Princeton’s Third-Period Rally Comes Up Short, Falls to No. 4 Colgate, 3-2

Saturday, January 6

Princeton, N.J.

3:00 PM

Princeton University

6-10-4, 5-8-1

Colgate

17-3-1, 8-2

Team	1	2	3	F
Colgate	1	1	1	3
Princeton	0	0	2	2

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Princeton’s Third-Period Rally Comes Up Short, Falls to No. 4 Colgate, 3-2

January 06, 2018 | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. (1/6/17) - Despite two early third-period goals to even the game, the Princeton women's hockey (6-10-4, 5-8-1 ECAC) fell short to No. 4 Colgate (17-3-1, 8-2-0 ECAC), 3-2, on Saturday at Hobey Baker Rink. The Tigers will look to bounce back next weekend with two Ivy League foes on slate, first against Brown on Friday at 6 p.m and then Yale on Saturday at 3 p.m..

Down 2-0 to begin the third period, Princeton came out of the gates with a flurry of offensive chances. The Tigers first true offensive chance came when junior Keiko DeClerck, from behind the net, fed classmate Stephanie Sucharda on the right-hand side. Sucharda skated from the right circle to the left and swung her shot to the far post to cut the deficit to one, 2-1, just 1:42 into the period.

Minutes later, the Tigers generated their second offensive chance as freshman Annie McDonald, from inside the blue line, sent a shot on net. Off the rebound, classmate Shannon Griffin looked to cash in the equalizer, but Colgate goalie Julia Vandyk made the save. Finally, freshman Sharon Frankel came crashing towards the net and sent home the equalizer with 11:38 left in the game.

Colgate, however, created a turnover at center ice and began their counter attack. Raiders forward Jessie Eldridge began the charge as she dished to teammate Shae Labbe on the left side. With Labbe slicing into the left circle, she fed to Eldridge at the far post and cashed in the game winner, 3-2, with 3:43 left in the contest.

Colgate senior Megan Sullivan opened up the scoring early in the first period, as she snuck in a shot off a rebound just in front of the net. Teammate Olivia Zafuto began the play with a hard shot from the blue line and senior Breanne Wilson-Bennett looked to finish off a generous rebound, but Princeton goalkeeper Stephanie Neatby made the first two saves before Sullivan capitalized.

The Raiders built their lead to two, 2-0, late in the second period. Following the faceoff, teammates Shelby Wood and Sullivan swung the puck to the endline where junior Bailey Larson went from the right side of the blue line to the left side and wristed her shot to the far post.

Princeton's Frankel and Sucharda finished with their third and second goal, respectively, of the season. The Tigers DeClerck, Griffin and MacDonald all tallied an assist.

Neatby recorded 33 saves on 36 chances in the loss. Colgate netminder Julia Vandyk tallied 29 saves on 31 chances in the win.

Colgate outshot Princeton, 36-31, while the Tigers edged the Raiders in faceoffs, 29-of-49 to 20-of-49.