CANTON, NY – The nationally fifth-ranked Cortland women's hockey team saw its comeback bid fall short in a 2-1 loss on the road to Canton in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Friday evening. Cortland drops to 3-1 (1-0 SUNYAC), while Canton improves to 2-3 (1-2 SUNYAC), with both of its victories coming against top 5 teams.
 
Grace Karakas (Duluth, MN/Duluth East) scored her second goal of the season for Cortland, while Josselyn Drayson (Dallas, TX/Dallas Stars Elite) and Kira Cook (Lake Ronkonkoma/Northwood School) each tallied an assist. Molly Goergen (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie H.S.) stopped 14 shots. Mia Hlasnick (Olean/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles U19) went 15-and-5 on faceoffs.
 
Joey Schemenauer and Bailey Cote scored for Canton, with Ashton Morris picking up an assist. Molly Lenihan stopped 41 shots in goal for the victory.
 
 
Cortland had a strong opening period, holding a 13-2 edge in shots on goal in the frame, but wasn't able to score as the game remained scoreless into the first intermission. The Red Dragons had their best opportunity seven minutes into the period, as Meggan Crammer (Cicero/Northwood School) had a breakaway but saw her backhand stopped by a great save from Lenihan.
 
Canton took the lead early in the second period, as a puck bounced from behind the Cortland net out front to Schemenauer, who slid a shot past Goergen to make it 1-0 just 1:20 in the period.
 
The Red Dragons continued to push for an equalizer, but Lenihan stood strong in goal. Another turnover in play led to the Kangaroos' second goal of the game on just their fifth shot on goal, as a loose puck in front was picked up by Cote and wristed into the left corner of the net.
 
With just over a minute left in the second period, Fanny Aneborn (Linkoping, Sweden/Lulea HF Sweden) had her shot ring off the crossbar as the Red Dragons trailed by two into the second intermission.
 
Taryn Raisanen (White Lake, MI/Trine University) looked to have gotten the Red Dragons on the board just before the midway point of the third period, but the referees disallowed the goal after discussion. Just minutes later, Canton took a tripping penalty, but the Red Dragons were unable to take advantage of the power play.
 
With 6:26 remaining in the third period, Karakas broke up the shutout, taking a centering pass from Drayson after a strong forecheck from Cook poked the puck free, and wristing a shot into the top left corner of the net.
 
Cortland pressed for an equalizer, and pulled Goergen for an extra attacker in the final minute, but could not complete the comeback.