ITHACA, NY -- The Big Red womens hockey team won its first game of the new year when it blanked Union, 3-0, on Friday night at home in Lynah Rink. The win moved Cornell to 3-18-0, 3-12-0 ECACHL and dropped Union to 4-18-0, 0-15-0 ECACHL.

Both teams had scoring chances in the first period, but both netminders held strong throughout the entire 20 minutes and headed into the first intermission deadlocked at zero.

Cornell's Caeleigh Beerworth shot the puck from the right side of the net above the hashmarks and goaltender Mandy Hanson (Brainerd, MN) blocked the initial shot but let off the rebound. The free puck caused a commotion in front of the crease, and Brittany Forgues was able to take advantage and put the puck in the net at 3:57 of the second period.

Less than four minutes later, freshman Laura Danforth slid a pass to Halina Kristalyn across ice from the top of the circles, and with a wrist shot, Kristalyn found the back of the net to give the Big Red a two-goal lead on the power play. Steph Ulrich also assisted on the goal.

Union had its best scoring chance halfway through the second period. Kelly Lannan (Pittsfield, MA) took advantage of a down Big Red defenseman and broke away from her defensive zone all the way down the ice. Lannan was all alone in the Cornell zone, but Baronick robbed her of a scoring chance.

With 54 seconds left in the game, the Big Red sealed the victory scoring its third goal of game. Brianne Schmidt took the initial shot with Hanson once again letting off a rebound, and Beerworth scored shoving the puck past Hanson in the middle of the net. Schmidt and Forgues notched the assists.

Hanson made 34 saves in the loss while Jenny Niewsluchowski stopped all 24 Dutchwomen shots.

Union is back in action on Saturday in a 7 p.m. ECACHL game at Colgate.

Box Score