Princeton Snaps Skid with Win at Quinnipiac

HAMDEN, Conn. -- Princeton freshman defenseman Cam Ritchie scored two goals and classmate Alan Reynolds made 16 saves as the Princeton men's hockey team defeated Quinnipiac 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at the TD Banknorth Center. Sophomore Kevin Kaiser had two assists in the win.

The first period belonged to Quinnipiac territorially but Princeton managed to get out of the period even on the scoreboard. The Bobcats took the first eight shots of the period before Princeton registered one, and went ahead 1-0 at 12:15 when Bryan Leitch scored on a one-timer. Leitch and Jamie Bates worked the puck back-and-forth in front of the Princeton net until Leitch had an opening and he took advantage to give his team a 1-0 lead. Brandon Wong also assisted on the play.

Princeton only managed three shots in the period, but made good use of them as freshman Matt Godlewski answered Leitch's goal with one of his own at 13:52. The goal was the first of his collegiate career and came from a shot from the blue line. On the forecheck, sophomore Kevin Kaiser worked the puck to the middle to freshman Matt Arhontas. Arhontas knocked the pass out of the air and it went straight to Godlewski up top. How quick shot eluded Quinnipiac goaltender Peter Vetri high on the stick side.

As lopsided as shots were in the Bobcats' favor in the first period, they favored the Tigers in the second period. Although no goals were scored, Princeton took 10 shots on Vetri while Princeton freshman goaltender Alan Reynolds, making his first start, faced just one shot in the period.

Princeton went ahead for the first time in the game 33 seconds into the third period when another Princeton freshman defenseman recorded his first career goal. Another goal off the forecheck, senior Kyle Hagel swung the puck through the crease and it came to freshman Cam Ritchie at the point, who shot through a screen for his first goal. Kaiser also had an assist on it.

Princeton made it a two-goal lead midway through the period when it cashed in on a two-man advantage. Junior Brett Wilson won the faceoff in the Quinnipiac zone back to senior Mike Moore at the point. Moore fed it across to freshman Taylor Fedun, who had snuck in a bit. Fedun one-timed the pass on goal and Wilson deflected it by Vetri to give Princeton a 3-1 lead.

Princeton held the lead for about two minutes before Quinnipiac made it 3-2 on Ben Nelson's back-hander from in front. Princeton held serve from that point on and Ritchie capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:42 to complete the 4-2 win.