Ezman's Two-Goal Night Propels Men's Hockey To 3-1 Win Over Bentley

Saturday, January 25

7:00 PM

Princeton University

7-10-1

Bentley

13-11-2

Bentley

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Ezman's Two-Goal Night Propels Men's Hockey To 3-1 Win Over Bentley

January 25, 2025 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

A two-goal third period from Jaxson Ezman broke open a 1-1 game and sent Princeton to a 3-1 win over visiting Bentley at Hobey Baker Rink.

Ezman's two-goal game was his first since scoring a pair against Harvard on December 30, 2023 and doubled his goal total for the season to four.

That's ??!

Great forecheck from Brendan Gorman leads to a second Jaxson Ezman goal and a 3-1 Princeton lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/zOKv7jgPiP
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 26, 2025

Jake Manfre added the other goal for the Tigers, giving him five for the season.

Ethan Pearson made 25 saves in goal the win, making 10 of those saves in a busy second period.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Tigers and improved their non-conference record to 4-2-0 this season.

Jake Manfre got the Tigers on the boards with 8:15 left in the opening period. He knocked down a Bentley clearing attempt along the wall, and commenced a give-and-go with Alex Konovalov. After taking the return pass, Manfre dribbled once and then fired through a screen and over Connor Hasley's glove for his fifth of the season.

The Man Of The Hour!

Jake Manfre with a quick stickhandle and snipe for a 1-0 lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/aXo9NTCrjP
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 26, 2025

The Falcons tied the game in the second period when Arlo Merritt found himself with some open space in the slot to swat in a Ryan Upson pass with 8:21 to play in the middle frame.

Just before the midway mark of the third period, Princeton took a 2-1 lead on Jaxson Ezman's third goal of the season. Nick Marciano sent a wrist shot towards goal which Hasley was unable to corral and David Jacobs then pushed the loose puck free to a waiting Ezman who flipped it into the open net.

Just Keep Digging!

David Jacobs pushes a loose puck free and Jaxson Ezman jumps on it for a 2-1 lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/1y0XZvp1Q7
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 26, 2025

Ezman added an insurance tally with 5:35 remaining, benefitting from a tremendous forecheck by linemate Brendan Gorman. After Noah de la Durantaye backhanded a puck out of the zone and down towards Bentley's, Gorman lifted the stick of a Falcon defender and slipped a pass to an on-charging Ezman who roofed his second of the night.

The Tigers and Falcons finish up their series on Sunday with a 4 p.m. faceoff.