NORTHEASTERN SHUT OUT BY CORNELL, 3-0

Northeastern senior forward Brittany Esposito

ITHACA, N.Y. - No. 5/4 Cornell netted a goal in all three periods on Sunday afternoon to complete the sweep of the Northeastern women's ice hockey team (3-3-0), downing the Huskies 3-0.

Junior Chloe Desjardins made 26 saves in goal for the Huskies, who were outshot 29-23 in the game. NU also went 0-of-3 on the power play while the Husky penalty killing unit held the Big Red to an 0-of-6 showing on the man advantage.

The Big Red opened the scoring with a four-on-four goal at 15:30 of the first period on a goal from Emily Fulton. Senior defenseman Hayleigh Cudmore began the play by sending the puck forward to Fulton charging up the right side of the zone. She then attempted to slide a pass toward the slot, but it deflected off a defender. The puck took a Cornell bounce, however, and caromed back into the path of Fulton where she was able to convert into the vacated short side of the goal.

Cornell doubled its lead 1:55 into the second, taking advantage of an aggressive Northeastern forecheck to spring an odd-man rush the other way. Taylor Woods sent Hanna Bunton up the left wing, and she directed a pass to Leck for the perfect finish over the left shoulder of Desjardins.

Big Red goaltender Lauren Slebodnick (23 saves) ensured the Big Red stayed in front. One of her biggest saves came with Northeastern finding some traction late in the second period. A turnover in the Cornell zone left Kelly Wallace alone in the slot, but Slebodnick smothered the shot and didn't allow a rebound.

Saulnier put the game out of reach 5:08 into the third period. She started a crisp passing play with Fulton to set up Jessica Campbell from the top of the crease, but the shot went just wide. Campbell regained possession behind the net and skated toward the corner, cycling with Alyssa Gagliardi. The senior defenseman fought through traffic along the wall and attempted a wraparound that slid across the crease for Saulnier to convert from short range.

Slebodnick was pushed back into action a couple minutes later, getting a left pad to spinning backhand from the slot from Paige Savage. With 13 minutes remaining, she stopped Hayley Masters on a shot from the right circle, then slid across to her right to thwart Wallace.

In a last-ditch effort to break through, Northeastern pulled Desjardins on a late power play to create a 6-on-4 advantage, but the Big Red defense withstood the threat.

The Huskies will be back in action next weekend as Northeastern kicks off conference play with a home-and-home set with Providence, beginning on Friday night at Matthews Arena (7 p.m.).