Official release from RPI's SID


CORNELL ELIMINATES ENGINEERS
Rensselaer knocked out of playoffs with 4-0 loss

Cornell University, the second-ranked team in the nation, scored once in each of the first two periods and twice in the third for a 4-0 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) quarterfinal matchup.   With the win, the Big Red, the top-seeded team in the field, improves to 26-4-1 and advances to the semi-finals next Friday night at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y.  Rensselaer finishes the season with a 12-25-3 record.

The Big Red got on the board first when junior Ryan Vesce scored his 17th of the season from close range late in the first period.  Cornell's leading goal scorer, Vesce drove hard to the net and knocked in a loose puck from in front.  Co-captains Stephen Baby and Doug Murray assisted on the play
for the Big Red, who outshot Rensselaer 12-8 in the period.

Cornell increased their lead to 2-0 when Mike Knoepfli slammed home a Daniel Pregararo pass from the right side of the crease at 4:42 of the second period.  Shane Palahicky was also credited with an assist on the goal, Knoepfli's sixth of the season.  Once again, the Big Red outshot the Engineers, this time by five shots (9-3).

The Big Red added two goals in the third period to take a commanding 4-0 lead midway through the stanza.  Cam Abbott scored his seventh of the campaign off an assist from Greg Hornby at 3:59 and Shane Hynes notched his ninth at 9:35.  Mark McRae and Sam Paolini earned the helpers on Hynes's goal.

LeNeveu earned the shutout  his school record eighth of the season  by stopping 16 shots.  Marsters finished with 29 saves.