ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell University men's ice hockey team defeated the University of Maine 3-1 on Thursday night in the first round of the 2024 Men's NCAA Ice Hockey Championship.
Junior forward Sullivan Mack, who had only scored five goals on the year, scored two goals in the Big Red's biggest game of the season (so far). It symbolizes a game in which Cornell fell behind 1-0 early, but dominated Maine for most of the rest of the game after junior Kyle Penny tied the game in the first period. It was something to do.
Watch Mack's second goal of the night below via Cornell Athletics.
Junior goaltender Ian Schoen, who was just named Ivy League Player of the Year, stopped 31 shots. He was defeated by Maine's Harrison Scott early in the first period to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead, but was able to shut out the rest of the game.
“Our D showed us the puck and did a great job of keeping the puck away and tying up guys,” Schoen said after the game, per Cornell Athletics. “They really made my job easier. Whenever I had a rebound, I know there were some rebounds that I kicked out in front on second and first, but they We were able to quickly clear it and regroup and reset.”
With this win, Cornell University has won six straight games. Maine, the No. 2 seed in the Springfield region, had an advantage over Cornell going into the game.
The Big Red moves on to play Saturday at 4 p.m. against the top seed in the Springfield area, the University of Denver, which beat the University of Massachusetts in a thrilling double-overtime game earlier Thursday. Saturday's game will be available to watch on ESPN2 and ESPN+, as well as on WCHU.
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