Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
St. Cloud State
Men's Hockey Drops OT Thriller to No. 13 St. Cloud
October 31, 2003 | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 31, 2003
Box Score
St. Cloud, Minn. - Despite a valiant effort from sophomore goaltender Eric Leroux and the rest of the Princeton's men's hockey team, the Tigers fell 2-1 in overtime to No. 13 St. Cloud State tonight in the Tigers season opener at the National Hockey Center. Leroux made 42 saves and was the game's No. 1 star. Princeton's lone goal came from sophomore Patrick Neundorfer.
St. Cloud State opened the scoring early at 3:42 of the first period. The Huskies pinned the Tigers deep in the defensive zone and worked the puck to Ryan LaMere on the point. LaMere skated to the middle and wristed a shot through a screen that found its way past Leroux. The Huskies continued to pressure the Tigers but Leroux came up with several big stops and his defenseman blocked a lot of pucks to keep the score at 1-0. Princeton answered back with just over four minutes remaining in the first period resulting from the forecheck. St. Cloud defenseman T.J. McElroy attempted a clearing pass from behind his net, but Neundorfer intercepted it at the top of the face-off circle, took two strides and sent a wrist shot through the legs of St. Cloud goalie Tim Boron to knot the game up at 1-1. Neundorfer's goal was unassisted.
The second period belonged to one person: Eric Leroux. St. Cloud State dictated play in the second period, but the Huskies were unable to crack the Princeton netminder as he steered aside all 19 shots he faced, many of which came from right in front the Tiger goal, including point-blank stops on Huskies Brent Hill and Billy Hengen late in the period. The Tigers were only able to muster two shots in the stanza and the majority of play was held in their defensive zone.
The third period saw the Princeton offense battle back and create some good scoring opportunities despite being outshot again, 14-6. Although not tested often, Tim Boron came up big on back-to-back opportunities by senior Dan Hursh and freshman Grant Goeckner-Zoeller to keep the score at 1-1. Leroux again was the story for Princeton as he knocked aside every shot he faced, raising his game total to 42.
Overtime began with the Tigers a man down as Neundorfer was called for hooking at the conclusion of regulation. Leroux made two stops on the power-play and the Tigers blocked three Husky shots, but with two seconds remaining on the penalty, St. Cloud's Billy Hengen found the back of the net.
Leroux stopped a career high 42 shots in the loss. Boron made 11 saves to earn the win.
These same two teams lock horns again tomorrow night at 8:05 p.m. ET at the National Hockey Center.
Princeton 1-0-0-0--1
St. Cloud 1-0-0-1--2
First Period: Scoring - 1, SC - LaMere (Luger, Lundbohm) 3:42. 2, PRI - Neundorfer Unassisted), 15:57. Penalties - Goeckner-Zoeller, PRI (Interference) 4:39; Luger, SC (Slashing) 10:14; Patton, PRI (Boarding) 13:05; Iannazzo, SC (Obstruction Hooking) 17:04.
Second Period: Scoring - None. Penalties - Marcoux, PRI (Hooking) 2:29; Luger, SC (Hooking) 6:07; Iannazzo, SC (Obstruction Hooking) 10:45; Neundorfer, PRI (Cross-Checking) 13:46; Masear, PRI (Tripping) 19:44.
Third Period: Scoring - None. Penalties - Luger, SC (Roughing) 4:45; Neundorfer, PRI (Hooking) 20:00.
Overtime: Scoring - 3, SC - Hengn (Doyle, Clafton) 1:58, pp. Penalties - None.
Goaltending - PRI - Leroux (61:58; 44 shots, 42 saves); SC - Boron (61:58; 12 shots, 11 saves)
Shots on Goal - PRI 4-2-6-0-12; SC 9-19-14-3--45
Power-Plays - PRI (0-5); SC (1-6)