Men's Hockey's Rally Is Just Short At Yale, 5-3

Saturday, February 8

New Haven, Conn.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

3-16-4, 1-12-3ECAC

Yale

10-12-1, 7-8-1ECAC

Princeton Tigers

Yale Bulldogs

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

February 08, 2020 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A long stretch on the penalty kill early in the second period derailed Princeton's effort at Yale, as the Buldogs scored twice on a five-minute powerplay en route to a 5-3 win at Ingalls Rink.

Princeton struck first with 4:21 left in the first period, Jackson Cressey one-timing home a short-handed goal. Cressey and Liam Gorman had extended pressure, and a loose puck squirted loose to Gorman whose initial shot was saved before Cressey pounced on the rebound for his second short-handed goal of the year.

Go Shorty...

Jackson Cressey fired in his 2nd SHG of the season to start our scoring tonight. pic.twitter.com/KCL54AG74w
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 9, 2020

The Tigers though they'd taken a two-goal lead minutes later, but a Tiger shot into a scrum was gathered by Corbin Kaczperski just before it crossed the goal line – a save confirmed by video review.

Instead, it was Yale who scored the next goal as Kevin O'Neill picked off a Princeton clearing attempt and fired a shot off the far left post and in with 2:49 remaining in the first.

In the final minute of the first period, Christian O'Neill was called for a five-minute major for cross-checking. Princeton killed most of the penalty, but Yale scored twice in the final portion of the powerplay to take a 3-1 lead. The first goal came off the stick of Tyler Welsh after a Yale shot from the point deflected off a Bulldogs pads to Welsh who was alone to the side of the goal and went over Ferland's blocker. The Bulldogs doubled their lead 0:40 later when Will D'Orsi walked in and fired a goal through traffic and over Ferland's glove.

Just before the midway point of the second period, Yale extended its lead to 4-1 as Kevin O'Neill scored his second of the game after being sprung by a cross-ice breakout pass from defenseman Graham Lillibridge.

Princeton cut into the deficit on its first powerplay of the night. Matthew Thom went to the net, and he redirected a Spencer Kersten slap-pass on a 4-on-3 man-advantage with 3:42 remaining in the middle frame.

Alert The Fan Club!

Thom With The Tip-In! pic.twitter.com/T0S4lcFHTD
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 9, 2020

The Tigers had the better of the opening moments in the third period, with prime scoring chances off the sticks of Cressey and Reid Yochim in the first 5:00 of the third just turned aside by Kaczperski. That pressure continued through the remainder of the period until Mark Paolini finally broke through with just under one minute remaining in regulation.

Corey Andonovski carried the puck into the zone as Princeton was pulling the goalie. He spun and fed Paolini who threw a wrister on net which clanged off a Yale defender and in to give Princeton momentary hope of a comeback before Yale's Pearson iced the game with an empty-netter with 21 seconds remaining.

We got within one off this Paolini goal as the boys fought to the end tonight. pic.twitter.com/oYvq01DIFW
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 9, 2020

Princeton returns to Hobey Baker Rink next weekend, hosting St. Lawrence (2/14) and Clarkson (2/15). Faceoff for both games is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available here.