Princeton University Athletics
Women's Hockey Visits Cornell and Colgate
February 10, 2005 | Women's Ice Hockey
Feb. 10, 2005
Princeton, N.J. - The ninth-ranked Princeton women's hockey team returns to the road after a brief two-game homestand when it travels to Cornell and Colgate this weekend. Princeton held serve with Brown and Yale last weekend, the two teams it needs to catch in order to secure home ice for the playoffs, but will look to gain ground this weekend on the road.
Face-off is set for 7 p.m. on both nights. Live stats will be available through Gametracker, which can be found on the front page of GoPrincetonTigers.com or on the women's hockey schedule page. Saturday's game against the Raiders will be broadcast online by Colgate and clicking here can access that broadcast.
Princeton enters the weekend off a split last weekend on home ice against Clarkson and No. 5 St. Lawrence. On Friday, it took Princeton 48 shots, but eventually the Tigers were able to come away with a 2-1 overtime win as Kim Pearce redirected a Kate Hession pass into the Golden Knight net with 17 seconds left in overtime. Liz Keady scored Princeton's first goal in the game as the Tigers came back to tie the game in the third and win overtime. Pearce and Dina McCumber both had two points in the game. The following night, Princeton again took over 40 shots, but most were from the perimeter, as the Saints took a 5-2 win home to Canton. St. Lawrence scored once in the first and twice in the second before Laura Watt put the Tigers on the board late in the second period. Pearce added a goal in the third to make it 4-2, but the Saints scored once more to make it 5-2. Heather Jackson had a pair of assists in the game.
Princeton remains in sixth in the ECAC Hockey League after its weekend split. That leaves the Tigers in the same spot in the standing as they were entering the weekend, three points behind Brown and five behind Yale, as both the Bears and Bulldogs split their weekend games. Princeton has three games in hand on Brown and two on Yale, plus have a game with the Bulldogs later this month. Princeton will make up two of the games against Brown this weekend, as Brown will host Mercyhurst in non-league action, meaning Princeton can pass the Bears in the standings with two wins.
Princeton enters the game having lost just twice in its 13 games, going 8-2-3 in the span. The five goals that St. Lawrence scored on Saturday marked the first time all season that Princeton allowed over four goals in a game and only the second time that opponent scored more than three goals. The other time came in the season-opener when Providence scored four in a 4-4 tie. Friday's one goal allowed was the 15th time this season that the Tigers have limited an opponent to two goals or less in a game.
The Tiger defense is currently ranked fifth in the nation, allowing just 1.73 goals per game, which outranks all ECAC Hockey League teams. The defense is anchored by Gaudiel, who ranks fourth in the nation in save percentage (.934) and fifth in goals-against average (1.70).
Offensively, the sophomore trio of Watt, Keady and Pearce continue to lead Princeton. Watt and Pearce are now tied atop the team coring charts with 19 points each after Pearce's three-point weekend. Pearce's game-winner on Friday was her 13th goal of the season, fifth game-winner and second overtime game-winner of the year. Jackson had two points on the weekend and sits fourth in team scoring with 16 points. McCumber's second straight three-point weekend moved her to 14 points on the season.
The Tigers begin the weekend Friday night at Cornell in a series that the Tigers have controlled over the past six seasons, winning nine straight and 12 of 13 games. Cornell is 3-16-3 on the season and 3-12-1 in the league. The Big Red has lost seven in a row and is winless in its last 17 games dating back to a 4-2 win over Vermont on Nov. 19.
Earlier this season the teams met at Baker Rink with Princeton coming away with a 2-0 win. Pearce and Keady supplied the goals and Gaudiel made 15 saves for the shutout.
The weekend continues Saturday at Colgate. Princeton has never lost against the Raiders, sporting a 9-0-1 record in 10 meetings. Colgate is 12-13-2 overall and 5-7-2 in the league and is two points behind the Tigers in the standings with 12 points. Colgate has played .500 hockey over its past six games and is 5-3-1 in its last nine, including a 3-0 win over No. 7 Mercyhurst in its last game.
Princeton and Colgate skated to a scoreless tie in their last meeting in early December at Baker Rink. It was the first scoreless tie in Princeton women's hockey history. Brook Wheeler made 35 saves for Colgate and Gaudiel made 23 for the Tigers.
The Tigers stay on the road next weekend as they visit Vermont and No. 3 Dartmouth before a set with Union at home to close out the regular season in two weekends.