Cornell defeats ice hockey in high-scoring game

ITHACA, New York - Cornell University defeated the American International College ice hockey team by a score of 8-4 in the opening game of a two-game set at Lynah Rink on Thursday, December 29.

AIC falls to 10-8-4 with the setback.

Despite early Cornell chances, AIC struck first. Alexander Malinowski's pass back to the point set up a Brett Callahan one-timer, and the rebound was knocked into the net by Eric Otto at 2:57 of the first period for his second of the season.

The Yellow Jackets doubled the lead at 7:45. Timofei Khokhlachev held off a defender behind the net and passed back to Evan Stella at the left point. Stella fired a slap pass that Oscar Geschwind one-timed into the right side of the cage for his sixth of the season.

However, the Big Red pulled back within one before the period ended, and scored twice in a 2:08 span early in the second to take a 3-2 lead.

AIC counterpunched, and Jordan Biro added to his team-high point toal, finishing a two-on-one after Matt Rickard won a battle in the slot and fed him the puck. Biro was able to beat goalkeeper Ian Shane through the legs with his ninth of the season at 7:57, one minute after Cornell took the lead.

The hosts regained the edge at 13:21 on a Jack Malone goal, and scored again 24 seconds later. Cornell added another goal before the horn to lead 6-3 after two.

Ultimately, they took an 8-3 lead before AIC tallied the final goal of the night, a rebound by Khokhlachev on a shot by Otto that beat former Yellow Jacket Ryan McInchak at 16:57 for the fourth goal of the season for Khokhlachev.

Jarrett Fiske made 20 saves in the first two frames; Troy Kobryn stopped six in the third.

The two teams meet again on Friday, December 30 at 7:00 p.m.