Princeton’s ice hockey team kicked off a crucial weekend by ending their five-game streak without a win. They beat Clarkson 3-1, earning valuable points in the ECAC standings. This victory marked their first season sweep against Clarkson since the 2008-09 season and also set a record for consecutive wins in Potsdam.
With this win, Princeton sits in fifth place in the ECAC, boasting a record of 12-8-1 overall and 8-5-0 in the conference. They have 25 points, comfortably ahead of sixth-place Colgate and significantly ahead of Yale, Clarkson, and Union.
Freshman Chris Reiniger had a standout performance, scoring his first collegiate goal and assisting on another, giving him his first multi-point game. Teammates Jaxson Ezman and David Jacobs also contributed, with Ezman scoring and Jacobs providing two assists. Goalkeeper Conor Callaghan made 23 saves, solidifying the win.
The game started off tense, with both teams failing to score in the first period. Princeton outshot Clarkson 8-5, but it was in the second period that Reiniger broke the deadlock just 51 seconds in. His goal came off a pass from Jacobs after a swift play down the slot.
Ezman extended the lead early in the third period with a well-executed power play goal. The puck moved swiftly, starting from a faceoff that Ezman won, leading to a decisive slapshot.
Clarkson tried to rally back with a goal from Ryan Botterill, but a clutch save from Callaghan with 1:33 left in the game kept Princeton ahead. Brendan Gorman sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the last half-minute.
This win is a significant boost for Princeton as they prepare for their next game against St. Lawrence on January 31.
The Tigers’ achievement illustrates not just their skills on the ice but also the importance of teamwork. As they navigate the rest of the season, their momentum from this game could be vital for their playoff aspirations.
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