SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – A late third-period power-play tally by Brendon Nash lifted Cornell to a 3-2 win over Union in Friday's ECAC Hockey quarterfinal matchup at Messa Rink. The fifth-seeded Big Red improves to 17-13-3, while the fourth-seeded Dutchmen drop to 16-12-6. The two teams continue the best-of-three series in Schenectady at 7 p.m. Saturday.

 

Nash's shot from above the right circle careened off the crossbar past Union netminder Justin Mrazek (Regina, Sask.) while the Big Red held a 4-on-3 advantage with less than five minutes left in the game. Colin Greening slipped the puck out to Doug Krantz at the blue line before the senior passed across to Nash on his right.

 

Union pulled Mrazek with 1:09 left to play and won two of the final three faceoffs in the Big Red zone. Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, Alb.) picked the puck up one of Union's draws and fired from the right point. His shot deflected off a Cornell defender, but Scrivens saw it in time to make the pad save.

 

The Big Red jumped out to an early lead when Chris Fontas knocked in a rebound from Tyler Mugford. Joe Scali set up Mugford's shot by sending the puck down from the right point to the winger in the right circle. Mugford swung in toward the net, but his shot was saved by Mrazek. The rebound popped out to Fontas at the far post and the senior planted his second goal of the season just one minute into the game.

 

After two power-play opportunities, Union knotted the game with an even-strength tally with less than four minutes left in the frame. Adam Presizniuk (Calgary, Alb.) and Torren Delforte (Shortsville, N.Y.) were digging at the puck in the left corner before Presizniuk passed the puck out to Mike Wakita (Kitimat, B.C.) at the left point. Wakita wound up and fired, but Cornell goaltender Ben Scrivens stopped the sophomore's attempt. The rebound slid straight out in front of Scrivens where Delforte picked up the puck before patiently handling it. The senior flipped the puck past Scrivens for his seventh goal of the season at 16:06.

 

Josh Coyle (Brooklyn, Ohio) looked to put the Dutchmen ahead in the final minute of play with a low-angle shot, but Scrivens got his glove on it.

 

Fontas gave Cornell the lead midway through the middle frame when he scored directly off a faceoff. Fontas was pitted against Jason Walters (Renfrew, Ont.) and got his stick on the drop first, sending it past Mrazek at 9:25.

 

Union found itself killing off a five-minute major penalty in the early goings of the final frame, but Michael Kennedy was whistled for interference with 3:43 left on the kill.

 

With both teams back at full strength Scrivens made a quick toe save on Matt Cook's (Belle Mead, N.J.) scoring bid midway through the frame. Mike Schreiber (Sherwood Park, Alb.) sent the puck to Coyle below the left circle before the senior slipped the puck through the crease to Cook at the far post.

 

The Dutchmen kept the pressure on and tied the game a little over a minute later on Michael Beynon's (Nepean, Ont.) second goal of the season. Jason Shaffer (Eagle River, Alaska) tipped the puck out of the left circle to Stephane Boileau (Blainville, Que.). Beynon collected Boileau's pass through the slot and placed his shot from above the right circle high past Scrivens.

 

Both goaltenders finished with 24 saves. Cornell went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Dutchmen were scoreless in five attempts.

 

The two teams continue the best of three series Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Messa Rink box office beginning at 4 p.m. No phone nor internet orders will be accepted.