Women's Ice Hockey: Goaltender Seguin posts back-to-back shutouts

Princeton also started off Fall Break with a strong set of games against Rensselaer (3-6-3, 1-2-1) and Union (2-8-0, 0-4-0). The team tied the Engineers, then beat the Dutchmen to open its ECAC Hockey season.

During the Tigers’ home matchup with Rensselaer on the Friday before the break, they came up with a 2-2 tie. The Tigers came out strong, and freshman forward Kelly Cook netted a goal in the first five minutes with assists from freshman forwards Alex Kinney and Corey Sterns. After that goal, however, Princeton was unable to widen its advantage.

“We gave up the lead,” senior defender and captain Stephanie Denino said. “We really need to be the team that goes out hard for 60 minutes without letting up.”

With good puck handling up at the net and positive teamwork, the Tigers fought hard and played into overtime against the Engineers. Princeton dominated the first period, with much of the game played in the Rensselaer end of the rink. Princeton outshot Rensselaer in every period but could not seem to find the back of the net.

“Against Rensselaer, we were obviously not satisfied with the tie,” junior defender Sasha Sherry said. “But it was important for us to be happy with the positives and learn from the negatives and improve for the next game.”

The following night, Princeton defeated Union at Baker Rink, 6-3. The Dutchmen opened scoring, but Princeton fought back to tie the game before the end of the first period. The Tigers opened up a lead in an offensive second frame, outscoring the Dutchmen to take a 5-3 lead. Princeton added a goal in the third to round out scoring.

“It is critical to constantly remind ourselves to never be satisfied with tying, nor with winning,” Sherry said.

Sophomore forward Paula Romanchuk led the Tigers with two goals and two assists. Sophomore forward Danielle DiCesare added a goal and two assists, and Sterns had a goal and an assist.

This weekend's two games — the team’s first two ECAC road games — belonged to Seguin. The freshman recorded her first two shutouts at Princeton, her first assist and her first wins.

“We want both of our tremendous goalies to become more confident in the net,” Denino said. “We definitely need that calm, reassuring presence.”

In the game against Yale, the Tigers came fast right off the opening faceoff with a quick goal in the first period scored by senior forward Melanie Wallace. The Tigers continued to hit the back of the net, and they ended the game with a 4-0 score.

“We came out strong in both games — from the get-go we took advantage,” Denino said, “and never relinquished the lead.”

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The team ran deep and had contributions from all of their lines.

“The forwards looked sharp with their passing and skating,” Sherry said.

Wallace said she noticed a big difference in the team from its past games. “The biggest difference between this weekend and last weekend was everyone showed up to play. Everyone made a positive contribution,” she said. “We definitely were ready to focus on every battle and win every puck. That was essential to our win against Yale.”

On Saturday, the team faced Brown up in Providence, R.I. The team again came out with a quick goal, and it looked to continue with the strong offense from the day before. They seemed to succeed, and the score showed this as they ended with another shutout, a 5-0 trouncing of the Bears.

“Brown is one of the harder-working teams that we see — they have some strong girls,” Wallace said. “We had to keep our feet working and battle to win faceoffs and win pucks.”

The momentum was certainly set by the first goal, tallied 14 seconds into the contest. The goal was scored by sophomore forward Heather Landry, with assists from Sherry and Romanchuk.

Denino noticed the Tigers picking up steam after the first goal.

“When you score off the first shift, it is a great momentum builder,” she said. “It is amazing how the energy of the first shift can just permeate throughout the whole game.”

Seguin made 18 saves in the win, and she was credited with an assist on Romanchuk’s first-period goal. For her efforts this weekend — 38 saves, two shutouts, two wins, an assist — Seguin was named ECAC Hockey goalie and rookie of the week.

The team has learned a lot from its first two weeks of conference play. But one thing the Tigers must keep in mind is the need to play all 60 minutes with intensity, no matter the score or the opponent.

“We must strive to win big every game,” Sherry said. “When we score, it is not time to sit back and relax, but to smell blood and attack.”