Harvard 4, Princeton 3 (OT)
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I saw the game last night at Baker Rink and was impressed by both teams.
Harvard was clearly the superior team talent-wise, but some scrappy play,
tough checking, and outstanding goaltending by Princeton's James Konte (he
showed up both Israel and Tracy) kept the Tigers in the game.
 
Princeton struck first with a power play goal with a few minutes left in
the first and went into the first inter. with a 1-0 lead. Harvard came out
roaring in the second, absolutely mastering the Tigers and scoring two
goals in the process to take the lead. Finally, Princeton started to assert
themselves again and on a late period power play, wristed one past Tracy
with :03 remaining in the second. The third was scoreless until, on a power
play, Princeton's Tony Rinaldi deflected one into the net with about 4
minutes to play. After a solid two minutes in the attack zone, Harvard
cleared the puck and some sloppy defensive play from the Tigers allowed
Harvard's Steve Martins (the ECAC scoring leader) to wrist a great shot by
a stunned Konte.
 
In OT, Princeton had its chances, but Tracy shut the door. And with :32
remaining in OT, Harvard stuffed one in to end it.
 
The game was remarkably similar to last year and Harvard's 6-5 OT defeat at
Baker Rink. Same situation: the Tigers held a late lead, blew it, and then
lost in OT.
 
Princeton thus far has been an unsung team. Very young, they started off
slowly and five of their first seven, but in their last eleven contests
they are 6-3-2. All in all, this team could be the giant-killer in the ECAC
playoffs. Tonight, the Tigers face a Brown team hungry to avenge last
night's OT loss to Yale. Brown and Princeton met in the Tiger's second game
of the season. Brown won 5-4 in Providence.