February 20, 2009

Wilson's Reaches 100 Points in Tigers' Win

Boxscore

Senior Brett Wilson scored two goals and added an assist to help the lead the 10th-ranked Princeton men's hockey team to a 4-1 win over Brown on Friday night at Hobey Baker Rink. With his three points, Wilson eclipsed the 100-point mark for his career in the Orange and Black.

Dressed in pink and black jerseys to help raise awareness for cancer research, the Tigers jumped ahead midway through the first period in a game they would never trail. Princeton outshot Brown 19-6 in the opening period, but play was much closer as several good chances for the Bears were either blocked or wide of the net.

Princeton finally broke through at 11:47 when Wilson netted his eighth of the year on the rebound of his own shot. He won an offensive zone faceoff back to sophomore Cam Ritchie, who took a point shot that didn't get through to the net. The puck laid in front and Wilson's first hack was blocked, but he followed it up with a shot that eluded Brown netminder Michael Celemente. The goal marked the first time in four games that Princeton struck first.

Wilson's line and classmate Lee Jubinville gave Princeton a 2-0 lead when he scored off the rush midway through the second period. Sophomore Matt Godlewski started the play in the defensive zone to Wilson and Wilson in turn found Jubinville skating into the Princeton end. Jubinville waited out Clemente and then beat him short side. The goal was Jubinville's eighth of the year and the assist for Wilson gave him 100 career points, becoming the 13th Princetonian to reach the plateau and the first since Grant Goeckner-Zoeller in 2007.

Brown'a Aaron Volpatti answered a minute later to move Brown within a goal, but the Bears would get no closer before Princeton sealed the win with two goals in the final eight minutes of action. Wilson made it a 3-1 game with his ninth of the year at 12:26 when he stuffed home the third-straight rebound given up by Clemente. Godlewski had a point shot saved, then junior Kevin Kaiser was stopped, before Wilson put the puck in the goal. Kaiser's assist was his 10th point of the season, making him the 13th Tiger to reach double digits.

Princeton sealed the win with 12 seconds remaining when junior Tyler Beachell scored into the open net. Sophomore Sam Sabky won an offensive zone draw and Godlewski rimmed the puck around the boards and out of the zone, where Beachell picked it up and skated it in for the goal. It was his second goal this season against Brown and his fourth of the year. The assist for Godlewski was his third point of the game as he set a new career high.

Princeton junior netminder Zane Kalemba made 25 saves for the win, while Clemente stopped 43 in the loss. Princeton outshot Brown 47-26 as Princeton recorded at least 40 shots for the third straight game.

Princeton improved to 19-7-0 overall and 13-6-0 in the ECAC. The Tigers remain second in the ECAC standings, gaining a point on tomorrow's opponent, first-place Yale, which tied at Quinnipiac. Princeton trails Yale by four points with three regular season games remaining.