October 31, 2009

Yale Rallies for Win Over Princeton

PRINCETON -- Seventh-ranked Yale scored two goals in a 40-second span of the third period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead in an eventual 5-2 win over the ninth-ranked Princeton men's hockey team on Saturday night at Hobey Baker Rink.
 
The teams played two similar periods to begin the game that saw Yale control action for the first half and Princeton in the second half. The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard early when Kevin Limbert scored 1:09 into the contest, but Princeton drew even at 8:29 when junior Mike Kramer scored on the power play from the left circle. Kramer knocked in the puck after freshman Michael Sdao had a point shot blocked. Senior Dan Bartlett also assisted on the goal.
 
Princeton scored the lone goal of the second period with 1:52 left in the stanza as senior Kevin Kaiser beat Yale goaltender Ryan Rondeau with a shot through the legs. The goal also came on the power play off the rush as Kaiser scored trailing the play. Senior Tyler Beachell and sophomore Marc Hagel assisted on the goal.
 
Princeton entered the third period with the lead, but saw Yale even the score at 4:42 when Kevin Peel's point shot found an opening on the far side of the net on the power play. Yale the took a penalty but converted shorthanded 40 seconds later as Broc Little scored the game winner after Denny Kearney stole the puck in the Princeton zone. Kearney led all players with three points, all assists, in the win.
 
Yale's Andrew Miller scored on a breakaway at 13:04 and Sean Backman added an empty-netter to cap the scoring.
 
Princeton outshot Yale 42-37 in the loss. Rondeau made 40 saves for the win, while Princeton senior goaltender Zane Kalemba made 32.
 
Princeton is now 1-1 on the season. The Tigers open ECAC play next weekend against Clarkson and St. Lawrence.