Men's Hockey Edged By RPI, 4-3

Friday, February 16

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

8-14-2, 6-10-1

RPI

9-17-3, 5-9-2

Rensselaer

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

February 16, 2024 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Princeton took a season-high 46 shots but RPI goalie Jack Watson turned aside 43 as the Tigers came up one goal short to the Engineers in a 4-3 loss at Hobey Baker Rink.

Caron Buydens and Michael Young each scored their first career goals for the Tigers, Buydens adding an assist for his first career multi-point game. David Jacobs had a pair of assists for Princeton.

Carson Cashes In!

What a snipe from Carson Buydens for his first collegiate goal!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/MnnEgCI7A0
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 17, 2024

The Engineers didn't have a shot on goal through the opening 7:20 of play, but drew the game's first penalty and immediately cashed in with an Austin Heidemann slapshot 8:54 into the game that deflected off a Princeton defender's stick and into the top corner.

The Tigers responded twice before the end of the first period, needing just 0:15 for a pair of freshmen to net their first collegiate goals and give Princeton a 2-1 lead after the opening frame.

Carson Buydens factored in on both goals, scoring his first career goal 12:27 into the period. Fresh off the bench after a line change, he found open space in the slot and quickly sent home a David Jacobs pass.

Immediately off the ensuing faceoff, the Tigers went on the forecheck and Alex Konovalov and Buydens connected to knock a puck loose in tight for Michael Young to gather and tuck inside the far post for a 2-1 lead and the first career marker for Young.

The Young Fella!

Michael Young slides home his first collegiate goal!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/ARzp5FNiGo
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 17, 2024

The second period belonged to the Engineers on the scoreboard as they scored the only two goals of the period to take a 3-2 lead. Jakob Lee scored 0:14 into the period, crashing the net to swat home a rebound to tie the game.

Jack Agnew gave RPI a 3-2 lead with 7:52 remaining in the middle frame, taking advantage of a missed clear and funneling a shot from just inside the blueline home.

Ian Murphy brought the Tigers back even with a power-play goal in his first game back after missing the last five games with injury. The initial Noah de la Durantaye shot sailed wide but kicked back out the other side to a waiting Murphy who quickly shoveled the rebound in.

Oh Captain, Our Captain!@Ian_Murphy12 goes to the net and gets rewarded with a PPG to level the game at Baker Rink!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/QWJNnOGUs5
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) February 17, 2024

Sutter Muzzatti gave the Engineers back the lead when he finished off a 2-on-1 with Ryan Brushett with 8:52 remaining in the third. The Tigers had just finished killing off a five-minute major power play for RPI, but just over a minute after the kill the Engineers worked transition and scored on the odd-man rush.

The Tigers pushed valiantly over the final 2:30 with the goalie pulled and an extra attacker, taking nine shots – sending five to goal – but unable to find the equalizer.

Princeton returns to Baker Rink on February 17 to host Union at 7 p.m.