Official release from RPI's SID

CORNELL HOLDS OFF MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM
Big Red defeat Engineers, 3-2, to take series lead

Cornell University got single goals in each period and held off a late charge by the men's hockey team for a 3-2 win in the second round of the ECAC Playoffs.  The Big Red (25-4-1), the top seed in the field, now leads the best-of-three series, 1 game to 0.  Rensselaer, the 11th seed, is now 12-24-3.

Cornell broke out on top when junior Ryan Vesce knocked in a rebound of his own shot while the Big Red were enjoying a five-on-three goal power play.  Stephen Baby and Sam Paolini were credited with the assists on Vesce's 16th goal of the season, which came at 3:27 of the first period.  Rensselaer's Ben Barr, a junior, tied the game when he fought off a defenseman and slid the puck under Cornell netminder David LeNeveu at the
16:09 mark for his 11th goal of the year.  Kirk MacDonald, who sent Barr in alone on the partial break, and Scott Basiuk assisted the play.  The homestanding Big Red outshot RPI, 8-7, in the period, which featured three power plays for each team.

Cornell regained the lead midway through the second period when Matt Moulson crashed the net and deposited a rebound past RPI netminder Nathan Marsters.  Baby and Doug Murray, who took the initial shot, earned the helpers on Moulson's marker, his 13th of the season.

Greg Hornby put the Big Red in front by two goals when he scored on a rebound of a Charlie Cook shot at 7:07 of the third period.  Chris Abbot also assisted on the play.  The Engineers pulled to within one goal with a power play goal by freshman defenseman Brad Farynuk at 10:50 of the third.  Nolan Graham, who dug the puck out of the corner and fed Farynuk, and Danny Eberly assisted on the goal, Farynuk's goal, which was his third of the year and first since Oct. 25.

LeNeveu finished with 17 saves while Marsters stopped 23 shots.

The same two teams will meet for game two on Saturday night at 7pm in a game that will be broadcast live on NESN and the YES Network.