PRINCETON, N.J.—The No. 13 Princeton Tigers have returned home after a long break from Hobey Baker Memorial Rink and were looking to redeem themselves against the Yale Bulldogs after a shootout loss to Brown on Friday night. In their previous matchup, the Bulldogs came out as the top dogs, defeating the Tigers 2-1 at Ingalls Rink. The Tigers were also looking to break an unfortunate game streak, having lost their last four games (three in regulations and one in the shootout, which is calculated as a tie for standings purposes).
Princeton won the first draw of the game and you could feel the team’s excitement to be back on home ice. Yale skated the puck up the ice, but a missed pass led to a chance fo the Tigers who could not keep possession. Lucia DiGirolamo got a good chance in the Bulldogs’ zone but was wide on the shot. The game moved quickly up and down the ice, but Princeton finally got a sustained chance in the Yale end, though they did not get a great look. Following a deflected puck and a defensive zone draw for the Bulldogs, Yale entered the Princeton zone but Issy Wunder had a solid block and Yale could not get a shot off. A blazing shot off the draw from Bulldog, Deanna Buenzow, was saved by Jennifer Olnowich, giving Princeton some energy. Despite a better hustle, Princeton struggled to get the puck into the offensive zone cleanly, as Yale seemingly had the neutral zone figured out. Towards the end of the first, the Bulldogs were able to sustain pressure in the Princeton zone and tally a few shots and attempts. With less than a minute remaining in the first, Angelina DiGirolamo found space up the left side of the ice and netted one past Yale goaltender, Pia Dukaric. Princeton ended the first with a one goal lead.
The Tigers looked strong to start the second period, but the Bulldogs’ defense was able to thwart all attempts. After a bit of a lull from both teams, Sarah Paul collected a pass across from Mia Coene and sniped it over Dukaric’s right pad, giving the Tigers a two-goal lead. Following the goal, Yale’s Vita Poniatovskaia was sent to the penalty box for hooking, closely trailed by Princeton’s Jane Kuehl joining her for cross-checking. Yale controlled the four-on-four but neither team was able to take advantage of the open ice. A good look from Yale created a bit of a scrum in front of Olnowich, who stood strong. Princeton was able to control the defensive zone faceoff, with Wunder taking the puck north and pulling Dukaric all the way to the side of her net. While Dukaric was distracted, Wunder passed over to Mackenzie Alexander who easily scored on an open net.
Although the Bulldogs appeared to have the edge in zone time and shots, the Tigers were seeing better scoring chances and created a 3-0 lead against Dukaric, who had a 1.81 goals against average (GAA) on the season prior to this game. With less than five minutes to go in the second frame, Princeton’s Teja Gatfield sat for a two-minute minor for cross-checking, but Yale failed to convert. Looking for another, Alexander shot at Dukaric once again, but the Yale goaltender kept the Bulldogs from a four-goal deficit. Tijana Miskovic took a penalty for hooking with less than a minute in the period, so Yale would head to the third on the penalty kill.
With the advantage, Princeton started the final frame on the attack but failed to create any notable chances. As has been the case with this matchup, the teams traded chances and neither got a great look at scoring. The Bulldogs, once again, created a couple of good chances, but Olnowich continued to save the day, keeping Yale scoreless. Emma Harvey was penalized for slashing, but a shorthanded chance by Cami Bell drew a penalty from Gabby Kim for hooking, creating a four-on-four where neither team scored. Princeton gained clear control of the game in the last half of the third period, searching for a shut-out win for Olnowich.
In the Princeton zone, Gracie Gilkyson slid into Olnowich, allowing the puck to glide past the goal line, leaving Yale frustrated that there was no goal on the play. Yale called a timeout with just under four minutes remaining and pulled Dukaric from the net, giving Yale a six on five advantage. An empty net chance was thwarted by Jordan Ray and then again by a great defensive play in the neutral zone for the Bulldogs. In a game that, statistically, appeared to be in Yale’s control, the Princeton Tigers managed to hold their own and come out with a 3-0 win.
Of the home-ice shutout, her first of the season, Olnowich said that it felt good to be back on home ice and to hear the fans cheer her and team on. Princeton Head Coach Cara Morey emphasized that the team is excited to have a homestand for the next two games and that they are hoping to continue building on each game, win or lose.
The Tigers next game is on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. against Dartmouth.
