Tigers hope to get over the hump

Despite balancing exams and hockey practice, with the final stretch of the season in sight, the women's hockey team is digging deep to find the will to win.

"This is the end of our season, and we need to finish strong," senior forward Brittany Salmon said. "It no longer matters what we have done up to this point, but what we make of these last nine games."

Over Intersession, the Tigers (8-8-4 overall, 6-6-1 ECAC Hockey) will take on three tough opponents in Quinnipiac, RPI, and Union. Princeton kicks off its break play against Quinnipiac on Tuesday, Jan. 29. The Bobcats (3-16-4, 0-10-3) have struggled lately, losing their last four games. While starting off strong against non-conference opponents, Quinnipiac has since failed to get back on a winning track. Princeton will look to take advantage of this recent slump.

The Bobcats are led by the offensive stylings of junior forward Elyse Cole, who has nine goals and six assists. She is the Bobcats' goto player, and the Tiger defense will need to be aware of her position on the ice. Offensively, Quinnipiac is most deadly during the first period, and its goalscoring averages slowly decline during the second and third periods. Princeton will have to come out strong to avoid falling behind early.

The Bobcat defense has been having difficulties. Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Miller has given up an average of 3.6 goals per game during the season. Though youth and inexperience may be a factor in this statistic, the Bobcat defense is clearly not communicating well. Princeton senior forward Marykate Oakley should look to take advantage of this weakness.

The second matchup over break will be against a fierce RPI team Feb. 1. The Engineers (11-8-4, 4-5-3) have not lost in their past six games and will come into the game with great confidence. They have kept their opponents to an average of just under two goals per game while netting 2.4 goals per game themselves.

Their weakest defensive period is the second, when they have allowed roughly half of their opponents' goals. This is a positive statistic for Princeton, as the Tigers score most of their goals in the second period.

The Engineers have two players with eight goals — junior forward Nicole McDonald and junior defender Melanie Guillemette. Princeton junior goalkeeper Kristen Young will have to keep the connections between these two players to a minimum.

Princeton's third game will be against Union, perhaps its least dangerous opponent. The Dutchwomen (2-17-2, 0-10-2) played the Tigers earlier in the season and lost in a 7-0 rout. Since then, Union has averaged only one goal per game.

The offense has struggled, and the defense has allowed opponents to take three times more shots than the Union offense has scored. An average of four opponent goals per game have made it into the net. This differential has left the Dutchwomen unable to beat any league opponent.

Princeton, however, is not taking any team for granted and is preparing for each game as if the league championship were on the line.

"Quinnipiac, Union and RPI are all below us in league standings, but they are tough and hardworking teams that can't be taken lightly," senior forward Micol Martinelli said. "We need to skate well, score lots and get back into the swing of things because these last nine games are all immensely important."