March 30, 2003

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Cornell University men's ice hockey team defeated Boston College, 2-1, in double overtime to win the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey East Regional Championship on Sunday, March 30 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Cornell's Matt McRae (Toronto, Ontario) netted the game winner 1:09 into the second overtime session as the Big Red (30-4-1) advanced to the 2003 NCAA Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y. , where they will face New Hampshire in the semifinals on Thursday, April 10.

McRae broke into the BC defensive zone along the left boards, cut across the middle of the zone and fired his shot from the goal-line, beating Matti Kaltiainen (Espoo, Finland), the Eagles' goaltender, high on the glove side. The final tally came after the two teams played the third period and first overtime without scoring.

Cornell's Ryan Vesce (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) opened the scoring on the afternoon, giving the Big Red a 1-0 lead at the 10:05 mark of the first period with his unassisted tally. Boston College (24-11-4) tied the game, 1-1, in the second period as J.D. Forrest (Auburn, N.Y.) scored with 12 minutes remaining the period. Forrest's goal was assisted by Tony Voce (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Ben Eaves (Faribault, Minn.).

Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the final period and in the first overtime as shots for each side hit the pipe, but neither side could pull ahead until McRae's game winner, which earned him the regional's Most Outstanding Player.

Cornell goaltender Dave LeNeveu (Fernie, B.C.) recorded 26 saves in the victory. Kaltiainen made 34 stops in the defeat.

Sunday, March 30, 2003 - East Regional Final
                                1st  2nd  3rd  1OT  2OT  -  Final
Boston College (24-11-4)        0    1    0    0    0    -  1
Cornell University  (30-4-1)    1    0    0    0    1    -  2

Per     Time    Team    Goal Scorer (Assists)
1       10:05   CU      Ryan Vesce (unassisted)
2       8:00    BC      J.D. Forrest (Tony Voce, Ben Eaves)
2OT     1:09    CU      Matt McRae (unassisted)

Saves:                               1st  2nd  3rd  1OT  2OT  -  Total
Matti Kaltiainen (Boston College)    9    8    7    10   0    -  26  (81:09)
Dave LeNeveu (Cornell University)    6    4    8    8    0    -  34  (81:07)

Attendance: 7,489 (Dunkin' Donuts Center)