Last night Cornell beat OSU 3-1 in a tight hard hitting game.  I will leave
the boxscore for others, and just comment on the game.

Both teams played a quality brand of hockey, fast paced and hard hitting,
although the difference between Cornell playing its first game and OSU
playing its sixth was apparent at times.  Cornell looked tired near the end
of each period, and only spectacular goaltending by Dave LeNeveu kept the
game tight.  The shots on goal were 29-13 for OSU, although much of that was
due to the large number of powerplays awarded OSU (10 or so).  More on that
below.

Cornell's defense was smothering, despite the shots.  They play a good tight
defense which kept many of the shots from the outside.  Most of there offense
was counter attacks, including the key second goal which came late in the
second after OSU had dominated play for a good portion of the stanza.  This
said, if Cornell is to have a good year, they must pick up the offense.
Getting outshot this badly is a recipe for disaster.  Future opponents need
to beware, when this team gets a lead they will be very tough to come back
on.  The other factor that will work in Cornell's favor in the ECAC is the
smaller rinks.  Cornell is built for smaller ice.  OSU has a large ice
surface (Olympic size, I think), which neutralized some of Cornell's power,
but put their play style in the smaller rinks, especially Lynah, and the
middle of the defensive zone is just going to be a clogged-up mass.  This
should also enhance their grinding, cycling offense style, which they were
able to show a few times, and score off once.

OSU has a good solid team.  They certainly should compete well in the CCHA.
Their biggest concern is the lack of finishers.  With the number of shots and
power-plays, they should have had more than one goal.  Having seen BGSU and
Miami a couple weeks ago, OSU is definitely a better team.  It would not
surprise me a bit to see this OSU team batting for the top of the CCHA come
March (assuming they find the net).

One comment about the officiating. Cornell's tired legs may have accounted
for a couple of the penalties they took, but Matt Shegos seemed to be
watching a different game from the one I was.  The penalties were very
unbalanced, which was not indicative of the play.  Twice Shegos called
penalties on OSU (one of which was a bad call), only to nullify the powerplay
within seconds with terrible calls against the Red.  In addition, he was
unable to keep an eye on the action behind the play, missing more than a
couple obstructions (both ways).  He made it readily apparent why the second
official is useful.  (Never thought I would say something like that.)

Overall, it was a good game and a fun evening here in the hockey wilderness
of Ohio.

William Sangrey
Cornell '87&'94
Let's Go RED!!!