-- [ From: Adam Wodon * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
 
I was joking with Cornell P.A. Announcer (and hockey-l'er) Art Mintz
before Friday's game that, for sure, we would not see a repeat of the
last Cornell-Colgate series -- That was 1991, a 10-1 and 8-2 drubbing.
 
Well, I was right --> Cornell won 8-3 and 8-1 -- just a couple goals
off.
 
That's amazing, to be honest.  That goes beyond anyone's wildest dreams,
even Cornell's.  Colgate's a good team.
 
But was Lynah ever juiced on Friday.  Oh, baby.  They waited 5 years to
host a quarterfinal game.
   Geoff mentioned some points about how Colgate could win the series,
such as Cornell taking a lot of penalties, and CU not having a hot
goalie.
   I countered by saying Cornell was so good at it, it didn't matter,
and that Cornell didn't have a hot goalie ... yet.
 
   Well, Elliott was on fire in the first period, and was just solid
enough after that.  I didn't see Saturday, but only 1 goal allowed.
 
   Also, case in point on the special teams, Cornell had 3 PPs on
Friday, and Colgate had 8.  Yet, Cornell was still a plus-2 -- 2 PPGs
and a SHG, while Colgate was 1-for-8.
 
   Cornell's turnaround, with essentially the same team, is absolutely
stunning this year.  Even the two times I saw them this year against
Princeton, I thought they were solid, but Princeton played strong games
against them and seemed to lack only in muscle.
 
   But Cornell was impressive in the skill they showed.  Mike Sancimino
scored twice on pretty plays.  Chad Wilson scored on a gorgeous setup.
Brad Chartrand created a breakaway for himself with some tremendous one-
on-one moves.  Where did this come from?!?!?
 
   And when, by the way, did Sancimino become the crowd favorite?
Every time his name was announced, the crowd responded with SANCIMINO! -
I hadn't heard that before.
 
   It's hard to believe anyone played better than Cornell this weekend,
and not just in the ECAC.
 
   The one cavaet ... Last time Cornell did this, in '91, with a highly
talented team, they lost 3-2 in OT to St. Lawrence in the semifinal.
   Then again, last time they made the Final Four was vs. Clarkson in
'92 when they knocked off the top seed in double overtime, and that's
who they play Friday.
 
  Finally, watch out for freshman in overtime.  In '92, when Cornell
beat Clarkson, Tyler McManus, a freshman, scored the winner.
  In '86, when Schafer was captain and Cornell won it's last tourney
title, freshman Chris Grenier scored the game-winner in OT.
  Kyle Knopp has a lot to live up to.
 
And, by the way, it seems to me that the Clarkson-Cornell game will be
for an NCAA berth (assuming Vermont wins, and I know that can't
necessarily be assumed).
   If Vermont wins, we know they're already in, so the Clarkson-Cornell
winner could lose the final to Vermont, and then go.  Obviously if they
win, they'd definitely be in.
   I'm not sure Clarkson has a strong enough record to get in
regardless, though they certainly are higher rated than Cornell.
   On the other hand --> how much does Cornell defeating Colgate, as
opposed to Clarkson's wins over Brown, affect Cornell in the RPI in a
positive way?  Also, Cornell is 12-1-1 in its last 14 games, which has
to help. So if Cornell loses the final, what justifies the committee
taking someone else?  Anything?  Someone more familiar with the process
and rankings let me know.
 
AW
 
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