Men's Hockey Edged In Overtime By Harvard, 4-3

Friday, November 8

7:00 PM

Princeton University

1-1-0, 0-1-0

Harvard

1-1-0, 1-1-0

OT 1

Harvard

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

November 08, 2024 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

The home opener for the 2024-25 season went to overtime, but Princeton was one goal short in a spirited 4-3 loss to visiting Harvard after the Crimson escaped with a last-minute winner.

Mick Thompson took advantage of a Princeton turnover and snuck a shot from the slot by Ethan Pearson with 0:24 remaining to deny Princeton a storybook ending to the first game for new head coach Ben Syer.

The Tigers had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before needing a Kai Daniells power-play goal midway through the third period to climb back even and force overtime, giving the Hobey Baker Rink crowd of 2,356 a lot to cheer about as Princeton's new era commenced.

Pearson was up to the task all night in net, making 29 saves – including one on a Harvard penalty shot and a three-save sequence late in the third to make overtime even possible.

Headed To Overtime!

How about the work from Ethan Pearson here with three amazing saves to preserve the tie! pic.twitter.com/ADeXXKmNis
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 9, 2024

Seven different Princeton skaters had a point, with Daniells, Brendan Gorman and Nick Marciano scoring and assists going to David Ma, Tyler Rubin, Jake Manfre and David Jacobs.

Nick Marciano lit the lamp first for the Tigers in 2024-25, needing just 5:01 to wire a low wrister through Aku Koskenvuo's five-hole from the top of the left circle to give Princeton a 1-0 lead off assists from David Jacobs and Jake Manfre. The helper from Manfre marked his first collegiate point.

5 - Holeeeee by Marciano

Tigers take an early lead in the home opener! pic.twitter.com/SX6Xc19fVa
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 9, 2024

The Crimson struck early in the second period, with Joe Miller slipping home a shot from in tight 0:36 into the middle frame.

What A Shift From Brendan Gorman!

Blocked Shot ?
End To End Rush ?
Top Shelf Snipe ?@Buccigross | @ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH | @MikeGrinnell_ pic.twitter.com/RRq93L4Iic
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 9, 2024

Brendan Gorman would counter quickly though, blocking a shot at one end and then weaving his way the other way before roofing a shot under the bar for a spectacular unassisted goal to give Princeton back a one-goal lead just 0:54 after Harvard got on the board.

The Crimson would net the next goal, once again bringing the game level when Salvatore Guzzo funneled home a loose puck at the goal mouth 8:02 into the second period.

Harvard almost took the lead moments later when Zak Karpa broke in on a breakaway and was impeded by Tyler Rubin to draw a penalty shot – but Ethan Pearson was up to the task with a sprawling save to deny Karpa's shot on the ice.

The Crimson finally got their first lead 4:25 into the third when Casey Severo redirected a power-play goal in with his skate, but Princeton answered just over six minutes later with a water-bottle breaking snap shot from Kai Daniells on the power play to force overtime.

KD on the PP!

Have Mercy!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/ZGYfO2GwgG
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 9, 2024

The two teams would combiend for 14 shot attempts in overtime, with Pearson making four saves before Thompson snuck home the winner.

Princeton returns back to action Saturday night, hosting Dartmouth at 7 p.m.