Princeton University
Harvard
Owen's Third-Period Tally Lifts Men's Hockey to Hard-Fought 2-1 Win Over Harvard
December 16, 2003 | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 16, 2003
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Senior Chris Owen's goal 56 second into the period lifted the Princeton men's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Harvard Tuesday night at Baker Rink. The Tigers played physical all night long and out-hustled the Crimson to pick up their fifth win of the 2003-04 season and complete the season sweep of Harvard.
Princeton continues its recent string of success versus Harvard, following its 4-2 win in November in Cambridge with tonight's win. It is Princeton's second sweep of Harvard in three seasons and the Tigers are 5-1 against Harvard in the last six games.
The two teams played an even back-and-forth first period with few scoring opportunities. Princeton managed only three shots on goal to Harvard's five, but both goaltenders, Princeton sophomore Eric Leroux and Harvard's Dov Grumet-Morris, kept all pucks out of the net and the period ended in a scoreless tie. The second period began the same way, but penalties for both teams allowed for strong scoring chances. Princeton broke through first at the 10:03 mark while on the man advantage. With Ryan Lannon serving an interference penalty, the Tiger power play took control of the puck in the Harvard zone.
Junior Mike Patton collected the puck behind the Crimson net and circled to the boards where he fed sophomore Seamus Young on the point. Young faked a shot, and instead passed to freshman Grant Goeckner-Zoeller on the far side of the crease. Goeckner-Zoeller received the pass and picked the far corner as Grumet-Morris slid through the crease. It was his third goal of the season and Patton's assist was his team-leading 10th point of the season.
Harvard answered back quickly though, and 3:01 later evened the score off the rush. Steve Mandes collected the puck in the neutral zone and fed Tim Pettit who was coming in on the left wing. Pettit skated to the top of the circles and ripped a shot just inside the far post, past the outstretched arm of Leroux.
The second period ended with the score still knotted at one, but Princeton controlled the physical side of play. The shots were 15-11 at the end of the period, and Harvard held a 20-14 advantage.
Princeton came out for the third period ready to play and scored the game-winner less than a minute into the period. Freshman defenseman Max Cousins pinched in from his spot on the blueline and backhanded a loose puck wide of the Crimson cage. Sophomore Patrick Neundorfer however was behind the net and quickly sent the puck to the slot where Owen was waiting. Before Grumet-Morris had a chance to set up, Owen had slid the puck under him and into the goal for his second goal of the season. The goal was his sixth goal in seven career games against Harvard.
From there, despite being outshot 12-6 in the period, Princeton employed an aggressive forecheck and made kept up the physical play to limit Harvard's best scoring chances.
Leroux made 31 saves on the night and earned his fifth win of the season and his career. Grumet-Morris made 18 saves in the loss.
Princeton returns to action Saturday night when it meets defending national champion Minnesota at the Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. eastern time. Princeton won the tournament in 1998-99, the last time it appeared there.