Men's Hockey Downs Union, 5-2, To Open ECAC Quarterfinals

Friday, March 13

7:00 PM

Princeton University

16-12-3

Union

22-11-3

Union (NY)

Princeton

Men's Hockey Celebrates Goal vs Union In 2026 ECAC Playoffs

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Men's Hockey Downs Union, 5-2, To Open ECAC Quarterfinals

March 13, 2026 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

The first home playoff game for Princeton since 2018 was a dominant 5-2 victory for the Tigers as Princeton stakes itself to a 1-0 series lead over Union in the ECAC Quarterfinals.

Jake Manfre had two goals and linemate David Jacobs had two assists, while Arthur Smith made 29 saves in goal to lead the Tigers who are now one win away from advancing to the ECAC Championship Weekend in Lake Placid.

Back to Back!!

A quick turn around and the Tigs have their 3rd goal of the night thanks to Jake Manfre!!@ecachockey | @TeamECH | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/BgzXRdK8N7
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 14, 2026

Princeton's defensive effort was bolstered by a staunch penalty kill that erased all six of Union's power plays in the game to shut down a group that entered the game scoring at a 24.3% clip over the regular season.

11 different skaters had at least one point for Princeton, with Joshua Karnish, Tyler Rubin and Jaxson Ezman adding Princeton's other three goals.

Princeton opened the scoring 6:18 into the game via Joshua Karnish's regularly-scheduled opening goal. For the fourth game in a row, Karnish got the Tigers on the board as he found just enough open space in the high slot to fire a Malcolm Green pass over Korpi's glove and in to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead they would take into the first intermission.

Who Else?

For the 4th game in a row, Joshua Karnish opens the scoring for the Tigers!@ecachockey | @TeamECH | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/Ktvxojedc6
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 13, 2026

Princeton added two more in the second period to build a 3-0 lead after 40:00 of play.

Tyler Rubin gave the Tigers a two-goal lead with a wrister from distance 3:58 into the middle period. A patient zone entry from Luc Pelletier drew the attention of Union's defense, allowing Rubin to post up just inside the attacking blue line and launch a wrister that navigated a Julian Facchinelli screen and found its way through Korpi.

Back to Back!!

A quick turn around and the Tigs have their 3rd goal of the night thanks to Jake Manfre!!@ecachockey | @TeamECH | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/BgzXRdK8N7
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 14, 2026

Exactly four minutes later, Jake Manfre uncorked his 13th goal of the season to increase Princeton's lead to three. A clean faceoff win From David Jacobs gave Manfre the space needed at the top of the circle to pump a shot through the screen of Kai Daniells and in.

Manfre would tack on a second goal 0:23 into the third period, taking advantage of a Kai Daniells forecheck that knocked a puck loose in front to stuff in a quick score for a 4-0 Princeton lead early in the third.

A great start to the 3rd Period!!

Jake Mafre gets his second goal of the night to put the Tigs ahead by 4 goals!!@ecachockey | @TeamECH | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/bT6BPhNUQy
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 14, 2026

The Garnet Chargers would get on the board with 5:00 to play when a DJ Hart shot from the point was deflected by Troy Pelton and just squeaked over the goal line to break Smith's shutout attempt.

Any thoughts of a miracle were stymied shortly thereafter when Ezman took a Jayden Sison pass and broke in to deposit an empty-netter with 3:28 to play and give the Tigers a 5-1 lead.

A piece of cake!!

Ezman scores after a footrace to an empty net!!@ecachockey | @TeamECH | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/T2ASC7vTpr
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 14, 2026

Parker Lindauer banked a warp-around attempt off a Princeton player and in with 1:04 to play, but the result was all but sealed at that point.

The Tigers and Garnet Chargers will play Game Two of the ECAC Quarterfinals on March 14 with a 7 p.m. puck drop at Hobey Baker Rink.