Men's hockey stings Yellow Jackets, snaps six-game skid

The play was not spectacular, but it didn't have to be. The men's hockey team quietly dismantled the American International Yellow Jackets last night, 4-2, snapping a six-game losing streak in the process.

The Tigers (5-10-1 overall, 4-6 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League) finally returned to Baker Rink following their six-game road skid to host American International (1-9-1, 1-5-1).

"It's tough to win on the road," head coach Guy Gadowsky said.

The two teams skated to a scoreless first period, Princeton set the early offensive tone, outshooting the Yellow Jackets, 15-8.

Four minutes, 57 seconds into the second period, Princeton sophomore de-fenseman Daryl Marcoux was called for high sticking. But it would be the Tigers who would capatalize during the American International power play. Sophomore forward Darroll Powe netted a shorthanded goal 20 seconds into the power play.

Princeton added its second 12:23 into the period when sophomore forward Kevin Westgarth forced the puck out of a melee surrounding the Yellow Jacket net and past goalie Frank Novello.

The Tigers were unable to escape with a second shutout period. American International's Neil Sullivan's wrist shot with 2:39 remaining in the period brought the contest back to within one.

Play at the beginning of the third was back and forth. Seven minutes into the period, however, Powe received the puck on a fast break and, skating up the left side of the ice, released a clean wrist shot that flew past the outreached glove of Novello and found the back of the net. Powe's second of the night and third of the season gave the Tigers some needed breathing room.

Head coach Guy Gadowsky was pleased with Powe's performance. "Seeing the shots that he takes in practice," Gadowsky said. "You wonder how he doesn't have more goals."

It seemed that Powe's two goals would be enough to seal the victory, but with two minutes remaining, the Yellow Jacket's Presto Cicchine got the puck past junior goalie Eric Leroux to get his team back to within one, 3-2.

American International's one goal deficit was short lived. Junior forward Dustin Sproat put the game out of reach with 1:16 remaining in the game with a goal that gave Princeton a 4-2 lead.

Princeton's hawking team de-fense kept the Yellow Jackets largely at bay, but they were aided by American International's wild and errant shots. Leroux turned in a strong performance in goal for the Tigers, tallying 28 saves on the night.