It will be an early end to winter break for the women’s ice hockey team, when the Tigers will return to campus on Dec. 26 in preparation for their upcoming games against Quinnipiac on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2.
After a series of losses, Princeton (7-8-1 overall, 5-4-1 ECAC Hockey) will look to bounce back by battling the Bobcats (7-6-5, 4-2-4).
“Christmas break will be an opportunity for us to recharge and heal any injuries we’ve been playing with,” senior forward Melanie Wallace said. “When we return, we will be ready to roll again.”
In the ECAC, Quinnipiac is currently ranked fourth in the standings, one spot above Princeton, and the upcoming matchups have the potential to be very important for the Tigers in reestablishing themselves in league play. Recently, Princeton has had a number of non-league games, and, moving into the first few weeks of January, the Tigers will face several highly ranked ECAC foes.
Over the last few games, Princeton has had difficulty with controlling the puck between the blue lines and with transitioning between defense and offense.
Succeeding against Quinnipiac, Wallace said, will come down to one THING: execution.
“We have a tight-knit group. We play with heart,” Wallace said. “Now we need to execute in order to win.”
Quinnipiac will certainly be ready to compete. In last year’s matchup, the Bobcats lost by one goal. Sophomore forward Charissa Stadnyk shot the game-winner for Princeton.
Given recent history, the Bobcats are clearly not a team to take lightly. Each year, the goal margin between the two teams has been decreasing. During the 2007-08 season, the Tigers beat the Bobcats 6-2, but last year, Princeton won by a slim 2-1 margin.
This season, the Tigers and the Bobcats have played one common opponent. In its matchup, Quinnipiac beat Rensselaer, 6-1, while Princeton tied the Red Hawks, 2-2, on Oct. 30.
For this series against the Bobcats, the Tigers will look to their leading goal scorer, sophomore forward Danielle DiCesare. Already this season, she has racked up seven goals and nine assists. Not far behind DiCesare on the stat sheet is fellow sophomore forward Paula Romanchuk, who has four goals and nine assists.
Quinnipiac is a team that has improved significantly, Wallace noted, adding that the Bobcats never let up.
Princeton knows that there are a few essential skills it needs to polish before battling Quinnipiac. After break, the Tigers will concentrate on honing the fundamentals.
“We’ll come back focused. We’ll practice hard, move our feet, battle in the ‘D’-zone and execute, so that we go into the Quinnipiac games ready to compete,” Wallace said.
Unlike previous years, the Tigers will essentially play the Bobcats in back-to-back games. The first game will be at Quinnipiac, and the second game will be played in front of a home crowd at Baker Rink.
Wallace said that playing the first game away in Hamden, Conn., should not be a huge factor.
“I think when it comes to playing on the road, you can talk about long bus trips and living in hotel rooms,” Wallace said. “But it’s not being on the road that has been our issue this year — it’s been inconsistency in general.”
Though the teams will play each other twice, Wallace said that the Tigers will not alter their approach between games.
“We never change our game plan too much, just make little necessary adjustments here and there,” Wallace said.
The Tigers know what they need to accomplish after winter break, and Princeton is ready to defend its past successes over the Bobcats.
The games against Quinnipiac are just the beginning of a long stretch of ECAC Hockey matches. The Tigers know that every game is going to be crucial for their standing in the league.
Princeton knows what to focus its attention on heading into 2010, Wallace said.
“We need to play every game like it’s our last from here on out,” she explained.
Hopefully for the Tigers, they can kick off the new year with a bang with wins against Quinnipiac.
Read More
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.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.