Crimson Edge Princeton, Claim Title

Photo by DSPics.com

Boxscore

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Only three days removed from capturing its 12th Beanpot title, No. 1 Harvard (24-1-0, 19-0-0 ECAC Hockey, 9-0-0 Ivy League) clinched its fifth ECAC regular-season championship with a 3-1 come from behind victory over Princeton Friday evening.

Kate Buesser tallied the game-winner for the Crimson with five minutes remaining in the game, and Jenny Brine and Caitlin Cahow collected two assists to lead the Crimson to its 12th consecutive win. Sarah Vaillancourt and Randi Griffin also tallied goals for Harvard, while goalie Christina Kessler made a season-high 30 saves to pick up her 22nd victory.

After Princeton (12-8-5, 10-7-2 ECAC Hockey, 2-6-1 Ivy League) grabbed a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Brittany Salmon at 8:08 of the first period, Vaillancourt, a Patty Kazmaier candidate, tied the game on a highlight-reel goal less than four minutes later.

The Crimson crashed the Princeton zone, peppering goaltender Kristen Young with back-to-back shots by Vaillancourt and Brine, creating a rebound to the right side of the goal. Vaillancourt swooped in, snared the puck and fired a backhand shot between Young and the right pipe at 11:48.

Even with the momentum towards the end of the period, Harvard trailed 13-9 in shots after the first 20 minutes of play at Hobey Baker Memorial Rink. Six of those Princeton's shots came on its two-minute power play.

In the second, Harvard and Princeton failed to capitalize on multiple power-play opportunities, as the Crimson was 0 for 2 and the Tigers went 0 for 3.

Midway through the third, Princeton's Lizzie Keady picked up the puck from her zone and skated down the right boards. Keady moved towards the Crimson net, and shut the puck at Kessler, who made the save. Harvard was charged with an interference penalty on the play, but killed the ensuing power play with 7:50 remaining in the game.

Moments later, Harvard earned its own power-play chance after Princeton's Maddie Endicott was penalized for holding. After the faceoff in the Princeton zone, the Crimson kept possession of the puck, setting up its power-play unit for a scoring chance.

After a shot in front by Brine, Buesser picked up the puck and slipped it through Young's pads to give Harvard a 2-1 lead at 5:09.

In the final minute of play, Griffin scored an empty-net goal to seal the game for the Crimson. Vaillancourt and Cahow earned assists on the tally.

Young made 21 saves in net for the Tigers, who out shot the Crimson, 31-24.

The Crimson has now come from behind to win on five occasions, and Friday's game was only the fourth this season that Harvard was tied entering the third period.

With the win, Harvard head coach Katey Stone (292-125-19) ties John Marchetti (292-173-26) as the third-winningest coach in Division I women's college hockey history. Stone, who is also the winningest coach in the storied history of women's hockey at Harvard, has now guided the Crimson to five ECAC regular-season championships (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008) in her 14 seasons behind the Crimson bench. 

As the ECAC regular-season champion, Harvard will serve as the No. 1 seed in the ECAC women's hockey tournament. The Crimson has home-ice advantage for the quarterfinal round and will play a yet to be determined opponent at Bright Hockey Center Feb. 29 - March 2.
With the ECAC regular-season, Ivy League and Beanpot titles in hand, Harvard continues its road trip with a game at Quinnipiac Feb. 16 at 4 p.m.