Princeton University
Vermont
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Men's Hockey Powers Past Vermont 2-1
November 21, 2003 | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 21, 2003
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Freshman Colin Koch and senior Steve Slaton scored in the first period to help lift the Princeton men's hockey team to a 2-1 win Friday night over Vermont at Hobey Baker Rink. The win snapped an 11-game winless streak on home ice that dates back to last November.
Vermont came out of the gates strong, but it was Princeton that was the first to pounce when the Tigers' aggressive forecheck paid off at 4:12. Junior Neil Stevenson-Moore pressure the puck as his linemates changed and intercepted a Vermont pass at the blue line. Stevenson-Moore carried the puck into Vermont's end and attempted a wraparound. The puck squirted out into the slot where Koch, fresh onto the ice, was waiting and shot it just inside the far post before Vermont goaltender Travis Russell could get there. The goal was sweet for Koch, who was making his first collegiate appearance. The Charlotte, Vt., native was originally a member of Princeton's Class of 2006, but deferred a year because of an injury. Also, Koch's father Randy, played college hockey at Vermont and was inducted into the Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame.
Play in the period continued back-and-forth until Princeton took advantage of its second power-play chance of the night. With Vermont's Art Femenella serving a penalty, Princeton won an offensive zone face-off and established it's power play. Junior Mike Patton fired a shot on goal from around the face-off dot that Russell was able to save, but Slaton, who had snuck to the crease from his spot on the blueline was waiting for the rebound and stuffed it into the wide open net. Slaton now leads all Princeton scorers with nine points on the season. Freshman Grant Goeckner-Zoeller added an assist on the play and has tallied points in his last two games.
Sophomore goaltender Eric Leroux faced a flurry of shots in the first period and stopped them all. He made 12 saves in the opening stanza before seeing less work in the later periods. Vermont came within a goal of the Tigers with eight seconds remaining in the second period. Brady Leisenring scored the goal off the rush on a one-timer. Jeff Miles and Derek Wagar added assists on the goal.
Princeton outplayed Vermont through the final two periods, outshooting Vermont by margins of 14-5 and 17-5, but couldn't solve Russell. He fell to 0-6-2 on the season, while Leroux earned his second win of the season and second of his career.
Princeton looks to string together wins tomorrow night when the Tigers host Dartmouth tomorrow night at 7 p.m.