make a comeback in the remaining minutes, but failed to put one past the Cornell keeper, Rick Pflasterer, who recorded a shutout for the Red.

Daniel Haber’s shot sails past Yale Goalkeeper, Bobby Thalman.  Photo by Celeste Cirillo-Penn.            

Despite the victory, Cornell Coach, Jaro Zawislan, praised Yale’s effort.

“Going into this game we knew it was going to be a very very difficult game, not only this being an Ivy League game, but it is a quality opponent,” Zawislan said.   “When they have space and time they can keep the possession.  They broke our pressure a few times.  We needed to step up our game.”

However, Zawislan maintains that the Red’s attitude is what allowed them to prevail.

“We all know that every time we step onto the field we have to earn that result,” he said.  “It doesn’t matter if it is 11 wins, 12 wins that doesn’t buy us any goals on the scoreboard at the beginning of the next game.  With this attitude we are able to maintain this momentum and keep building on this momentum, and that will be key moving forward.”

With the mounting success, however, more talk has turned to the national tournament; nevertheless, for the squad, the focus still remains on the Ivy League tournament.

“That has to be always the number one goal because by winning the Ivy League Championship, you win the automatic bid, and that is the most assured way of going into the national tournament,” Zawislan said.  “Yes, in the mean time with every win, with every good result, we are putting the body of work together for a possible at large bid.  But we are not going to look at it at this time.”

The players share this focus.

“We’re not happy with 3-0 because we’ve been here before, and we had a let up,” Regan said.  “In the Ivies we were 3-0 last year, and we finished with a loss and three ties, so we don’t think we’ve accomplished anything yet.”

Consequently for the team, the focus has immediately shifted to the Brown game, on Saturday October 20, which is shaping up to be a crucial battle in the Ivy League standings.

“Tonight the players are going to enjoy this win,” Zawislan said.  “Tomorrow back to work, and we start our preparation for the Brown game, which will be a very crucial game for Ivy League outcomes.”

We also welcomed back Eli Bannister, a fellow colleague of mine and Buffalo, N.Y. native, to the final Fan’s Corner segment. A die-hard Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan, we talk the signing of Mario Williams and free agency acquisitions across the NFL.

Photo by Patrick Shanahan

Cornell men’s hockey player Sean Collins will continue his career beyond the college ranks, officially signing a two-year contract with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the team announced Thursday morning.

Originally selected by the Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Draft as a 7^th round (178^th overall) pick, Collins completed one of his best seasons on the hill, finishing second on the team with a career high in goals (13) and points (26).

“There have been so many ups and downs over the four years. You just dream about something like this,” Collins said in a brief statement released by the team. “I’m just so proud and thankful of the Cornell coaches and all of my teammates.”

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native played in 136 games over his four-year career, and was one of the two assistant captains on a squad that was one win away from reaching the Frozen Four.

“It’s awesome watching Sean leave (Thursday) with just a huge smile on his face, realizing a dream come true of signing an NHL contract,” said Cornell head coach Mike Schafer ’86.

“He worked so hard for it and in coaching you push guys and you prod guys, inform them of the steps they need to take in order to realize their dream. Most of them listen but they don’t put those steps into place so when you see a kid like Sean who works really hard at his game to make himself a better player, it’s really rewarding to see him take that advice and lean on your experience to see what other guys have done to make them successful.”

Collins has been assigned to the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, which is based in Springfield, Mass. Collins is also the first of the four members of the class of 2012 to sign a professional contract.

For junior defenseman and assistant captain Nick D’Agostino, it is exciting to witness a teammate being able to continue to play hockey.

“Sean is a guy who really worked hard his four years here putting in the extra work before and after practice,” D’Agostino said in a phone interview. “He’s really improved year-to-year and is rewarded with (an NHL contract).”

Here’s a link that further explains the new playoff format:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7638357/mlb-expand-playoffs-two-teams-10

Frozen Four Bound–Cornell’s Laura Fortino (center) celebrates with teammates shortly after Rougeau’s game-winning goal in triple overtime. (Photo by Patrick Shanahan)

A combined 14 goals scored through three periods and each team giving up three-goal leads was only half the story during Cornell’s NCAA Quarterfinal game at Lynah Rink against Boston University Saturday afternoon and evening.

What turned out to be the longest game in program and Lynah Rink history, suddenly turned into a defensive battle, as it took nearly three overtimes, 59 minutes and 50 seconds, for someone to come out on top–Cornell defeated Boston University 8-7 with ten seconds left in triple overtime to advance to their third consecutive Frozen Four.

The victory avenged a 4-1 loss to the Terriers in last year’s Frozen Four, and the Big Red (30-4) finished 3-0 against the Terriers (23-14-1) this season.

Defenseman Lauriane Rougeau weaved her way between three defenders before the puck slipped past the Terriers goalie, capping off a game for the ages.

“Not sure what you say about a game like that one,” Cornell head coach Doug Derraugh ’91 said. “I played at Cornell, played 13 years of professional (hockey) and been coaching for about seven years. I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game as crazy as this one.”

The game-winning goal was only the sixth on the season for Rougeau, but she ended up making the play of the year when slipping between three defenders and beating Terriers goalie Kerrin Sperry between the legs with only ten seconds left in the third overtime.

“I saw an opening and I went for it,” Rougeau said. “I knew there wasn’t a lot of time left on the clock, and even though they were three and I was one, I’m just going for it. I just passed her, and it just happened. I was behind the net, I found out I scored, and I was happy.”

The Terriers scored the first three goals, all in the first period, to take an early 3-0 lead. However, the Big Red countered when left winger Jessica Campbell blocked a shot, and raced ahead on a breakaway, burying the puck past Sperry with 45 seconds remaining in the first to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Ten seconds into the second period, senior forward Rebecca Johnston beat Sperry on a breakaway to cut the Terriers lead to 3-2. The Big Red scored two more goals in less than a four-minute span to reclaim the lead 4-3.

After a goal from Terriers’ sophomore forward Marie-Philip Poulin tied the game at 4 apiece at the 15-minute mark of the second period, the Big Red scored three straight goals, and had a 7-4 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the game.

But the Terriers rallied for three straight goals, all on power plays, to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining in the third period. The comeback prompted the nearly 60 minutes of extra play on the ice.

“We took penalties and that’s what cost us there,” Derraugh said. “The way that game was going, it didn’t surprise me. What did surprise me is that both teams scored seven goals and then you go into overtime and you go another three periods without anybody scoring.”

Despite the tough loss, Terriers head coach Brian Durocher was proud of his team’s performance and resiliency late in the game.

“Everyone in attendance saw an absolute classic today…whoever lost was certainly going to have a bitter end to their season but I tip my cap to (Cornell),” Durocher said.

The Big Red look to continue their momentum in the NCAA Frozen Four next weekend in Duluth, Minn. when they play No. 2 seed Minnesota this Friday, March 16 at 9 p.m. The wild win extended the season for the eight seniors who have put the women’s ice hockey program on the map.

“They’ve completely changed the culture of our program and been the most successful senior class in our history and then to play their last game at Lynah (Rink), for that to be their last game, I don’t think the fans are ever going to forget,” Derraugh said.