MEN'S HOCKEY ADVANCES TO LAKE PLACID
Rensselaer completed a series sweep over Princeton in the
first round of the ECAC playoffs with a 6-0 win over the Tigers on Saturday
night in Houston Fieldhouse. The Engineers (18-12-2) advance to the ECAC
Final Five in Lake Placie with an impressive 11-3-2 mark in its last 16
games, Tonight was Princeton's (11-18-2) worst playoff loss in an
elimination game since a 8-0 loss at Harvard in 1993.
Rensselaer took 1-0 lead at 3:42 on just its second shot on goal in the
game. Jim Vickers scored his second goal of the series with assists from
Chris Migliore (Sr., Hamden, CT) and Matt Murley (Sr., Troy, NY).
The Engineers added to that lead at 8:36 of the first period. Murley had
the puck behind the net and fed Marc Cavosie (Jr., Cohoes, NY) in the slot
for a 2-0 lead. Conrad Barnes (So, Greenwood Village, CO) also assisted on
the goal.
Rensselaer capitalized on a Princeton turnover in the right corner of the
defensive zone and quickly scored its third goal of the period. Ryan
Shields (So., Portage LaPrarie, MAN) sent the puck out of the corner to
Nolan Graham (Jr., Nanaimo, BC). Graham fed Murley, who then parked the
puck in the back of the net for a 3-0 Rensselaer lead.
The score remained 3-0 until the 10:13 mark of the second period when Danny
Eberly's (Jr., Canton, MA) power play goal gave the Engineers a four-goal
cushion. Mark Cavosie and Vickers assisted on the goal.
Rensselaer scored its fifth-straight goal at 13:34. A Scott Basiuk (So.,
Prince Alberta, SASK) shot from the point was deflected by Barnes, who was
right in front of the net, and past Nomeland for a 5-0 lead. Steve Munn
(Sr., North Battleford, SASK) registered is first assist of the series with
an assist on the man advantage goal.
Migliore continued to put points on the board with his unassisted goal at
1:11 of the final period. He intercepted a Princeton pass at center ice and
skated in for his first goal of the night, and third of the series.
Dave Stathos (Sr., Longueuil, QUE) played the first period in goal, and
posted five saves. Nate Nomeland (Jr., Fargo, ND) closed out the game,
finishing with 14 saves. Nathan Marsters (So., Grimsby, ONT)
No road team in ECAC playoff history has ever been able to come back after
losing the opening game of a first round series. Princeton has never
dropped the first game of a three game series and been able to come back.
Tonight marked the final game for Princeton's senior class. Captain David
Schneider (Melrose Park, IL), Josh Roberts (Orleans, MA), Brad Parsons
(Kingston, MA), Dave Stathos (Longueuil, QUE), David Del Monte
(Mississauga, ONT), Dave Bennett (Warwick, RI) and Ryan Kraliz (Welland,
ONT) led the Tigers to the playoffs in all four seasons and skated in a
combined 645 games during their career with the Orange and Black.
Princeton ends its season 11-18-2. The Engineers are headed to the ECAC
Final Five at Lake Placid, NY with a 18-12-2 record.
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