Princeton University
Guelph (Exhibition)
Fouladgar-Mercer Hat Trick Leads Men's Hockey to Win In Exhibition Opener
October 25, 2003 | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 25, 2003
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Senior Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer scored three goals as the Princeton men's hockey team came back form an early deficit to top the University of Guelph 6-4 in an exhibition game played at Baker Rink Saturday night. Freshman Grant Goeckner-Zoeller added two goals in his debut for the Tigers. Princeton begins the regular season next Friday night at St. Cloud.
Guelph came out strong and opened up a 3-0 lead in the game's first six minutes. Princeton got on the board lat in the first stanza when Goeckner-Zoeller banged home the rebound of a Patrick Neundorfer shot to make the score 3-1. Dustin Sproat also assisted on the goal. Momentum swung the Tigers way late in the first period and carried throughout the remainder of the game as they outshot Guelp 50-20. Princeton added three goals in the second period to take a 4-3 lead. Dan Hursh started the scoring in the period when he scored form the top of the crease off a pass from Kevin Westgarth behind the net. Ian McNally added an assist. Just over two minutes later, the Tigers scored again, this time it was Fouladgar-Mercer notching his first goal of the evening after Max Cousins sent him a pass to lead him in on a breakaway.
Princeton immeadiately went to the power-play and 47 second later, Fouladgar-Mercer made it 4-3 after he shot home a Chris Owen rebound. Fouladgar-Mercer completed the hat trick at 4:03 of the third period when he shot home a rebounf. Mike Patton assisted on his third goal. Guelph's Trevor Trussler scored to make it 5-4, but Goeckner-Zoeller added one more tally late to make it 6-4.
Trevor Clay started the game for Princeton and made two saves in 6:31. Eric Leroux came on in relief and stopped 14 shots to earn the win.