Michigan State faces Cornell in NCAA Tournament matchup

Michigan State, a No. 1 seed, will play against No. 4 seed Cornell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The game is set to start at 5:30 p.m. Cornell’s hockey team recently faced a tough situation in the Eastern College Athletic Conference semifinals. They were losing to top-seeded Quinnipiac but managed to tie the game with a shorthanded goal late in the match. Senior defenseman Tim Revo then scored an overtime goal, helping Cornell win the game. They continued their success by defeating Clarkson 3-1 in the conference championship. This victory secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and their 25th overall. Although Cornell was expected to excel this season, they finished sixth in the regular season. However, they have turned things around and are currently on a six-game winning streak. The team’s record stands at 18 wins, 10 losses, and 6 ties. Cornell, located in Ithaca, New York, has a notable history in NCAA hockey with 25 tournament appearances, two national championships, and eight Frozen Four berths. Their last significant success was in 2003. The team's head coach, Mike Shafer, is in his 30th season and plans to retire after this year. Key players for Cornell include goalie Ian Shane and forwards Ryan Walsh and Dalton Bancroft. The Big Red also boasts six NHL draft picks on their roster. The team's scoring and defense have both ranked them among the top 20 in the nation this season. Cornell has faced Michigan State 11 times, winning only 4 of those matchups. They last played MSU in 2019, winning both games in that series.