Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Women's Hockey Moves Into Must-Win Mode After Double-OT Defeat
February 28, 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey
Despite a heroic effort by senior goaltender Kristen Young, who made big save after big save deep into the night, the third-seeded Princeton women's hockey team fell into a 1-0 hole in the best-of-three ECAC quarterfinal series following a 2-1 double-overtime loss to the sixth-seeded Rensselaer Engineers.
During a taut second overtime, where both teams had some of their best scoring chances throughout the entire three-plus-hour game, it was Rensselaer which put forth the final charge. First, there was a breakaway by Whitney Naslund, which was defended by a sprawling save by Young. That play, along with a defensive stand to knock away the rebound, seemed to energize a Princeton bench that could have been exhausted after more than 95 minutes of play.
Instead, it simply delayed the disappointing outcome. Rensselaer's Allysen Weidner worked the puck back into the zone and dropped it off for Alisa Harrison, who found Allison Wright on the doorstep. Wright found an opening and beat Young at the 16-minute mark of the second overtime period, sending her jubilant teammates to the ice with a one-game lead.
Princeton will need to sweep a pair of weekend afternoon games to qualify for the ECAC semifinals next weekend. The first game will take place Saturday at 4 p.m., only 17 and a half hours after the final buzzer sounded on game one.
It was Rensselaer which struck first in the quarterfinal series. During a power play late in the opening period, Laura Gersten sent a perfect pass to Jamie-Lynn Stewart, who was just inside the left circle. Stewart sent the puck past Young and inside the right post for her fourth goal of the season, and it gave the Engineers a 1-0 lead that nearly lasted until the third period.
Princeton's Heather Landry made sure the Tigers would skate the third period even, as she scored her seventh goal of the season with 29 seconds remaining in the second period to even the score. Positioning herself on the left side of the crease, Landry got the puck from Sasha Sherry and scored on Sonja van der Bliek for the Rensselaer goalie's only blemish in an otherwise-flawless game.
Both teams would earn opportunities in both the third period and the first overtime, but both were also cautious and allowed as few odd-person rushes as possible. Princeton outshot Rensselaer 10-9 in the third period and 7-5 in the first overtime, and the Tigers ended the game with a 32-25 shooting edge.
Of course, that will mean little Saturday, as Young and the rest of the talented senior class attempt to extend their careers by at least one game in a must-win situation. Admission to Baker Rink for Saturday, and, if necessary, Sunday is free.