ITHACA, N.Y. - Junior Maya Jones found the back of the net for her first goal of the 2023-24 season to tie the game with #6/#7 Cornell in the first period at Lynah Rink Saturday afternoon, but a pair of late third period goals would fell the Garnet Chargers in a 3-1 loss.
 
Union held strong with the nationally-ranked Big Red in the opening period, and their persistence paid off in the final two and a half minutes.
 
Sophomore Riley Walsh had her shot blocked from just above goal line extended, but picked possession back up and sent a no-look backhand pass from behind the Cornell net through the slot. The puck miraculously found Jones joining the play coming off the bench at the top of the slot, and Jones fired a shot that beat Cornell goalie Deanna Frasher five-hole for her first of the season to give Union the lead with 2:22 left in the period.
 
Cornell maintained a stronger grip throughout the second period, and registered the game-tying goal in the process. After junior Sophie Matsoukas stopped Mckenna Van Gelder's original shot, a scrum ensued in front of the Union goalie in search of the loose puck, and Grace Dwyer pushed it through the pile of bodies and through Matsoukas's legs to tie the game at 12:27 of the second.
 
The Garnet Chargers would force Cornell to play all the way down their wire, even outplaying them for periods of time in the final period. Goals however from Kaitlin Jockims with 2:28 left and another from Van Gelder with 1:37 remaining would sink Union's chances of an upset.

The goal would be Jones's second of her career. Her first one came in Union's 6-1 win over Saint Michael's January 2nd, 2023.
 
Union continued their strong penalty killing weekend, killing off both penalties against the nation's 11th-best power play after successfully defending all four of their penalty kills against the country's second-best advantage unit in #4 Colgate Friday.
 
Union also battled Cornell's 15th-ranked faceoff winners to an even 30-30 draw in the contest, led by seniors Emily King and Celeste Beaudoin with 14 and 12 wins each, respectively. 
 
Cornell outshot Union 24-14.
 
Union will return to Messa Rink next weekend to finish out the regular season, when they take on Princeton and Quinnipiac as part of senior weekend to wrap up the 2023-24 schedule before ECAC Hockey playoffs begin.