The men’s basketball team moved back over .500 with wins over Quinnipiac and D-III powerhouse Ursinus this week. With the wins, the Red improves to 8-6 on the season and remained perfect at Newman Arena, 5-0. Cornell has won 13 straight contests at home dating back to last season.

Balanced team play, solid defense and a well-placed shot by senior forward Tyler Mugford helped the men’s hockey team to a successful, three-point opening weekend of conference play on the road. The Red knocked off defending ECAC Hockey and Ivy League champ Princeton, 1-0, on Friday before battling to a scoreless tie against Quinnipiac on Saturday.

The women’s hockey team started its regular season play this weekend with two frustrating home games — a 6-3 loss to Princeton on Friday and a 2-2 tie with Quinnipiac on Saturday. In both games, penalties seemed to be the downfall for Cornell.

Never before has Cornell hockey opened a season in such dramatic fashion. Junior goalie Ben “Mr. 0” Scrivens turned away all 68 shots he faced this weekend to shutout both No. 9 Princeton and Quinnipiac. Yet Cornell managed just one goal on the road trip and the Red rode home with three points in perhaps its most difficult test of the year.

Although the hockey team is the last Division I program to begin its regular season, the Red will do so in impressive fashion, facing off against the reigning ECAC champion Princeton Tigers today at 4 p.m. — the earlier start time is due to the fact that the Red’s season debut will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Tomorrow evening, Cornell will complete its weekend road trip against Quinnipiac. The Tigers (1-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey) swept the season series last year against the Red (0-0-0, 0-0-0), but Cornell is excited to finally face an opponent in a different uniform, according to senior co-alternate captain Tyler Mugford.

The women’s hockey team will begin league play this weekend when it faces Princeton today and Quinnipiac tomorrow, both at home.