Princeton University
Quinnipiac
Late Quinnipiac Goal Downs Men's Hockey 3-2
November 22, 2005 | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 22, 2005
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Princeton, N.J. - Quinnipiac's Chris Walsh capitalized on a Tiger turnover to score with 1:06 remaining in the third period and lift the Bobcats to a 3-2 win over the Princeton men's hockey team on Tuesday night at Baker Rink. Princeton junior Patrick Neundorfer scored the apparent equalizer with 23 seconds on the clock, but the goal was disallowed and the Bobcats held on for the win.
Princeton opened the scoring at the 6:51 mark of the first period when freshman Brett Wilson capped a rush with his third goal of the season. Freshman Lee Jubinville began the play in the neutral zone and then fed freshman Brandan Kushniruk at the blueline. Kushniruk then left Wilson a drop pass that he wrested by Quinnipiac goaltender Bud Fisher for his fifth point in as many games this season.
Quinnipiac answered less than three minutes later with a goal from Brian Leitch to knot the game up. Ben Nelson picked off a Tiger pass and fed Leitch with a breakaway pass that he converted for his sixth of the season. The teams finished the first period tied with Quinnipiac holding a 10-7 edge in shots.
Shots were all even 7-7 in the second and each team scored once. After Jubinville hit the post at the midway point of the period, the Tigers continued to pressure and junior Kevin Westgarth scored to give Princeton a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Kyle Hagel drove into the zone along the boards and sent Westgarth a centering pass that he banged by Fisher for his second of the year. Princeton appeared headed to the second intermission with a one-goal lead but Reid Cashman evened the score with 7 seconds left in the period when his shot beat Princeton netminder B.J. Sklapsky. The goal capped an end-to-end rush and was assisted by Michael Bordieri and Matt Sorteborg.
In the third Princeton controlled play and pressured Quinnipiac throughout, outshooting the Bobcats 15-10. Princeton had several good chances but couldn't crack Fisher and the game appeared destined for overtime. But with 1:06 left, Joe Dumais picked off an errant pass and fed David Marshall who then fed Chris Walsh. Walsh entered the Princeton zone and ripped a shot that Sklapsky got a glove on, but the puck continued by him and trickled into the Tiger net.
The Tigers tried to rally and force overtime and after pulling their goaltender in the last minute appeared to have scored the equalizer when the red light went on after Neundorfer banged home a loose puck in front of the Quinnipiac net. However after a break and a conference between the referee, assistant referees and goal judge, the goal was disallowed as the referee overruled the goal judge and said the puck never crossed the goal line. Princeton had another chance in the final 23 seconds but Fisher got it and Quinnipiac held on for the 3-2 win.
Fisher finished the night with 27 saves while Sklapsky made 24.
Princeton fell to 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the ECACHL, while Quinnipiac is now 9-6 overall and 3-4 in the league.
The two teams conclude their home-and-home series Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be played at Yale and can be seen live on NESN (Directv Channel 623).