Princeton University Athletics
Men's Hockey Loses Close Game with No. 7 Harvard
BOX SCORE
PRINCETON, N.J. (11/14/15) - Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey’s redirection in the first period was the difference maker as the Princeton men’s hockey team held its own with No. 7 Harvard on Saturday at Hobey Baker Rink. Two empty-net goals would end the game, 3-0 in favor of the Crimson.
It was a showcase of the goaltenders on Princeton's alumni day, as junior Colton Phinney stopped 39 shots and Merrick Madsen made 38 saves on the other end.
Phinney’s best save of the night, coming midway through the second, was SportsCenter worthy, when he made a kick save on Alexander Kerfoot before shutting down Vesey as he caught the puck in the air and dropped it for a quick shot. WATCH IT HERE
A lopsided first period gave way to better flow in the second and third periods and the battle was on, giving way to a great show for the standing-room only crowd at Hobey Baker Rink. In all both teams combined for 80 shots.
Princeton’s 38 shots are the most the Tigers have put on frame this season, and the most since March 2, 2013 when Princeton had 47 at Harvard. The Tigers outshot the Crimson 47-29 in that game and won it 2-1.
Both teams were scoreless on the power play with three chances for each. Princeton’s penalty kill was great, allowing just six shots on those three penalties and just one grade-A scoring chance.
"They came at us pretty hard,” Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty said. “We chased the game a little bit for the first 13 minutes. They have a lot of firepower in their top two lines and had a good jump. But once we weathered the storm we got going. In the second and third periods we did pretty well. The guys are working extremely hard and efficiently, moving the puck well. We just need those one or two guys to start scoring in the game. It takes time, but we are playing well - it looks like hockey."
The Crimson got on the board at 5:47 of the first, with the goal coming off of a face off. Kerfoot won the draw to Desmond Bergin who skated along the blue line until he reached the center and rifled a shot towards the net. Vesey was in the slot and was redirected the puck past Phinney.
The Tigers put the extra skater with 1:04 remaining, but the play wasn’t settled and Clay Anderson took just eight seconds to loft the puck down into the empty net. Kerfoot added another empty-net goal with 20 seconds left in regulation.
Princeton is now 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the ECAC. Three of the Tigers’ losses were one-goal games – while the two others were one-goal games pushed over by empty-net goals.
The Tigers host St. Lawrence and Clarkson next weekend, Nov. 20 & 21. Game times are 7 p.m., for both contests.