Looking to build on its 4-3 victory over Rensselaer, the men's hockey team traveled north this weekend for two games with Eastern College Athletic Conference rivals Vermont and Dartmouth. Despite two strong efforts, the Tigers could not string together any wins and dropped both games by one goal, losing in overtime to Vermont, 5-4, and falling to Dartmouth, 3-2.
Princeton (1-7-0 overall, 1-4-0 ECAC) first took on Vermont (4-6-2, 2-4-0), a team that has been struggling for wins while playing topflight teams such as New Hampshire and Boston College.
The game seesawed throughout but the Tigers made it to the last two minutes of regulation with a 4-3 lead. It was not to last, however, as Vermont's Bryson Busniuk found Thomas Hajek alone in front of the Princeton net with one minute, two seconds remaining in the third period. Hajek flipped a shot high over senior goaltender Nate Nomeland's glove and the game was headed to overtime.
The Catamounts did not need many chances to put the game away once it was in the extra stanza. Brady Leisenring scored his second goal of the night when he pounced on the rebound of Vermont's second shot of overtime at 3:36, burying it behind Nomeland and securing the 5-4 win for his team.
Vermont also started the game strong, outshooting the Tigers 12-4 in the opening period. The Catamounts' efforts led to Leisenring's first goal at 12:50 of the period after teammate Tim Plant forced a turnover behind the Princeton net.
Leisenring helped to give up the lead when he was sent to the penalty box for obstruction hooking only six seconds after scoring.
The Tigers took advantage of their extra man when junior forward Mike Patton sent a pass from behind the Vermont net to freshman forward Patrick Neundorfer, who was waiting between the circles. Neundorfer snapped a shot low to Vermont goaltender Shawn Conschafter's stick side, tying the game at one apiece at 13:30.
Princeton scored twice in the second period and Vermont snuck one in with 16 seconds remaining in the stanza to keep the game within one heading into the third period.
After the Catamounts tied the game at three, the Tigers reclaimed the lead with a dazzling individual effort by junior forward Dan Hursh.
Hursh picked up the puck in the neutral zone after senior forward Scott Prime sent it off the glass and out of the Tigers' zone. Hursh evaded two Catamount defensemen, skated into the Vermont zone and fired a shot under Conschafter to retake the lead, 4-3. The lead held until the last minute of the period when the Catamounts tied it up once again en route to their come-from-behind victory.
After the disappointing loss, Princeton visited Dartmouth (5-3-0, 4-2-0) looking to finish the weekend on a positive note.
The Big Green were on a three-game winning streak, and they had the momentum early. Mike Murray one-timed a pass past sophomore goaltender Trevor Clay at 3:07 to give Dartmouth the early lead.
Dartmouth doubled its lead eleven minutes later when Max Guimond slid a shot under Clay on a breakaway.
The Tigers were able to cut the lead to one with Prime's first goal of the season at 19:37. Senior defender Trevor Beaney carried the puck along the boards into Dartmouth's zone and spied Prime driving to the net. Prime received the pass at the top of the circle and shot it through Dartmouth goaltender Darren Gastrock's legs to cut the lead to 2-1 heading into the second period.
After killing off a penalty in the second period sophomore forward Tommy Colclough won a battle for the puck behind the Dartmouth net and fed freshman forward Dustin Sproat who evened the score at two.
The Big Green came out fired up in the third period and regained the lead for good only 3:19 in. Kent Gillings controlled a pass from Eric Przepiorka in midair, dropped it to the ice and fired it past Clay to ice the game for Dartmouth.
Although Princeton pressured for the rest of the third period, out-shooting the Big Green 9-5, the Tigers could not put the puck past Gastrock again.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.