LAKE PLACID – Cameron Buhl scored for the Saints, and Ben Kraws stopped 26 shots, but two goals from Jonathan Castagna and an empty-net goal handed the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team a 3-1 loss to No. 14 Cornell in the ECAC Championship game at Herb Brooks Arena.

Saints forward Tomáš Mazura, and goaltender Kraws were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.

St. Lawrence saw their 2023-24 season close at 14-19-6 with the loss.

Early returns in the contest were with the Saints, who controlled the pace and possession early. St. Lawrence was able to force a penalty in the fray and went on the man advantage.

On the power play, Felikss Gavars found himself in dangerous territory but saw his shot glance off of Ian Shane and away. Cornell killed off the rest of the penalty to hold the Saints at bay.

Moments later, the Big Red capitalized on a bad bounce to go up 1-0. Cornell's Castagna saw a bouncing puck land on his stick and would get a weak backhand shot on goal. The puck, however, found its way home.

St. Lawrence wouldn't go away as Cameron Buhl got a step on the defense but got hooked up and had his shot saved. This was followed by Logan Ritchie, Tyler Cristall, and Drake Burgin, who all got quality looks that were turned away.

Kraws kept the game at 1-0 with a big save on Castagna late in the period. The Scarlet and Brown held a 9-6 shot edge after 20 minutes.

Burgin and Cristall continued to be a source of offensive pressure for the Saints in the second as they tried to tie the contest. Instead, it was Castagna who doubled his scoring total in the game by knocking a puck through the five-hole of Kraws, and Cornell had a 2-0 lead.

Senior captain Justin Paul had a tremendous chance in the middle frame getting the puck in close on the Big Red net, but the puck somehow stayed out to keep it at 2-0.

St. Lawrence was tasked with a penalty kill in the last minute of the second but wound up with the best chance of either team when Gavars made a break and nearly scored shorthanded.

Kraws stopped three point-blank shots in the final minute of the kill to start the third period which jump started the Saints. Following the kill, Philippe Chapleau sent an outlet pass up to Cameron Buhl, who burned Shane through the armpit area to make it a 2-1 game.

St. Lawrence kept possessing and threatening as the third period wound down but couldn't find the equalizer. In the final three minutes, St. Lawrence pulled Kraws for an extra attacker, but they were unable to find the back of the net as the clock hit zeroes.

Kraws made 26 saves in net for the Scarlet and Brown, while Shane stopped 31 in the onslaught.

Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play in the contest, while St. Lawrence had the 32-28 edge in shots.