The McQuaid Jesuit Knights beat the Ithaca Little Red 1-0 in first round action of the Caren Classic in Ithaca on December 29. The Little Red were out to avenge an earlier loss to the Knights and started with strong pressure in the Knights defense zone. Senior goalie Brian Johnson made a save on a point blank shot from the slot early in the game. The Knight picked up play after that and stifled the Ithaca attack with aggressive forechecking.

At 10:14 of the first period, following a dump in by the Little Red, Junior defenseman Andy Lane made a long clearing pass to junior James Sturnick, who went in on the left wing and fired a shot from the face off circle to beat Ithaca goalie Zach Wilder of the short side.

The second period action was balanced with both teams coming up with a few quality chances. Junior forward Woody Hudson appeared to score, when his shot eluded the Ithaca goalie. On the ensuing loss puck situation, Zach Wilder's body went past the goal line, presumably taking the puck with him. But, on the whistle following the dislodging of the net, the referee called no goal.

Later at 12:00 of the second period, senior forward Adam Reask took as pass as he came out of the penalty box, stick handled past the Ithaca defenseman and put a low shot to the far post which Wilder stopped. Moments later on a similar play down the right wing, senior forward Pat Gerrie danced around an Ithaca forward but was also thwarted by the Ithaca goalie on a hard low shot to the blocker side.

The third period action got more intense as Ithaca battled to even the score. At 6:00, senior forward Brent Sanderson was called for slashing. On the ensuing penalty kill, senior forward Jarod Corso was called for holding in the Knights' defense corner. The 5 on 3 power play yielded several excellent chances for Ithaca. On a shot from the point, goalie Brian Johnson jammed his stick onto that of the Ithaca screener to deflect the puck over the glass. Later, Woody Hudson blocked a slap shot from the high slot to cancel out a good scoring chance.

Ithaca was undaunted despite failing to score on the 5 on 3 power play, and continued to press. At 12:07, sophomore Sam Arazoza took a slashing penalty which once again tested the Knight's defense. One rush up the ice was thwarted by senior defenseman Nick Lisena, who laid out the puck carrier at center ice with a bruising check. Surviving the penalty, the Knights were again shorthanded, when Ithaca pulled their goalie in the last minute of play, but managed to neutralize the Little Red attack. The Knights outshot Ithaca 31 to 17.