For most students, two months may represent the time that remains between now and Spring Break. For the women's hockey team, though, these eight weeks have added meaning. In order to make the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs in March, Princeton must continue to move up in the standings.
Now standing in eighth place, Princeton (7-7-2 overall, 3-7-2 ECAC) looks to tomorrow's game against St. Lawrence as an opportunity to improve its chances of qualifying for the playoffs. The Saints are one of four teams tied for third in the conference. Following Saturday's game, the Tigers will hit the ice again Sunday to face ninth-place Cornell (5-8-1, 3-8-1).
After going 3-1 on the road over Winter Break, Princeton has gained a boost of confidence, which it hopes to apply to the games this weekend at Baker Rink.
"I think we are looking forward to the comfort of playing at our home this weekend," senior captain and forward Abbey Fox said. "It's refreshing, and we're heading into these games with a renewed confidence from being able to win on the road."
Bring it on
The Saints (10-3-3, 7-1-2) have posted a solid record so far, with close games against conference leaders Harvard and Dartmouth. St. Lawrence is sure to be a threat, especially after edging out a 3-2 victory over No. 1 Harvard on Jan. 6.
"St. Lawrence has been very successful so far this season," freshman forward Gretchen Anderson said. "But there is no doubt that they are beatable. We can pull off two wins this weekend as long as we step onto the ice ready to play sixty minutes of hockey."
Outlasting the competition had been a problem plaguing the Tigers earlier this year. Only when Princeton grabbed an early lead was it able to fight until the very end. Now, after recent wins over Mercyhurst and Maine — in which the Tigers were first to light up the scoreboard — Princeton appears to be a stronger and more cohesive team that is capable of putting up a solid fight.
What will be crucial in this weekend's matchups, however, is defense. A 4-3 loss to New Hampshire last Saturday resulted from a sloppy third period in which the Tigers squandered a 3-1 lead.
"New Hampshire was frustrating," head coach Jeff Kampersal '92 said. "Goaltending is going to be very important this weekend."
Freshman goalie Megan Van Beusekom ranks 13th in save percentage in the conference, while the Saints' goalie, rookie Rachel Barrie, is second. Sophomore goalie Sarah Ahlquist ranks eighteenth, right behind Cornell's Sanya Sandahl.
'A lot to prove'
Kampersal was unsure who would be tending goal this weekend for Princeton. He was, however, confident about the team's ability to make the ECAC playoffs.
"Making playoffs is what we've been striving for all season," Kampersal said. "We fully expect to be there. After the past weeks I think it all bodes well for us, but we still have a lot to prove out on the ice."
In order for the Tigers to make the playoffs, Princeton's front line will have to keep up its recent strong play. The Tigers cannot afford another scoreless slump like the one that hit the team in November. This weekend Princeton will look to its leading front line, which boasts two of the conference's point leaders — junior forward Andrea Kilbourne, who ranks first, and Fox, who is 12th. It also includes reigning Ivy and ECAC Rookie of the Week Anderson.
"In order to pull off two ECAC wins this weekend we are going to have to have solid offensive and defensive performances," Anderson said. "It is crucial that we come together as a team."
After weeks of being together on the ice and on the road, the Tigers feel a stronger sense of team unity.
"Hands down we have strong team chemistry," Fox said. "Our team works hard and does it for each other."
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