Friday’s game at Lynah Rink was the first at home after a successful win at Clarkson. Cornell was looking to avenge last year’s loss at home against Quinnipiac University and proved to be successful. The Big Red beat the Bobcats 4-1.

Head coach Mike Schafer was unavailable to talk about the win after the game. At the beginning of the 3rd period Schafer was struck by a rogue stick that flew into the Cornell bench. Associate Head coach Casey Jones gave the post game remarks.

Jones seemed very happy about the teams win and even joked a little with the press. But most importantly Jones emphasized the team coming together this season and learning about themselves. He said that as a team they “spent a lot of time in practice forging our identity” and after last weekend it “brought into focus who we have to be and how we have to have success.”

Cornell came out strong in the 1st period with goals by Braden Birch and Nick D’Agostino to take an early 2-0 lead against the Bobcats. Having two defensemen score provoked some curiosity after the game. Casey Jones addressed this saying that it is helping “having guys that are put in different roles as offensive catalysts” and on Friday night it truly was.

In the second period Connor Jones from Quinnipiac cut the lead to 2-1 after he scored an unassisted goal. But, less than a minute after Cornell retaliated with a goal from forward Locke Jillson. Then in the end of the third period, another defensive player Sean Whitney scored to make the final score 4-1.

The help from the defensive end was huge for Cornell’s success Friday night. Casey Jones explained that although having the strong defense was a key to winning this and other games it is also that, “we’re just game ready now.”

Quinnipiac’s goalie, Dan Clarke had a total of 12 saves, while Mike Garman of Cornell had his first career win and racked up 23 saves. Garman explained that it has been a learning process for him just as it has been for the rest of the team and “finding what works for me” allows him to “get more comfortable.” When asked if Garman felt more comfortable at home or away he laughed and said at Lynah because, “we have the best fans in the world, that’s for sure.”

Besides from adoring fans to help out the Big Red morale, Garman also talked about finding a team identity just as Jones had minutes before. “It’s nice for the team to start to find our way” proclaimed Garman. Cornell now looks onward to their first Ivy League game against Princeton. It will be an evenly matched game seeing as both teams will have a 2-3 record after tonight. The Big Red hockey team is excited for their home game and hopes for a win for their fans as well as themselves.