Princeton University Athletics
Remember When?
June 16, 2000 | General
5 years ago -- February 5, 1995
The men's hockey team was in the midst of a four-game winless streak and was hitting the road to face two of the ECAC's top teams, Harvard and Brown. Princeton had not defeated either team in four years, so it seemed as if the fruitless streak would hit six. But senior forward Ethan Early netted four goals during the weekend as the Tigers pulled off two mighty upsets, 5-3 at Harvard and 3-1 at Brown.
Early scored a shorthanded goal in the first period at Harvard and added an unassisted goal in the second. With the game tied at 3-3midway through the third period and the Crimson on the power play, Early notched the game-winning goal with another shorthanded tally to complete the hat trick.
Against top-ranked Brown, Early again supplied the offense, scoring the game-winner in the second period.
10 years ago -- February 5, 1990
Archrivals Princeton and Harvard had one of their many memorable women's swimming clashes in Cambridge, Mass. Although both teams entered 5-0 in the Ivy League, Harvard, the top-ranked team in the East and champions two years running, was heavily favored. Princeton came out quickly and held on for its biggest win in years, a dramatic 72-68 victory. Their season-ending win over Yale the following weekend gave the Tigers their first outright Ivy League title since 1982.
Princeton opened the Harvard meet with a record-breaking performance in the 200-yard medley relay and jumped out to a 40-12 lead. But the momentum shifted and Harvard roared back, trailing 64-60 with just two events remaining.
The Tigers clinched the win by taking first and second place in the next event, the 200-yard individual medley. "The whole meet was euphoric. I basically had a cardiac arrest when it was over," said coach Susan Teeter.
25 years ago -- January 5, 1975
The men's basketball team, struggling on the heels of a three-game losing streak, faced a tough challenge in its Ivy League opener against Penn. Earlier in the season Penn had cracked the national ranking thanks in part to the spectacular play of guard John Beecroft.
Tim van Blommesteyn, who was making only his second start of the year, played all 40 minutes and shut down Beecroft, holding the Penn star to just six points. The Tiger senior also collected eight steals and led the team with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Despite a 16-point Princeton lead with 15 minutes remaining, the Quakers trailed by just one with 16 seconds to play and had possession. Penn missed a 15-foot baseline jumper with five seconds left. The rebound to seal the game as the clock expired went to van Blommesteyn. Final score: Princeton 50, Penn 49.
by Josh Fien-Helfman '02