Comeback Comes Up Just Short For Men's Hockey In 4-3 Loss To #20 UNH

Saturday, January 4

4:00 PM

Princeton University

6-6-1

No. 20 New Hampshire

10-4-3

New Hampshire

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Comeback Comes Up Just Short For Men's Hockey In 4-3 Loss To #20 UNH

January 04, 2025 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

A back-and-forth game saw Princeton come up one goal short in a 4-3 loss to No. 20 New Hampshire to close out a weekend series at Hobey Baker Rink.

The Wildcats owned the first period and Princeton returned the favor in the second as the Tigers negated a three-goal deficit after the opening period with a three-goal barrage of their own in the middle frame.

Ultimately, a Nikolai Jenson shot from the point midway through the third period caromed off a Princeton defender and in to provide the game-winning tally for the Wildcats who escaped with a second win of the weekend.

David Jacobs had a three-point night to match his career high, scoring once and adding two assists. Brendan Gorman had a goal and an assist for a multi-point night of his own.

Ethan Pearson made 26 saves in goal for the Tigers, while Jared Whale stopped 12 shots for UNH.

Brendan Gorman scored for the Tigers 0:44 into the period, redirecting a Jayden Sison centering pass inside the far post. Gorman was attempting a one-timer, but instead the puck bounced off his skate and in for Princeton's first goal in 132:58.

Stepping Into Gear!

Brendan Gorman goes to the net and a good thing happens!

Tigers on the board at Baker Rink!@ecachockey pic.twitter.com/7H7noqVc2R
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 4, 2025

Just under five minutes later, Tyler Rubin wired in a wrist shot from just inside the blue line to score in his first game back after missing the last nine with injury.

Welcome Back, Ruby!

After missing 9 games, Tyler Rubin is back in the lineup and back on the scoresheet!

Tigers now trail #20 UNH, 3-2!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/7qUMQNG6N8
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 4, 2025

The Tigers would tie the game just before the midway mark of the second period when David Jacobs sent a wrist shot over Jared Whale's glove and off the crossbar with 10:04 remaining in the frame after a well-placed drop pass from Brendan Wang.

Bar Down, Tie Game!

David Jacobs wires one over the glove and that's three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period to tie the game against #20 UNH!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/azN6RES4kt
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 4, 2025

Those three Princeton goals erased a fast start from the Wildcats who struck three times in the opening period. Jack Babbage opened the scoring 4:45 in, looping a wrist shot through traffic and into the top corner.

Just past the midway mark of the opening frame, Jason Siedem gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead when he finished a 3-on-2 with a tap-in goal at the 10:14 mark. Ryan Conmy tacked on a third goal with 2:36 remaining in the first.

Princeton returns to ECAC play next weekend with a home-and-home against No. 17/18 Quinnipiac. The series opens at Hobey Baker Rink on January 10 (7 p.m.) before heading to Hamden the following night.