After a much-needed successful home stand in which it won five of six games, the women’s hockey team looks to continue its winning ways on the road this weekend against conference opponents Clarkson and St. Lawrence. Since snapping their seven-game winless streak against Brown in a 4-0 shutout, the Tigers (8-10-1 overall, 5-6-1 ECAC Hockey) have been overwhelming their opponents on offense and defense and are now looking to extend their current five-game winning streak at Clarkson (6-10-3, 3-3-1) today and St. Lawrence (9-8-2, 4-3) on Saturday.
During the streak, Princeton has showed that it is a force to be reckoned with and has overcome many of the obstacles that plagued it earlier in the year. In the games before their recent streak, which included a seven-game winless stretch, the Tigers averaged a mere 1.1 goals per game, gave up 2.9 goals per game, suffered from long streaks of scoreless power plays and went 0-3-1 against ranked opponents. In their last five games, the Tigers scored 3.8 goals per game, gave up just 0.4 goals per game, netted four power-play goals and beat No. 5 Boston College 3-0.
Junior forward and co-captain Paula Romanchuk attributed much of the team’s recent success to the play of junior goalie Rachel Weber, who has allowed just two goals in the last five games.
“Our goalie, Rachel Weber, is hot right now, which has been a factor in our success as of late,” Romanchuk said.
Weber has been a brick wall between the pipes, shutting out four of Princeton’s last five opponents and earning the two most recent ECAC Goaltender of the Week honors in the process. Despite having shut down several teams recently, Princeton still hopes to tighten up its defense and make Weber’s job a little bit easier.
“Rachel has played really well, which hides some of our breakdowns,” head coach Jeff Kampersal ’92 said. “We are competing hard in the D-zone but letting up some quality scoring chances. We need to protect the front better.”
Princeton expects both its opponents to pose a challenge this weekend.
“Clarkson and St. Lawrence are two very good teams,” Kampersal said. “We need to play our best, make all the little plays that win games, stay out of the penalty box and produce more on our power play.”
The red-hot Tigers will face off against a Clarkson team that has struggled lately, going 1-3-2 in its last six games.
Nonetheless, Romanchuk maintained that the game will not be an easy one, especially given Clarkson’s physical playing style. “Clarkson is usually a more physical game, so to be successful we will need to play strong and tough but also move our feet and use our speed,” she said.
Unlike Clarkson, the St. Lawrence Saints have won five of their last seven games, with their only losses coming against No. 2 Cornell and No. 5 Mercyhurst.
“St. Lawrence isn’t as physical, but they have good skaters, so again, we’ll need to keep our feet moving to match their speed,” Romanchuk said.
Throughout the year, the Tigers have failed to capitalize on opportunities and let several games slip away, but their dominance recently has come along with a marked change in the Tigers’ attitude, and they look to be a much more poised team.
“The team is a lot more confident,” Romanchuk said. “We had a rough start, but now that we’re out of it, it makes us stronger.”
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