Saturday afternoon at Matthews in the ECAC semifinals, the New Hampshire
Wildcats pummeled the Tigers of Princeton 7-2.  It was a good match played at
a quick pace.  Princeton defended well, but the patient Wildcats eventually
stuffed the Tigers.
 
The game started at a frantic tempo.  Both teams were up for the finals.
Gradually the contest settled into Princeton forming their student body wall
in front of their goal and UNH pouring on the pressure.  It looked for a while
like it might be a scoreless period as movement off the puck was poor, and few
players were getting their heads up.  After a Wildcat interception, Samantha
Holmes (Brandy Fisher) deked through the Tiger defense, kept her eyes up and
drilled her chance.  Lovely goal!
 
In the second, New Hampshire slowly started to slam the door shut on
Princeton.  The refs were trying to assist the underdog by allowing the
Tigers' continual hooking, while giving UNH some dubious penalties.
Fortunately the zebra plot was foiled by the character of the Wildcats.  Tina
Carrabba (Sara Cross, Nicki Luongo) made it 2-0 UNH when she struck on a quick
counterattack.  The play was made by Luongo who dug back, got the puck and
feed it up ice to the forwards.  Wonderful move!  Cross (Michelle Thornton,
Carrabba) put the Wildcats further in front, when she banked one in.  The
Tigers could not get the puck out of their zone and New Hampshire was
pressing.  Princeton scored their first goal when fresher Abbey Fox (Dani
Holtschlag) knocked one in after a nice setup from Holtschlag.  UNH made it 4-
1 when Fisher (Holmes, Winny Brodt) put home a rebound on a power play.  The
New Hampshire penetration and passing created that opening.
 
In the final interval, Princeton was looking tired and UNH has tightening its
grip on the game.  Melisa Heitzman (Fisher, Holmes) extended the lead to four
goals when she twirled and fired in off the post.  Princeton's Ali Coughlin
(Laura Hays, Holtschlag) nailed her try from the slot during a 5 on 3 power
play to cut the lead to 5-2.  However, the Wildcats were not to be denied, and
Kerry Maher (Christen Ledder) finished off an excellent solo rush to restore
their lead.  UNH's fresher defender Brandi Kerns concluded the rout when she
circled the net and stuffed her chance under the goalie's pads.
 
Princeton did extremely well to just make it to the ECAC semifinals.  Their
lack of mobility and poor passing killed them today.  Undoubtedly just being
in the finals will be a great experience for this young team.  The Tigers did
very well to stay with the Wildcats as long as they did.  I would like to see
them not revert to hooking so much.  Coughlin played fairly well today, but
did not generate as many of her gorgeous rushes.  She is a big time player
with some super moves.  Holtschlag was the other Tiger who had a strong
outing.  Her movement with and without the puck was superb.  Holtschlag also
laid on some marvelous setups.  Overall, Princeton has to be thrilled with
their fine run in the championship.
 
New Hampshire played a smart game.  They waited and made the plays that
produced the chances that won the game.  Persistence was their key.  Early on
I was very impressed with the 1-2's developed by Carrabba and Thornton.
Melissa McKenzie produced some driving plays down her wing and held onto the
puck long enough for her mates to get open.  The line of Fisher, Holmes and
Heitzman is super.  Fisher drives the team forward with her energy.  Holmes
seemed to always be in the right place.  Heitzman used her speed to push the
Tigers back.  Together, they are a commanding presence on the ice.  On the
blue line, fresher Kerns used her excellent anticipation and fabulous movement
to beat back Tiger sorties.  The woman of the match was junior defender
Luongo.  Her reads and ripping style here splendid.  Luongo's ability to dig
back, get the puck and send it forward was sensational.  Overall, I look for
UNH to complete the double tomorrow by winning the ECAC Championship.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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