Mike writes:
> In Division I history, only two other #8 seeds have won their first round
> matchups (against a #1 seed); both came in the ECACs. In 1974, #8 RPI
> defeated #1 UNH, 7-6 in overtime, and then lost to #2 Harvard in the
> semifinals, 7-2. In 1980, #8 Cornell defeated #1 Boston College (!) 5-1
> and went on to defeat #2 Providence in the semifinals, 5-2, and #3
> Dartmouth, 5-1, for the ECAC Championship (truly remarkable).
Cornell actually won their 1980 semifinal game against Providence by a 6-5
score. The Big Red was behind 5-2 early in the third period before mounting
a rally. Providence and Cornell had quite a playoff rivalry going around
this time, as they met in four straight postseasons, with the lower seed
winning each time.
The 1979-80 Cornell squad was indeed a remarkable one. They struggled all
year, and in their final regular-season game, at BU (which they had to win to
secure eighth place and a playoff berth), they blew a 5-0 second-period lead
before getting the winning goal with 48 seconds left in overtime. Once the
playoffs began, however, a different Big Red team emerged, becoming the only
eighth seed ever to take the ECAC tournament championship (they came within
a goal of upsetting Northern Michigan in the NCAA semifinals as well).
Maybe something similar will happen to Northeastern...
As a side note, only one seventh-seeded team has ever captured the ECAC
championship. Interestingly enough, it was Providence, and they did it in
1981, beating, of all teams, Cornell in the finals. Sorry, Vermont fans --
no sixth seed has ever won the ECAC tournament.
Bill Fenwick
Cornell '86
LET'S GO RED!!
"My brother was on Wheel of Fortune once -- and he embarrassed the SH** outta
us, man: 'Yeah, Pat, I'd like to buy a vowel... lemme have a K.'"
-- Paul Rodriguez
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