After receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, Princeton, the No. 7 ranked girls’ hockey crew (20—eight—5), misplaced to No. 2 Minnesota (30—5—1) in Minneapolis, five—2 – a scoreline that does not mirror how close the game certainly was due to late empty-internet goals through the Golden Gophers. Princeton kicked off the scoring whilst first-12 months forward Sarah Fillier, a 2d-crew All-American and the National Rookie of the Year, teamed up with first-year forward Maggie Connors for a supply-and-pass Fillier put into the internet for a 1—0 cause the Tigers. After this sport, Minnesota beat Cornell 2—zero, misplaced to Wisconsin 0—2 in the countrywide championship game.
Minnesota responded with goals before the give-up of the primary period, bringing them to a 2—1 lead. Fillier assisted with the aid of junior ahead Carly Bullock, and primary-yr defender Mariah Keopple netted Princeton’s second intention and tied the game much less than three mins into the second period. The Tigers had the only power-play opportunity early in the third length. However, they had not been able to get anything going. The Golden Gophers were able to net the sport-triumphing goal on a play in transition. Princeton, late inside the 0.33 duration, appeared to pull junior goalie Stephanie Neatby to place on a further attacker, which lamentably led to two more Minnesota goals at the empty-net to take the rating to its very last 5—2.
Nearby performed top-notch in aim, making 34 saves on 36 pictures, such as a few impressive saves. While this changed into the stop of the Tigers’ season, it has now not an unremarkable one in any manner. They received the Ivy League name, had a 20-game unbeaten streak, and executed its maximum countrywide ranking in application history. Senior ahead co-captain Karlie Lund commented, “I’m honestly proud of how our group did this season. It’s continually tough to cease the season on a loss. However, our team carried out so much this yr, like having the longest unbeaten streak in application history and prevailing the Ivies.”
On being capable of having spent the last four years at Princeton, she brought, “I experience fortunate to have played for Princeton these past four years. My teammates have become some of my closest buddies, and I will pass overseeing them each day. While my hockey profession has come to an end, I realize I will always be part of the PWH [Princeton Women’s Ice Hockey] family, and I can’t wait to peer what the team will accomplish in the next 12 months.”
Senior defender and co-captain Stephanie Sucharda introduced after the game, “The prep work we did to put ourselves in that role, to tie the No. 2 teams in the USA, says a lot approximately our application, and, particularly shifting forward, I think our destiny is looking really correct.” Though the lack of seniors Kimiko Marinacci, Keiko DeClerck, Lund, and Sucharda can be enormous because of their management, there may be masses to look forward to the subsequent season while Princeton gets lower back at the ice. The Tigers will go back their pinnacle forward and protecting line and all, however, of its double-digit factor-scorers. Next season needs to be an exciting one, so be sure to preserve your eye out for their go back to Hobey Baker Rink.
