Hockey Season Comes to an Abrupt End
Princeton's Women's Ice Hockey season came to an abrupt ending last Saturday at the hands of the Red Raiders of Colgate. Princeton had beaten Colgate the weekend before (see post below), and in 17 games had never lost to Colgate. I was feeling confident about the Tigers' chances in this quarterfinal playoff series, and had pretty much convinced myself to make the drive up to Dartmouth to watch them play in the semis. There is no need for that trip now.
In game 1, it was a battle of goalies. Kristen Young for Princeton, Brooke Wheeler for Colgate. For three periods they went unscored upon, although Princeton had the most chances, ending up with 42 shots on goal. Colgate had better chances though, as Princeton's D made some turnovers and Young had to come up big with the stops. The game went into overtime, and because it was a playoff they would play until someone one. After seven minutes, Young couldn't corral a loose puck toward the side of the net and Colgate knocked it in, game over.
The series was best of three, though, and Princeton was at home, so there was still hope. Especially when, on Saturday, the Tigers took the lead on Marykate Oakley's first period goal. Oakley was layed out by Colgate in the regular season, but recovered quite sufficiently from her injury. Colgate knotted the score on a 5x3, though, so the first period was equal, as was the second, when no goals were scored.
In the third period came the moment that turned everything. Young made a save and wasn't getting up. After being tended to by the trainer, she reluctantly came off the ice. Later she would reappear on the bench, in t-shirt and sweats, an ice-pack taped to her knee. I'm guessing she twisted it. Freshman Brittany Parisi, who has had some good games during the season, was given the almost impossible task of coming in a pressure-cooker situation. On Colgate's first shot against her they scored for a 2-1 lead.
Princeton fought back, though, on the shoulders of an indefigatible Oakley, who tied things up on a power-play goal. But with just under three minutes left, Colgate's Tara French ripped a tracer so hard that it glanced off Parisi's stick and ricocheted off the back of the net all the way out to the faceoff circle. Princeton tried to fight back once again, but it was not to be. They pulled the goalie for the extra skater, but a series of penalties (one to Dina McCumber, who ironically ended her college career in the box) made the going to tough. In the last face-off, Oakley pounded her stick against the ice, imploring the ref to drop the puck, but he just made her leave the face-off. She was still jawing with him as the game ended. Young, helpless with her injury, was distraught, tears streaming down her face.
The crowd filed out a little stunned, as the ending was just too abrupt. It was then I realized that the five members of the senior class had played their last. Never again will I see Kim Pearce, the Big Cat, busting it up the ice, or the sophisticated play of Laura Watt, or the feistiness of McCumber, the reliability of Kate Hession, or the hard work of Alison Ralph. Oh well, sports are made to break your heart. It's only about seven months until a new season.
In game 1, it was a battle of goalies. Kristen Young for Princeton, Brooke Wheeler for Colgate. For three periods they went unscored upon, although Princeton had the most chances, ending up with 42 shots on goal. Colgate had better chances though, as Princeton's D made some turnovers and Young had to come up big with the stops. The game went into overtime, and because it was a playoff they would play until someone one. After seven minutes, Young couldn't corral a loose puck toward the side of the net and Colgate knocked it in, game over.
The series was best of three, though, and Princeton was at home, so there was still hope. Especially when, on Saturday, the Tigers took the lead on Marykate Oakley's first period goal. Oakley was layed out by Colgate in the regular season, but recovered quite sufficiently from her injury. Colgate knotted the score on a 5x3, though, so the first period was equal, as was the second, when no goals were scored.
In the third period came the moment that turned everything. Young made a save and wasn't getting up. After being tended to by the trainer, she reluctantly came off the ice. Later she would reappear on the bench, in t-shirt and sweats, an ice-pack taped to her knee. I'm guessing she twisted it. Freshman Brittany Parisi, who has had some good games during the season, was given the almost impossible task of coming in a pressure-cooker situation. On Colgate's first shot against her they scored for a 2-1 lead.
Princeton fought back, though, on the shoulders of an indefigatible Oakley, who tied things up on a power-play goal. But with just under three minutes left, Colgate's Tara French ripped a tracer so hard that it glanced off Parisi's stick and ricocheted off the back of the net all the way out to the faceoff circle. Princeton tried to fight back once again, but it was not to be. They pulled the goalie for the extra skater, but a series of penalties (one to Dina McCumber, who ironically ended her college career in the box) made the going to tough. In the last face-off, Oakley pounded her stick against the ice, imploring the ref to drop the puck, but he just made her leave the face-off. She was still jawing with him as the game ended. Young, helpless with her injury, was distraught, tears streaming down her face.
The crowd filed out a little stunned, as the ending was just too abrupt. It was then I realized that the five members of the senior class had played their last. Never again will I see Kim Pearce, the Big Cat, busting it up the ice, or the sophisticated play of Laura Watt, or the feistiness of McCumber, the reliability of Kate Hession, or the hard work of Alison Ralph. Oh well, sports are made to break your heart. It's only about seven months until a new season.
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