After clicking for 16 goals in the first three games of the season, Colorado College suddenly has lost its offensive punch. 

The Tigers managed only 19 shots on goal Friday while suffering a 2-0 defeat to host Cornell University in their first appearance ever at historic Lynah Rink in Ithaca, N.Y.

Senior forward John Esposito struck for a pair of power-play tallies – the first with just six seconds left in the second period – to lift the Big Red to victory in its official 2012-13 season opener.

CC, meanwhile, dropped its second consecutive decision on the heels of a promising 3-0 start and stumbled to 3-2 heading into Saturday's rematch with the nation's No. 7-ranked team.

Junior netminder Andy Iles, a veteran of the United States National Team Development Program, made nine of his 19 saves in the middle frame on the way to posting the shutout. Junior Josh Thorimbert turned in a stellar performance at the other end, steering away 26 of 28 shots, but Esposito's 5-on-3 tally to start the scoring was all Cornell needed to send the crowd of 4,164 home happy.

It was the first time since midway through the 2010-11 season that Colorado College has failed to score in a game. The Tigers, who fell to UMass Lowell by a 3-1 count last Saturday, went 0-for-5 on their own power play in Friday's loss while the home team made the most of its six opportunities.

Sophomore Cole Bardreau, who won 11 of 14 faceoffs in the contest, assisted on both goals.

Thorimbert kept CC in it until Esposito applied a dagger to the heart at 14:19 of the third period.