PRINCETON, N.J. – It didn’t go like Friday night had for Princeton.
Goals that came fast and plentiful in a seven-score win over Dartmouth last evening were in short supply on Saturday against Harvard, which itself had no problem lighting the lamp.
The visiting Crimson tallied twice on its first three power-play attempts in a 5-2 triumph over the Tigers at Hobey Baker Rink, one night after Harvard had upended host Quinnipiac for its first victory overall since Nov. 4.
“I thought it was a good game for us,” said Harvard head coach Ted Donato afterwards. “We did a lot of good things, and we came out strong.”
Freshman defenseman Reilly Walsh tallied a first-period power-play goal and also set up another by junior forward Lewis Zerter-Gossage for Harvard (4-5-1 overall, 4-3-0 ECAC Hockey), which had 21 first-period shots on goal and is now unbeaten in its last three games following a five-game winless skid. Harvard has also won its last nine meetings with Princeton dating back to the start of the 2013-14 campaign.
“When you lose as many pieces as we did (from last season), it takes time to turn it around,” said Zerter-Gossage, part of last year’s Crimson NCAA Frozen Four squad. “College is very different from juniors. Our young guys are figuring it out, and they’re really starting to contribute.”
Michael Lackey made his second straight start in net for the Crimson, and finished with 23 stops overall, including 13 saves in the final period.
“We came out well, with no lack of energy,” said Lackey. “Our defense was unreal in front of me, blocking shots.”
Donato concurred.
“Lackey looked solid, and all of our lines contributed,” he said.
David Hallisey pulled Princeton within 2-1 with a power-play strike of his own 4:38 into the second period, but the Crimson later pulled away with goals by Ryan Donato and Wiley Sherman 72 seconds apart just before the second intermission. Donato, who had a hat trick at Quinnipiac, scored unassisted to make it 3-1 moments after Lackey had stopped Princeton’s Jackson Cressey on a 2-on-0 attempt deep in the Harvard end.
“Once I saw the turnover, I checked over my shoulder and saw a guy on the left side,” explained Lackey. “I saw him look over, and I tried to get over and be big.”
Eric Robinson contributed a power-play goal early in the third period for Princeton, which outshot the Crimson, 14-2, over the final 20 minutes. Harvard outshot Princeton, 21-6, in the opening stanza, and 33-25 for the night. Jack Badini closed out the scoring for the visitors with a last-minute empty-net goal. Another Harvard goal late in the second period was disallowed, ostensibly for the Crimson having too many men on the ice.
“The power play was the difference for us,” said Ted Donato. “We did some good things, and there are also things we can improve on.”
Ryan Ferland finished with 28 saves for Princeton (5-6-1, 3-5-1), which is now 2-4-0 over its last six games. The two Ivy League rivals, who both finished 2-for-4 with a man advantage tonight, will meet again on Jan. 12 in Cambridge, Mass.
Harvard is now off until the Catamount Invitational in Vermont on Dec. 29-30, while Princeton will visit Arizona State next weekend.
ECAC Hockey Roundup
Army West Point 3, No. 17 Colgate 1
Army took a three-goal lead after 40 minutes and held on the rest of the way to defeat the visiting Raiders in a non-conference tilt at Tate Rink. Ben Sharf scored No. 17 Colgate’s only goal, while Colton Point made 19 saves as the Raiders fell for the third time in five outings.
Dartmouth 0, Quinnipiac 0 (OT)
The Big Green and the Bobcats played to a scoreless tie in Hamden, Conn. despite a total of 70 shots on goal combined. Adrian Clark finished with 43 saves for Dartmouth, while Andrew Shortridge came up with 27 stops for Quinnipiac.
Brown 5, Rensselaer 4 (OT)
Tim Lappin connected for the game-winner 1:35 into the extra session as the visiting Bears completed a third-period comeback from a 4-1 deficit, scoring three consecutive goals over the final nine minutes of regulation. Tommy Marchin had three goals and an assist for Brown, while Gavin Nieto provided 27 saves.
Yale 5, No. 19 Union 3
The visiting Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage and went to beat No. 19 Union, after the host Dutchmen rebounded to forge a second-period 3-3 tie. Kevin O’Neil scored the first and fifth goals for Yale, which also got 27 saves in net from Sam Tucker.
No. 3 Clarkson 5, Canisius 1
Clarkson broke open a scoreless non-conference contest in Buffalo with three second-period scores. Sheldon Rempal collected two goals and an assist while Jake Kielly made 24 saves for the third-ranked Golden Knights, who have now won nine straight outings overall.
No. 5 Cornell 4, Miami 0
Anthony Angello notched a goal and an assist in a three-goal first period for the fifth-ranked Big Red in Oxford, Ohio. Hayden Stewart garnered the non-conference shutout for Cornell with 26 saves.
