The ninth-ranked Cornell University women's hockey team scored two power play goals and added an empty net goal with 1:02 to play to defeat No. 7/8 St. Lawrence University 3-1 in an ECAC Hockey game on Friday night at Appleton Arena.

The game was the first of the year for Cornell, now 1-0-0 overall and in the league. St. Lawrence fell to 2-3-2, 0-1-0.

Jaime Bourbonnais gave the Big Red a 1-0 lead with a power play goal in the second period, scoring on a blast from the top of the right faceoff circle off assists from Kristin O'Neill and Brianna Veerman.

Kayla Vespa tied the game less than five minutes later, scoring in deep on a feed from Hannah Miller, who picked up a loose puck in the Cornell zone.

Madlynne Mills scored the game-winning goal for Cornell, one-timing a feed from Veerman in the slot with just 6:42 to play.

Saints' head coach Chris Wells '92 pulled goaltender Grace Harrison for an extra attacker with just over two minutes to play, and the Saints had a slew of chances to tie the game, but Cornell's Paige Lewis got control of the puck with just over a minute to play and sent a shot into the empty net from inside her own blue line.

"We have been snake bitten the last few weekends, but that's what sports is all about, fighting through these times and getting to the place we want to be," said Wells. "We had some great efforts tonight and unfortunately we weren't rewarded."

St. Lawrence had a 26-16 edge in shots on goal, including a 13-5 edge in the second period, but Cornell goaltender Marie Boissonault made 25 saves to keep the Saints at bay. Harrison stopped 13 shots for the Saints.

"We're right there," said Wells. "We're just trying to find our way and get to our identity as fast as we can and each game brings us closer. Tonight, even with the loss, we took a huge step towards starting to play the way we want to play."

The Saints will face fifth-ranked Colgate, which improved to 7-0-0 with a 4-3 overtime win over Clarkson, at 3 p.m. on Saturday.