Friday, November 1
East Lansing, Mich.
7 P.M.
Michigan State University
2
vs
3
Cornell
Spartans Tripped Up By No. 4/5 Cornell, 3-2
11/1/2019 10:52:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State hockey team came up short in its home opener on Friday night at Munn, falling to No. 4/5 Cornell, 3-2. In a game that featured a total of 14 power plays, Dennis Cesana and Patrick Khodorenko both scored on the man advantage for the Spartans (2-3).
With the game tied, 2-2, late in the second period, Cornell's Max Andreev scored what turned out to be the game-winner while on the power play.
"I think it was a pretty good hockey game," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "They're a good hockey team. There's a reason they're rated in the top 5 in the country with the guys they have back and what they've accomplished. It was a good battle. I thought obviously there's some things we can better. I don't think we battled long enough and hard enough. We started well and finished well, but in between there's lots of room for improvement. Hopefully we can get our heads around that and be a little better tomorrow because it's going to be another tough one."
Cesana gave the Spartans the lead 7:11 into the opening period and just seven seconds into an MSU power play. Khodorenko won the draw in the right circle back to Jerad Rosburg at the right point. Rosburg dished the puck across the blue line to Cesana, who ripped a low shot past goaltender Matthew Galajda.
Cornell (1-0) had five power plays in the opening period and took advantage on their fourth as Jack Malone got a rebound past John Lethemon with 4:09 to play in the stanza.
The Spartans used the power play to reclaim the lead, 2-1, 1:50 into the second. Twenty-five seconds into a 4-on-3 man-advantage, Khodorenko finished off a perfect pass from Mitchell Lewandowski with a shot under the bar from the right circle. Cesana also picked up an assist on the goal.
Cornell tied the game less than eight minutes later off a scramble in the slot. With Lethemon down and players diving to locate the puck, Yanni Kaldis got a stick on it and put it into the net.
Just over five minutes later, Cornell scored what proved to be the last goal of the game when Andreev scored on a shot from low in the left circle while on the power play with 5:29 to play in the period.
The Spartans had a pair of power plays the third but couldn't beat Galajda again.
Cornell finished with a 30-28 edge in shots on goal.
MSU was 2-for-6 on the power play, while Cornell was 2-for-8.
The Spartans and Big Red will meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Munn.
With the game tied, 2-2, late in the second period, Cornell's Max Andreev scored what turned out to be the game-winner while on the power play.
"I think it was a pretty good hockey game," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "They're a good hockey team. There's a reason they're rated in the top 5 in the country with the guys they have back and what they've accomplished. It was a good battle. I thought obviously there's some things we can better. I don't think we battled long enough and hard enough. We started well and finished well, but in between there's lots of room for improvement. Hopefully we can get our heads around that and be a little better tomorrow because it's going to be another tough one."
Cesana gave the Spartans the lead 7:11 into the opening period and just seven seconds into an MSU power play. Khodorenko won the draw in the right circle back to Jerad Rosburg at the right point. Rosburg dished the puck across the blue line to Cesana, who ripped a low shot past goaltender Matthew Galajda.
Cornell (1-0) had five power plays in the opening period and took advantage on their fourth as Jack Malone got a rebound past John Lethemon with 4:09 to play in the stanza.
The Spartans used the power play to reclaim the lead, 2-1, 1:50 into the second. Twenty-five seconds into a 4-on-3 man-advantage, Khodorenko finished off a perfect pass from Mitchell Lewandowski with a shot under the bar from the right circle. Cesana also picked up an assist on the goal.
Cornell tied the game less than eight minutes later off a scramble in the slot. With Lethemon down and players diving to locate the puck, Yanni Kaldis got a stick on it and put it into the net.
Just over five minutes later, Cornell scored what proved to be the last goal of the game when Andreev scored on a shot from low in the left circle while on the power play with 5:29 to play in the period.
The Spartans had a pair of power plays the third but couldn't beat Galajda again.
Cornell finished with a 30-28 edge in shots on goal.
MSU was 2-for-6 on the power play, while Cornell was 2-for-8.
The Spartans and Big Red will meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Munn.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyAdam Nightingale Press Conference
Thursday, September 25
Isaac Howard Wins The Hobey | Spartans All-Access
Monday, April 21
Adam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Adam Nightingale, Daniel Russell, Tiernan Shoudy Post Game Comments | Cornell
Thursday, March 27