Tigers to New Haven for first round

Twice this season, the women's hockey team has scored first on Yale and put itself in the position to claim a victory. But twice this season, the Bulldogs (14-14-1 overall, 12-7-1 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League) have come back to steal games from Princeton (16-8-5, 10-7-3) in close matches.

This weekend, the Tigers will have one final shot at revenge against the Bulldogs. They can either finally pull off the upset or end the season beaten by their bitter rival.

The No. 5 Princeton squad will play a three-game series at No. 4 Yale in the first round of the ECACHL playoffs this weekend

Despite their two previous losses, the team remains confident that it can take the series.

"The last game [against Yale] forced us into some mental mistakes," head coach Jeff Kampersal '92 said. "If we play more quickly and execute our game plan, I know we can come out on top."

Goalie is key

The key to the Tigers' game rests with junior goalkeeper Roxanne Gaudiel. Gaudiel has a 1.79 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, which are enough to earn her the sixth and fifth national ranks, respectively. Additionally, she was named first-team All-Ivy League.

Gaudiel and the Princeton defense will square off against a balanced Bulldog offense that managed to knock in four goals during the teams' last meeting.

"We can't really focus only on one of their players," Kampersal said. "They have a lot of different threats, so we are going to need to concentrate on playing our team defense."

Forward Jenna Spring and defenseman Erin Duggan, who was named second-team All-Ivy, lead the Yale offense with 12 and 11 goals, respectively. Spring hurt the Tigers with a goal and an assist during the last meeting. Princeton will also have to watch out for forward Helen Resor, who scored in both previous matchups.

For the Tigers, sophomore forwards Liz Keady, who was named to the Ivy League second-team, and Kim Pearce lead the team with 14 goals and 13 assists apiece. Both will be relied upon to put up points on the scoreboard.

The hot hand on the Princeton team belongs to freshman forward Marykate Oakley, who notched three goals and three assists in two games against Union last weekend and was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

Sophomore defenseman Dina McCumber leads the team with 18 assists and was given an Ivy League honorable mention. In addition to shutting down the vaunted Bulldog offense, she will be expected to feed the Tiger forwards.

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"If we play at the level we are capable of, I know we can take care of Yale," McCumber said. "Our forwards ended the season on a tear, and we're confident they can keep it up."

On the Road

The Bulldogs find themselves in unfamiliar territory this postseason, as this is the first playoff series ever played at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Conn.

Princeton, however, is not daunted by the prospect of playing on the road, as 10 of the Tigers' last 14 games have been away from the friendly confines of Baker Rink.

"Playing most of our second half on the road definitely helped prepare us," Kampersal said. "We've gotten to the point where being on the road is just like being at home."

If Princeton pulls off the upset, the team will advance to the ECACHL semifinals in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 12. But two more losses to Yale would send the Tigers home until next year.