Princeton University
St. Lawrence
Del Monte Can
February 01, 2002 | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 1, 2002
Final Stats
PRINCETON, N.J. - Princeton, which had scored more than two goals in only three of its first 19 games, exploded for three first-period goals against St. Lawrence as the Tigers defeated the Saints 5-2 Friday night at Hobey Baker Rink in an ECAC men's hockey game.
"We played together as a group tonight," Princeton coach Len Quesnelle said. "We need that type of effort from everyone, especially our seniors."
Three seniors, center David Del Monte (Mississauga, Ont.), defenseman David Schneider (Melrose Park, Ill.) and goalie Dave Stathos (Longueuil, Que.), provided the leadership against St. Lawrence. Del Monte scored two first-period goals and picked up an assist, while Stathos stopped 30 shots, including 15 in the third period, as Princeton opened its post-exam break portion of the schedule in convincing fashion.
Schneider, the team captain who had been out of the lineup since Dec. 8, wasted little time in energizing the Tiger offense. He corralled a loose puck in the defensive right-wing corner, skated to the Tigers' blue line and feed a streaking Del Monte as he entered the St. Lawrence zone. Del Monte broke in alone and slid a backhander past Saints goalie Kevin Ackley just a little more than a minute into the game for the Tigers' first shorthanded goal of the season.
Ten minutes later defenseman Neil McCann (Calgary, Alberta) made it 2-0 when his shot from the left-wing boards beat a screened Ackley. Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer (Manlius, N.Y.) and Josh Roberts (Orleans, Mass.) picked up the assists on McCann's first of the season.
St. Lawrence closed the gap to 2-1 when Ray DiLauro's wrist shot from the point hit defenseman Matt Maglione (Fayetteville, N.Y.) in front of the Tiger net and deflected past goalie Dave Stathos (Longueuil, Que.) at 15:15 of the first.
The two-goal lead was restored 39 second later when Del Monte picked up a loss puck in the St. Lawrence slot and backhanded a shot past Ackley for his second goal of the period and team-leading eighth of the season.
"David [Del Monte] was focused and played with determination," Quesnelle said. "You have to respect what our players have to do away from the rink," Quesnelle said of the nearly three-week layoff for exams. "But they came back with a great week of practice. The break gave us a chance to refocus."
Princeton has 12 points in the ECAC standings, good for a seventh-place tie with Yale and two points out of fifth place.
"The challenge for this group is to come back and get two points Saturday," Quesnelle said. The Tigers have won the first of back-to-back games fives times in nine attempts this year, but have failed to put together consecutive victories. Princeton looks to end that streak Saturday when Clarkson visits Hobey Baker Rink for a 7 p.m. game. The Golden Knights have a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) against the Tigers and won 3-2 earlier this season in Potsdam, N.Y.
"We have the potential in this locker room," Del Monte said. "We have great team chemistry."
The first-period outburst against St. Lawrence was the first time Princeton has scored three goals in a period all season.
"To have an offensive breakout like tonight puts a little wind in your sails," defenseman Matt Maglione (Fayetteville, N.Y.) said. The sophomore set up Princeton's fourth goal with a second-period end-to-end rush that resulted in a drop pass to Chris Owen (Westwood, Mass.). Owen deposited a wrist shot from the slot between the pads of Mike McKenna, who replaced Ackley in the Saints' goal to begin the second period. Owen's third goal of the season gave Princeton a 4-1 lead.
Late in the second period Charlie Daniels found room behind the Princeton net, and his wrap-around at 18:34 keep St. Lawrence in striking distance at 4-2.
Del Monte, whose breakaway bid for a hat trick in the third period was turned aside by McKenna, picked up his third point of the game when he set up George Parros (Randolph, N.J.). Del Monte's cross-ice pass found Parros at the right face-off circle, and his wrist shot beat McKenna to the glove side, giving the Tigers a 5-2 lead with less than three minutes to play. Freshman Neil Stevenson-Moore (North Vancouver, B.C.) also picked up an assist on Parros' fifth goal of the year.
Princeton (7-13-0, 6-7-0 ECAC)
St. Lawrence (7-16-0, 5-8-0ECAC)
Scoring by Periods
S - 1-1-0 -- 2
P - 3-1-1--5
First Period
P-1 David Del Monte (7) (David Schneider) shorthanded 1:05
P-2 Neil McCann (1) (Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, Josh Roberts) 11:12
S-1 Ray DiLauro (2) (Allie Skelley) 15:15
P-3 David Del Monte (8) 15:54
Second Period
P-4 Chris Owen (3) (Matt Maglione) 10:41
S-2 Charlie Daniels (9) (Sean Muir, Allie Skelley) 18:44
Third Period
P-5 George Parros (5) (David Del Monte, Neil Stevenson-Moore) 17:24
Shots
S - 32
P - 29
Penalties
S - 3 for 6 min.
P - 4 for 8 min.
Power Play
S - 0 for 2
P - 0 for 1
Goalies
Kevin Ackley (S) - 20 min., 8 saves, 3 goals against
Mike McKenna (S) - 40 min., 15 saves, 2 goals against
Dave Stathos (P) - 60:00, 30 saves, 2 goals against
Attendance: 1,823
- www.GoPrincetonTigers.com