Ryan Lautenbach scored a game-tying goal with just two minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime and a shootout, but No. 11 UMass fell to No. 17 Cornell 2-2 (0-2 shootout) in the first game of the Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, New York on Friday night.
The Minutemen face the winner of Clarkson and No. 13 Arizona State in the consolation game on Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m.
Down 2-1, UMass pulled goalie Brady Cole for an extra attacker with 2:25 remaining. Just 23 seconds later, Lautenbach tapped the puck in from the right post to tie the game 2-2.
After a scoreless overtime, Big Red made its first two shots in the shootout while Aydar Suniev and Michael Cameron each missed their attempts for the Minutemen.
Friday’s game was UMass’ first action in 20 days. After a scoreless first period, Cornell opened up the scoring just three minutes into the second period. A few minutes later, UMass tied the game 1-1 on a goal from Cameron assisted by Lautenbach.
Cornell scored on the power play with five minutes remaining in the second period and held onto the lead until Lautenbach’s goal in the final minutes.
Freshman forward Dans Locmelis and freshman goaltender Michael Hrabal were both unavailable because of commitments to their respective nations of Latvia and Czechia at the 2024 World Junior Championship.
After Saturday’s consolation game, UMass returns home for a date against UConn on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
