Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
#4 Clarkson
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DiCesare, Seguin Power Women's Hockey To OT Win Over #4 Clarkson
February 13, 2010 | Women's Ice Hockey
A perfect blast from sophomore Danielle DiCesare and stellar goaltending from freshman Cassie Seguin pushed the women's hockey team to a thrilling 1-0 overtime win over #4 Clarkson Friday night at Baker Rink. The victory over the ECAC leader strengthens Princeton's push towards home ice in the upcoming ECAC playoffs, which will begin two weeks from tonight.
After 60 minutes of scoreless hockey, Princeton controlled overtime against the Golden Knights. A quick penalty against Clarkson's Juana Baribeau, who slashed a Tiger in an attempted breakaway, gave Princeton all the momentum it would need. The Tigers kept the puck in the Clarkson zone, even though it managed only one shot on goaltender Lauren Dahm. When the penalty ended, Princeton worked hard to maintain its momentum, and that work would quickly be rewarded.
Sophomore Paula Romanchuk found senior Melanie Wallace, who was standing inside the right circle in the Clarkson defensive zone. She hit DiCesare with a perfect pass, and DiCesare beat Dahm to her right for the winner.
"When we got that power play, we were able to keep the momentum in the offensive zone," head coach Jeff Kampersal said. "There were times when we hung on, and we did a nice job killing penalties. But at that point in overtime, we managed chances in the first flurry and capitalized after the penalty ended."
Clarkson ended up outshooting Princeton 21-14, but Seguin and an opportunistic defense did well to keep the Golden Knights off the scoreboard. Clarkson was 0-for-4 on the power play, including a missed 5-on-3 opportunity; even when Princeton was seemingly pinned in its defensive zone for long stretches, the defense did a nice job clogging shooting lanes and keeping rebounds clear. Seguin made several big saves, especially in the middle period, to help Princeton to its 11th win of the season.
The victory couldn't have come at a better time for Princeton, which was coming off an 0-2 road trip to Cornell and Clarkson and had little margin for error in the race for home ice. The Tigers remained in seventh place at the end of the night (the top four earn home ice), but their 22 points leaves them only two behind a trio of third-place teams.
"This was big for team morale," Kampersal said. "You could see in the beginning that we looked a little tentative. Then we got it going. This win really helps us."