Cornell University scored three goals in :59 seconds late in the first period on Tuesday night en route to a 5-1 victory over the St. Lawrence University women's hockey team in Ithaca, NY. Emily Fulton scored two goals for the nationally-ranked No. 2 Big Red, while junior Rylee Smith scored her first goal of the season for the Saints in the non-conference contest.

St. Lawrence falls to 0-5-0 on the young season having been outshot 25-17. Cornell improves to 2-1-0 after opening up a 5-0 lead in the contest and never looking back, avenging an upset loss at Lynah Rink last year in the ECAC Hockey Championship game.

"We played a team on a mission tonight. I was very impressed with Cornell's effort all over the ice," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells. "We were able to match their intensity at points, which allowed us to play how we want to play, but it wasn't enough to get the momentum."

Though the two teams each had six shots on goal in the first period, Cornell struck three times from 15:01 to 16:00 to open up a 3-0 lead and chase St. Lawrence starting goalie Carmen MacDonald from the game. Fulton scored an unassisted goal to give the Big Red a 1-0 lead on a great shot, while Brianne Jenner and Alyssa Gagliardi followed only 29 seconds apart to push the lead to 3-0. MacDonald's exit came after making two saves, while first-year student Giulia Mazzochi came in relief for the first time in her collegiate career.

Mazzochi was sharp in her time in net, making 14 saves in the second period to keep the Saints alive headed to the third still trailing by the same three-goal margin. However, Cornell again scored back-to-back goals only 22 seconds apart to put the game away. Fulton's third of the season came at 7:00 on the power play, while Anna Zorn followed at 7:22 to cap the Big Red's scoring with her team up 5-0.

Smith would snap a St. Lawrence scoring drought at 173 minutes, 53 seconds at the 8:36 mark of the third period. With seniors Brooke Fernandez and Kelly Sabatine assisting, Smith beat Cornell goalie Lauren Slebodnick to get the visitors on the scoreboard on the power play. However, the goal would not challenge the outcome, as Cornell skated away with a thorough 5-1 win.

Mazzochi finished with a game-high 18 saves, while Slebodnick picked up the win having made 16 stops. Cornell was 1-for-4 on the power play, while St. Lawrence finished with a 1-for-7 mark.

"They were much more prepared to play tonight that we were and that is my fault," added Coach Wells. "We will be ready for Rensselaer on Friday as we start the ECAC Hockey season."

St. Lawrence will open the 2012-13 conference season this weekend when it hosts Rensselaer and Union at Appleton Arena.