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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Cornell
Players Mentioned
Princeton Edges Cornell 2-1; Clinches First-Round Bye
February 23, 2008 | Men's Ice Hockey
PRINCETON -- The 15th-ranked Princeton men's hockey team secured a first-round bye for the ECAC Hockey playoffs with a 2-1 win over Cornell on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Hobey Baker Rink. Sophomore Jody Pederson and junior Brett Wilson scored in the Princeton's 17th win of the season.
Princeton controlled play in the first, outshooting the Big Red 13-7. The Tigers broke through at 11:10 of the period when Pederson cheated in from his spot on the left point and scored his third goal of the season. Wilson fed him the pass and freshman Cam Ritchie also had an assist on the goal.
Princeton made the score 2-0 5:55 into the second period on the power-play when Wilson scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season on the power play. Princeton worked the puck deep in the Cornell zone and sophomore Cam MacIntyre fed Wilson on the doorstep where he redirected a shot through Cornell netminder Ben Scrivens. Junior Lee Jubinville, Princeton and the ECAC's leading scorer, also assisted on the goal.
Cornell cut the lead in half with a power-play goal of its own at 10:55 when Topher Scott fed Mike Devin, who was skating in from the point. Princeton appeared to regain the two-goal advantage in the closing minute of the second period when MacIntyre beat Scrivens on a rebound. However, none of the three referees, or the goal judge saw the puck go over the line before it bounced out, and the goal was not allowed.
Princeton shook off the unfortunate break to play solid defensively in the final stanza and hold Cornell at bay. Cornell outshot Princeton 11-3 in the final period, but could not solve Princeton sophomore netminder Zane Kalemba.
Princeton improved to 17-10 overall and 14-6 in the ECAC. The win assured Princeton of a top-two finish in the standings. Princeton has never finished higher than fourth in the final league standings. Princeton remains a point behind first-place Clarkson with two games to play. The teams meet next Friday night at Clarkson at 7 p.m.
Princeton also will host a quarterfinal playoff series at Baker Rink March 14-16. Tickets for the series will be available on Monday, February 25. Call (609) 258-4TIX for more details.