CORNELL BLANKS MEN'S HOCKEY, 5-0
Sophomore David McKee stops 14 shots in shutout

Sophomore David McKee made 14 saves and Cornell University's penalty
killing was perfect on all ten situations to lead the eleventh-ranked Big
Red to a 5-0 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-2, in an
ECAC Hockey League men's hockey game at the Houston Field House in Troy,
N.Y.  With the victory, the Big Red improve to 11-4-2 overall and 7-2-1 in
the ECACHL, while the Engineers fall to 9-14-2 overall and 2-9-1 in the
league.  RPI has now lost five straight games.

McKee, the national leader for lowest goals against average, made three
saves in the first period, five in the second and six in the third to
improve to 11-4-2 on the season.  The shutout was his third of the season
and eighth of his career.  As a team, Cornell continues to lead the nation
in fewest goals allowed.

The visiting Big Red got on the board first for the first time since the
Dec. 29 when junior Daniel Pegoraro and freshman Topher Scott combined for
a first-period marker.  Scott brought the puck down the right side during a
2-on-1 and passed to Pegoraro, who was trailing through the slot. Pegoraro
faked left and went right for his fourth goal of the season at the 6:23
mark.  The Big Red doubled the lead late in the period when senior
defenseman Charlie Cook stole the puck and passed ahead to Shane Hynes, who
carried the puck down the right side before dropping it back to Cook.  Cook
unleashed a slap shot from the right circle to score with seven seconds
left before
the first intermission.

The Cornell penalty kill continued to frustrate the opposition in the
second period when the Big Red was whistled for three penalties in
1:53.  Despite skating 5-on-3 for an extended period, the Engineers were
kept off the board, running the Big Red's string of penalties killed to
21.  Cornell extended its lead to 3-0 when senior assistant captain Mike
Iggulden passed the puck from behind the goal to sophomore Mitch Carefoot,
who beat RPI senior Andrew Martin for his third goal of the year.  Martin
took over between the pipes at the beginning of the frame.

The Engineers were whistled for a holding penalty at the 11:57 mark of the
second, giving the Big Red its second power play of the contest. Just 14
seconds later, senior captain Mike Knoepfli lit the lamp from point-blank
range.  Assisting on the play were Hynes and Byron Bitz.  Cornell added the
final goal of the period while skating with a 5-on-3 advantage at the 19:57
mark. Hynes was camped out in front of the crease and converted a pass from
junior assistant captain Matt Moulson.  Bitz also assisted.

Martin finished with 18 saves over two periods of relief of freshman Jordan
Alford, who stopped five shots before being pulled.  Alford suffered the
loss, falling to 5-5-1 on the season.

Rensselaer is back in action on Friday night when they play at league foe
St. Lawrence.  Cornell is home on Friday night, where they will play
Dartmouth in an ECACHL contest.  Both games begin at 7pm.