No. 5 Cornell women’s hockey came up short in a 4-3 loss to Vermont on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse, dropping the Big Red to 9-3-1 while the Catamounts moved to 6-9-2.
Cornell’s scoring came from Avi Adam, Delaney Fleming and Lindzi Avar, with Georgia Schiff, Grace Dwyer, Rose Dwyer and Nora Curtis providing assists. Vermont countered with goals from Julia Mesplede (two), Lauren O’Hara and Ashley Kokavec, while Ellie Zarcone, Ava Podein and Eliana Brochu combined for multiple assists. In goal, Annelies Bergmann finished with 19 saves for Cornell, while Ellie Simmons stopped 27 shots for the Catamounts, including 13 in the third period.
Vermont opened the scoring on a power play early in the first, but Cornell quickly answered when Adam converted a breakaway midway through the period. Fleming added a go-ahead tally late in the frame to give the Big Red a 2–1 lead. The Catamounts responded instantly in the second, tying the game 25 seconds in before adding another minutes later to regain the advantage. Avar connected on Cornell’s power play to make it 3–3, but O’Hara pushed Vermont back in front before the intermission.
Cornell pressed throughout the third, generating sustained pressure during a late power play and after pulling Bergmann for the extra skater, but Simmons and the Catamount defense held firm to secure the upset.
Cornell and Vermont meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. to close the weekend series.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].