Saturday afternoon at Matthews in the ECAC League quarterfinals, the
Northeastern Huskies were shocked by the Tigers of Princeton 2-3.  It was a
great game that featured some excellent skate and pass hockey.  The Huskies
dominated the match, but couldn't buy a goal.  Princeton finished their
chances and so move on to the semifinals next weekend at Northeastern.
 
The contest opened with two quick strikes.  Princeton's Ali Coughlin
(Annamarie Holmes) eventually got the puck after the opening face-off, broke
down the right wing and cut in on net.  Coughlin's shot bounced off and over
the NU goalie to make it 0-1 Tigers.  On the ensuing restart, now playing 4 on
4 hockey, Northeastern's Hilary Witt (Stephanie Acres, Emily Pemrick) tied the
match at one, when she was left free in the slot to drill her try high glove
side.  After the explosive start, things settle into a high tempo, up and down
the ice game.  It was great to watch.  Periodically the Huskies would pen the
Tigers up in their own zone and apply the pressure.  In the first NU was using
feeds from the deep corners, and it was cutting up the Tiger defense.  Acres
(Witt, Pemrick) made it 2-1 Northeastern when she was left unmarked in the
slot and buried her shot high into the netting.
 
In the second, the game evolved into the patterns of last Sunday's final
league meeting between the two.  The result was relentless fore-checking by
the Huskies and quick breaks from Princeton.  Liz Shea (Danya Marshman) scored
early on for the Tigers, when she walked out of the corner and stuffed her
opportunity.  With the score tied, Northeastern still looked in control of the
game, but were generating less dangerous plays.  During a spell of Husky
pressure, Witt provided a brilliant setup pass.  As that play just missed, the
Tigers' Coughlin collected the puck and hit the jets.  She dusted the field
and deked in on goal before tucking the puck into the back of the net.  Lovely
goal!
 
In the final interval, Northeastern turned up the volume and went close on
numerous occasions.  Princeton made some super rushes of their own, but there
was no scoring.  In the final few minutes the Huskies hit the crossbar and had
two wide open net chances, but failed to convert.  It is the year of the
Tiger, and Princeton stunned the defending ECAC Champions to move on to
next weekend's finals.
 
Princeton made the most out of what they had.  At times their defense was
running around in its own end and having all kinds of problems breaking the
puck out, but they held together and when things did go their way, they gunned
it.  Dani Holtschlag saw some duty today on defense and was easily the Tigers'
best blue liner.  Her reads and movement in her own end defused many Husky
tries.  Fresher Holmes saw time up front and also looked really strong.  She
stormed forward with the puck and was excellent on the back-check.  I was
highly impressed with the teamwork of Marshman and first-year Abbey Fox.  They
motored up the ice and worked some lovely one-twos.  The woman of the match
was Coughlin.  She was at her swooping best as she carried the puck and cut in
on net.  Coughlin also laid on some elegant dishes.  It was her commanding
performance that enabled Princeton to pull off a grand upset.  Overall, a
splendid team victory by the Tigers.
 
If Northeastern had received points for keeping the Tigers in their own end,
they would have won with ease.  The Huskies played a superb match.  They could
not put the puck away, but they went out playing wonderful skate and pass
hockey.  Merci beaucoup!  The NU attack was led by the refined play of the
Acres, Witt and Pemrick line.  They strung together some marvelous passes.
Witt was particularly stunning with her feeds.  Kathryn Waldo had a strong
outing.  She used her vision well to create chances.  Fresher Lisa Giovanelli
was at her leeching best on the back-check.  On the blue line, Kim Beneduce
and Jessica Ferwerda controlled their end of the ice.  The Northeastern woman
of the match was defender Jennie Setaro.  She was flying.  The sensational
sophomore used her speed to push the team forward, but always seemed to have
enough to dig back and stop the Princeton breaks.  Overall, it wasn't the
Huskies' day.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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