Princeton University
Harvard
Stathos Leads Men's Hockey Past Harvard
January 11, 2002 | Men's Ice Hockey
"I was glad that we were able to pick up a win tonight since Dave [Stathos] turned in a great performance for us," said head coach Len Quesnelle. "He has had some great games so far this season and we have not always come away with a win, so I was glad that we were able to do that tonight."
It was an auspicious beginning for the Tigers as Harvard dominated play from the time the puck was dropped in the opening period, outshooting Princeton 8-1 in the first five minutes of play and 16-7 for the period. Stathos came up big for the Tigers, keeping the game scoreless by making 16 saves in the opening period, three shy of his season-high of 19, which he set in the second period of the 5-4 win over Vermont. Princeton was able to even the scales in the second period and the game remained scoreless until the 17:20 mark when James Fitzpatrick (Fr., Lawrenceville, NJ) put the Tigers on the board. Luc Paquin (Fr., Le Gardeur, QUE) sent the puck at the net where it was deflected by Neil Stevenson-Moore (Fr., North Vancouver, BC). Harvard netminder Dov Grumet-Morris (Evanston, IL) knocked the puck out of the crease but it bounced right to Fitzpatrick, who then knocked it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Princeton lead.
The third period opened at Princeton's end of the ice with a point-blank shot by Tyler Kolarik (So., Abington, PA) just 25 seconds into the stanza, but once again Stathos came up big for the Tigers. A Princeton penalty 3:36 into the final period gave the Crimson their fourth power-play opportunity of the game but Harvard was not able to capitalize. Stathos stopped the initial shot by Brendan Bernakevitch (Fr., Regina, SASK). The rebound bounced right to Brent Nowak (Jr., New Haven, CT) who was looking at an open net, but somehow Stathos got back to get his stick on the puck and preserve the 1-0 Princeton lead.
Brad Parsons (Sr., Kingston, MA) gave the Tigers a two-goal cushion with what proved to be the game-winning goal at 10:27 of the final period. David Del Monte (Sr., Mississauga, ONT) sent the puck in from the left circle and Harvard netminder Dov Grumet-Morris (Fr., Evanston, IL) kicked it right out to Parsons who was waiting on the right side of the crease to knock the puck home.
Tim Petitt (So., Seattle, WA) closed the gap to 2-1 with blast from the right circle at 12:41. Peter Capouch (Sr., Hibbing, MN) and Dominic Moore (Jr., Thornhill, ONT) assisted on the power-play score.
The two teams played at a frenetic pace for the final minutes of the game. Harvard pulled Grumet-Morris in favor of an extra skater with 1:39 remaining, but could not capitalize on several opportunities and Princeton held on for the 2-1 win.
The Tigers will close out the weekend at Brown on Saturday at 7 p.m. Princeton will be idle for two weeks due to exams and will return to the ice on Feb. 1-2 to host St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
Princeton (6-12-0, 5-6-0 ECAC) 0 1 1 -2 Harvard (8-6-3, 7-3-2 ECAC) 0 0 1 -1First Period no scoring
Second Period P-1 James Fitzpatrick (Luc Pawuin, Neil Stevenson-Moore) 17:27
Third Period P-2 Brad Parsons (David Del Monte, Matt Maglione) 10:27 H-1 Tim Pettit (Peter Capouch, Dominic Moore) 12:41
Shots P -- 18 H -- 38
Penalties Princeton -- 8 for 24 Harvard -- 5 for 10
Power Play Princeton -- 1 for 4 Harvard -- 1 for 6
Goalies Stathos (P) -- 60:00, 37 saves, 1 goal against Grumet-Morris (H) -- 60:00, 16 saves, 2 goals against
Attendance: 2,111