Sixth-ranked Cornell scored the first three goals of the game, including two by Madlynne Mills, to defeat eighth-ranked St. Lawrence 4-1 in an ECAC Hockey contest on Saturday afternoon at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, New York.

Rachael Smith scored the lone goal for the Saints, who fell to 14-9-3 overall, 10-5-1 in ECAC Hockey play and are now tied with Cornell (13-8-2, 10-5-1) for third in the conference standings.

The loss is the second in a row for the Saints, who lost to second-ranked Colgate 5-2 last night. The weekend sweep marks the first time St. Lawrence has been swept in a road conference weekend in nearly two years (Feb. 12-13, 2016 at Quinnipiac and Princeton).

"That was another playoff style game tonight," said head coach Chris Wells '92. "Losing both games this weekend wasn't the way we drew things up, but we come out of the weekend knowing what is needed to play well into March. Cornell played hard and won a pile of pucks. They capitalized on some nice plays. (Kristin) O'Neill in particular really set the pace for the game. What a fun player to watch!

"Like last night, we had our chances to score and turn the game in a different direction. A few bounces either way and it could have been us loading up the four points on the bus."

The Saints had the best scoring chance in the early going, as Hannah Miller had a shorthanded breakaway six minutes into the game, but Cornell goaltender Marlene Boissonault stayed tall and didn't budge after Miller made multiple moves trying to find an opening.

Less than a minute later, Mills gave the Big Red a 1-0 lead with a power play goal, picking up a rebound in the slot and firing the puck through a screen into the top left corner of the net.

O'Neill gave Cornell a 2-0 lead late in the first period, streaking down the left side to create space before cutting across the crease and beating St. Lawrence goaltender Sonjia Shelly with a shot between the legs.

Mills made it 3-0 for Cornell less than five minutes into the second period, picking up a loose puck that bounced off the boards behind the Saints' net right into the slot. Mills gathered the puck and fired a shot into the top right corner for her second goal of the game.

Smith broke up Boissonnault's shutout bid halfway through the third period. Justine Reyes took a shot from the slot that sailed wide but bounced hard off the end boards and landed at the right post, and Smith was able to tap it in for her ninth goal of the season.

Amy Curlew, however, restored the Big Red's three-goal lead with and empty-net goal with just under four minutes to play.

Shelly made 22 saves for the Saints, while Boissonnault stopped 15 shots for the Big Red.

The Saints return home to Appleton Arena next weekend to host Yale and Brown.