Another four point weekend, and a share of first place.  Ho hum.  Sweeping
Harvard and Brown was an *expected* event this past weekend, and Cornell's
fulfillment of that expectation illustrates just how far this program has
come in the past two seasons:
 
Record vs. Harvard
'94 and '95  0-6  (includes 2 QF losses)
'96 and '97  5-0  (includes last year's championship win)
 
Record vs. Brown
'94 and '95  0-4
'96 and '97  4-0
 
Friday was a well-played game by both teams, with the underdog
Crimson finishing their checks and playing with concentration and energy.
Both goaltenders, J.R. Prestifilippo (HVD) and Jason Elliott (COR), were
solid, and the Big Red won the game by weathering several
ferocious Crimson onslaughts.
 
Saturday was another strong effort by Cornell, and Brown stuck with them
until a couple of early second period goals nullified their Tight D plan. I
was especially impressed by Brown's killing of a 1:30 5-on-3 advantage,
during which the Bears repeatedly won the race to the puck and generally
outworked the Big Red.  Kudos also to those Brown fans in section O who
kept their spirit during the game -- I'm sure the visitors appreciated
having a presence in our building.
 
Next week Cornell attempts to sweep the Capitol District trip for the
first time since Union's inaugural Div. I season, 1992.  The Big Red's
position is eerily familiar to the first week of December.  At that time
they had rolled up a 6-1 league record, only to go 0-2-2 against RPI, UC,
SLU, and Clarkson.  Since then the Red have again taken 6 of 7 conference
contests.  Now it's just a question of whether they can do better than 2
points in their final four RS games.
 
Greg R. Berge
Cornell University
1996-97 Ivy League Champions
"You've got to be in it, to win it."
 
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