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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Hockey Falls to Niagara 7-2 In Season Opener
October 30, 1999 | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 30, 1999
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Princeton men's hockey team dropped its 1999-2000 season opener to the Niagara Purple Eagles by a 7-2 score tonight at the Punch Imlach Classic at the Marine Midland Arena.
Niagara jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but Princeton rallied to tie the game heading into the first intermission. George Parros (Fr., Randolph, N.J.) scored the first goal of the 1999-2000 season for the Tigers, taking a centering feed from Chris Corrinet (Jr., Greenfield, Mass.), who was stationed behind the Purple Eagles' net on the power play. Parros' goal was the first of his career and cut the score to 2-1 at 14:29 on the opening stanza.
Just 32 seconds later, defenseman Darren Yopyk (Sr., St. Paul, Alberta) brought the contest even when he beat Niagara netminder Greg Gardiner top shelf at 15:01. Brad Parsons (So., Kingston, Mass.) got the play started with a pass intended for Shane Campbell (Jr., Red Deer, Alberta). Yopyk, who was trailing the play, picked up the puck and found the back of the net to set the score at 2-2 after the first period. Four unanswered goals by a senior-dominated Niagara lineup in the second period left Princeton reeling and gave the Purple Eagles an advantage that they would not relinquish. Niagara had 13 seniors dressed for tonight's contest, easily overmatching an inexperienced Princeton club that lost a stellar senior class to graduation in June. Niagara added one final goal on the power play in the third period for the 7-2 victory.
Mikko Sivonen led the host Purple Eagles with two goals and two assists and earned Xerox Player of the Game honors. Mike Isherwood netted a power play goal and added two assists, and defenseman Chris MacKenzie picked up three helpers in the victory. Randy Harris each netted two goals in the win for the host Purple Eagles.
In goal, Craig Bradley (Sr., Chalfont, Pa.) started for the Tigers and played the first 29:50 of the game before giving way to Dave Stathos (So., Longueuil, Que.) for the final half of the contest. The two netminders combined for 21 saves on the evening, with Bradley allowing four goals and making 10 saves. Stathos had 11 saves on 14 shots. Greg Gardner played the entire 60 minutes in net for the Purple Eagles, stopping 20 of 22 Princeton attempts.
Princeton was 1 for 8 on power-play opportunities, while Niagara was 2 for 7.
The Tigers fall to 0-1 on the season, while Niagara improves to 4-2. Princeton will return to action next weekend when it opens the 1999-2000 ECAC season at home against St. Lawrence on Fri., Nov. 5.
PRINCETON 2 0 0 - 2 NIAGARA 2 4 1 - 7
FIRST PERIOD – Scoring: 1, Niagara, Sebastian, 2:13. 2, Niagara, Sivonen (Clayton, Isherwood), 5:38. 3, Princeton, Parros (power play) (Corrinet, Bennett), 14:29. 4, Princeton, Yopyk (Parsons, Campbell), 15:01. Penalties: Parros, PR (hooking), 6:22. Bennett, PR (cross-checking), 12:04. Handrahan, NU (holding), 12:58. Isherwood, NU (tripping), 18:08. Morin, PR (holding), 20:00.
SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 5, Niagara, Isherwood (power play) (Sivonen, MacKenzie), 0:38. 6, Niagara, Harris (Sebastian, Heffernan), 7:59. 7, Niagara, DeSantis (Martin, MacKenzie), 15:49. 8, Niagara, Sivonen (Clayton, Isherwood), 16:33. Penalties: DeSantis, NU (tripping), 0:41. Makela, NU (cross-checking), 2:03. Harris, NU (tripping), 5:33. Clayton, NU (hooking), 9:05. Morin, PR (interference), 9:12. Morin, PR (cross-checking), 19:56.
THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 9, Niagara, Martin (power play) (Sivonen, MacKenzie), 9:53. Penalties: Lamb, PR (charging), 9:06. Sebastian, NU (interference), 12:35. Del Monte, PR (tripping), 13:04. Isherwood, NU (hooking), 16:48.
Shots: Princeton 10 4 8 - 22 Niagara 8 11 9 - 28
Power-play opportunities: Princeton 1-of-8, Niagara 2-of-7. Goalies: Princeton, Bradley (30:10, 14 shots, 10 saves), Stathos (29:50, 14 shots, 11 saves), Niagara, Gardner (22 shots, 20 saves).