CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Samantha Pippin (Allen Park, MI/Team Detroit) scored with 59 seconds remaining in the third period to lead the Cortland women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win versus Neumann in the season-opening game for both schools Friday afternoon.

Pippin also added an assist for the Red Dragons. Sophomore Katie DeVoe (Mississauga, ON/Vaughan Flames) and freshman Amanda Gaffney (Williamsville/Amherst Knights) each scored a goal, while senior Katy Kennedy (East Greenbush/Troy-Albany Ice Cats) and juniors Abbey Paduano (Massena/Massena H.S.) and Emily Rose (Clayton/Syracuse Nationals) collected one assist apiece. Senior goalie Victoria Gibson (Essex Junction, VT/Vermont Shamrocks) made 27 saves.

Senior Jordyn Cholish (Exton, PA/Washington Pride) and sophomore Katelyn Brown (Springfield, PA/Exton Elite) netted the goals for Neumann. Senior Steph Grundy (Ottawa, ON/Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) recorded two assists, and senior Mollie Johnson (Phoenixville, PA/Quakers) and freshman Sid Squires (Winnipeg, MB/OHA) each chipped in with one assist. Junior goalie Helen Cooney (Doylestown, PA/Walpole Express) registered 37 saves.

After a scoreless first period, Brown gave the Knights a 1-0 with a rebound goal at 14:17 of the second period. DeVoe tied the game at 17:26 when she knocked in her own rebound after Kennedy sprung her for a partial breakaway. Just 30 seconds later, Gaffney tallied her first career goal on the power play, putting in a loose puck after Cooney made a save on Rose's point shot.

Cholish tied the game at 5:25 of the third period with another rebound goal. Pippin netted the game-winner with a wrist shot from the slot through traffic. Neumann pulled Cooney with 28 seconds remaining and created a chance to score the equalizer, but Gibson denied a bid by Brown from the right side with one second remaining.

The same two teams meet again at noon on Saturday. 
 
Score by periods:

Neumann              0-1-1       2
Cortland                0-2-1       3

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Neumann: Katelyn Brown 1-0, Jordyn Cholish 1-0, Steph Grundy 0-2, Sid Squires 0-1, Mollie Johnson 0-1 
Cortand: Samantha Pippin 1-1, Katie DeVoe 1-0, Amanda Gaffney 1-0, Katy Kennedy 0-1, Emily Rose 0-1, Abbey Paduano 0-1

Saves: Helen Cooney (Neumann) 37 saves (3 GA in 59:32), Empty Net :28; Victoria Gibson (Cortland) 27 saves (2 GA in 60:00)
Shots on goal: Cortland 40 (12-17-11), Neumann 29 (10-9-10)
Penalties: Cortland 4-8:00, Neumann 2-4:00
Power Play: Neumann 0-4, Cortland 1-2

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 1-0, Neumann (Knights) 0-1