Cornell senior defenseman Rick Sacchetti scored his second career goal at 17:54 to tie the game at 2. Stienstra notched the Big Red's first goal of the game, sending a shot through a screen on the power play at 11:38.

Harvard's first goal came while shorthanded. The hustle of Bala and sophomore winger Jeff Stonehouse created a two-on-one rush, and Stonehouse just managed to nudge Bala's feed past Burt.

Cornell 4, Harvard 3 (Game One)

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Whenever Harvard began to gain any momentum in either hockey game this weekend, the Big Red snuffed it out almost immediately. In the opener, Cornell snapped a 3-3 tie with 52 seconds remaining in the second period, and never relinquished control.

Stienstra punctuated a rough-and-tumble second period at 19:08 leading a three-on-two rush down the right wing. Although he fell down as he cut to the net, Stienstra still managed to sneak the puck past Prestifilippo.

The goal was the only questionable shot that eluded Prestifilippo Friday night as he sparkled down the stretch. He made 13 saves in the third period as Cornell swarmed to the puck creating several odd-man rushes as it looked for the tying goal.

Harvard dodged several bullets in the final period which would have iced the game for the Big Red. Cornell's best opportunity to move up by two goals came early in the frame as it had a 27-second two-man advantage. Despite possessing the puck in the attack zone for almost the entire five-on-three and subsequent five-on-four, a flopping Prestifilippo managed to give the Crimson a chance to tie.

"[Prestifilippo] played a very good game, but I'd like to see the tape on the last one," Mazzoleni said. "We had just battled to even the score, but then they made it a one-goal game again."