Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Brown
Parsons Lifts Men's Hockey Past Brown, 3-2
March 01, 2002 | Men's Ice Hockey
March 1, 2002
Final Stats
PRINCETON, NJ - Brad Parsons (Sr., Kingston, MA) scored the eventual game-winner, and Princeton's third unanswered goal of the night as the Tigers held on for a 3-2 win over Brown in men's hockey action on Friday night at Hobey Baker Rink. Princeton is now 3-0-1 in its last four games to move to 10-16-2, 9-10-2 in the ECAC. Brown drops to 14-12-2, 10-9-2 during conference play.
The ECAC playoff picture remains as nebulous as it did when the night began, with 729 possible playoff scenarios existing going into tomorrow night's games. The Tigers are in eighth place, exactly where they going into the game with Brown and can still find themselves sitting anywhere from sixth to 11th place after Saturday's game against Harvard.
"We have been playing better and better since the exam break, our efforts have been more consistent," said Princeton head coach Len Quesnelle. "Last weekend was a great confidence booster for us and we were able to have a great week of practice. It was a great effort on our part tonight, especially defensively. I think we did a great job protecting Stats [Dave Stathos]. If there was a loose puck in our defensive zone, then more often then not, we would come out with it." Brown struck first with a goal from Brett Robinson at 14:32 of the first period. Paul Esdale collected the rebound from his own shot right in front of the crease and sent the puck to Robinson. He was able to get around Princeton netminder Dave Stathos (Sr., Longueuil, Que.) and get a clear look at the net for a 1-0 Bears lead, which is how the score remained at the end of the first period.
The Tigers tied the game at 1-1 when George Parros (Jr., Randolph, NJ) scored his third goal in as many games, and team-leading ninth goal of the season, at 4:32 of the second period. Neil Stevenson-Moore's (Fr., North Vancouver, QUE) shot was saved by Brown goaltender Yann Danis, but Parros was trailing and got his stick the puck and was able to sneak it between Danis' legs to knot the game at 1-1. David Del Monte (Sr., Mississauga, ONT) also assisted on the goal.
Princeton took a lead it would not relinquish at 3:24 of the third period. Matt Maglione (So., Fayetteville, NY) took a pass from David Schneider (Sr., Melrose Park, IL) and fired off a shot from the blueline. The rebound bounced right to Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer (So., Manlius, NY) and he was able to knock it in for his third goal of the season and a 2-1 Tiger lead.
Parson scored the eventual game-winner at 12:17 of the final period. Steve Slaton (So., Plymouth, MN) won the puck in the right corner of the Princeton defensive zone and popped it out to Josh Roberts (Sr., Orleans, MA). Roberts brought the puck out of the Tigers defensive zone and up the left side of the ice. He waited for Parsons who was coming up the right side of the ice and gave him a great feed that Parsons to give Princeton a two-goal cushion.
Brown closed that gap to 3-2 with Mike Meech's goal at 14:09 of the final period. Pascal Denis' shot hit the side of the net and Chris Swon picked it up and got it to Meech. His first shot was stuffed by Stathos, but the rebound bounced out to right of the Princeton netminder and Meech got there first to knock it in.
Brown pulled its goalie as time wound down in the game but not capitalize with the extra skater and Princeton held on for the 3-2 win.
Stathos finished the night with 16 saves as the Tigers held a 29-18 edge in shots on goal. Danis posted 26 saves in the loss.
Tonight was the 101st anniversary of the first meeting between these two teams. The first time these two squads took to the ice was on March 1, 1901 when Brown came away with a 3-0 win.
The Tigers close out the regular season by hosting Harvard on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m.