MAC ATTACK: Princeton University women’s hockey player Annie MacDonald, right, battles a foe in a game this season. Last weekend, freshman forward MacDonald starred as sixth-seeded Princeton played at third-seeded and No. 5 Cornell in a best-of-three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series. MacDonald had an assist in a 2-1 loss in Game 1 on Friday and then scored the game-winning goal in Game 2 as Princeton rallied for a 5-4 victory in overtime. A shorthanded Tiger squad fell 4-0 to the Big Red in the decisive third game to end the winter at 14-14-4 overall. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With her Princeton University women’s hockey team having gone 7-2 down the homestretch of the regular season, Cara Morey believed the Tigers would strike fear into anyone they faced in the ECAC Hockey playoffs.

When Princeton finished sixth in the league standings to earn a shot at third-seeded and No. 5 Cornell in a best-of-three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series, Morey liked the matchup.

“It was going to be a fast game; their systems and the way they play is very much like the way we play,” said Princeton head coach Morey. “We knew that the games were going to be close.”

Princeton ended up putting a scare into the Big Red, falling 2-1 in the opener before pulling out a 5-4 overtime thriller in Game 2 to force a decisive third game. A shorthanded Tiger squad fell 4-0 to the Big Red in the finale to end the winter at 14-14-4 overall.

The Tigers showed from the start of the series that they weren’t going to go away easily, battling back for a 1-0 second period deficit to tie the game at 1-1 on a goal by junior star Karlie Lund before ultimately falling 2-1.

“There was a lot of special teams play, all three goals were scored within a minute and a half so it was an interesting game,” said Morey, whose team outshot the Big Red 31-25 in the defeat.

“They came in a flurry. I loved the way our girls responded. When they scored their first goal, we came back and scored right away, so that was awesome.”

The second game turned into an awesome battle as Princeton overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-3 to pull out a 5-4 win in overtime on a goal by freshman Annie MacDonald.

“It was amazing, we lost Keiko [DeClerck] for that game. so we were playing with nine forwards and four defense players,” said Morey.

“We only had 13 skaters on the roster for Saturday. To be in all of those special teams situations and come through in overtime with a textbook entry goal; I was totally proud of them to pull that out.”

Junior defenseman and assistant captain Stephanie Sucharda helped the Tigers pull through, starring at both ends of the ice.

“Sucharda had a big weekend, it was one of her best weekends for sure,” said Morey of Sucharda who had a goal and two assists in the victory.

“She is always our steady defenseman in the back; she is a rock there. She was really bringing the offense. When she brings up her offensive game, it really helps us.”

Losing another player, Amanda Harris, to injury in the decisive third game, the Tigers finally ran out of gas as they fell 4-0 to end the winter at 14-14-4 overall.

“There were 17 penalties called in that game so we never got to really play hockey,” said Morey.

“They got their first goal on a 5-on-3 and they got a couple more power play goals. I will say we fought all the way to the end; we didn’t back off for one minute.”

Morey was proud of how her players fought collectively as the Tigers caught fire down the stretch this winter.

“It was a really great season overall; it was a roller-coaster of events,” said Morey.

“We lost some key players but we just kept forging our own identity. It is a big deal when you lose seven seniors and five of your ten forwards are freshmen. By the time the second half of the season came, we got stronger and stronger.”

While Morey is saying goodbye to pair of senior stalwarts in forward and team captain Kiersten Falck and backup goalie Alysia DaSilva, Princeton will be welcoming back most of offensive firepower along with star goalie Steph Neatby and a crew of talented recruits.

“They are two awesome leaders and great people but we will be bringing in six freshmen who are very strong,” said Morey. “We are going to have a nice full bench; we are excited about the future.”

Taking the helm of the program was an awesome experience for Morey, who succeeded longtime head coach Jeff Kampersal after serving six years as an assistant and associate head coach for the Tigers.

“You don’t sleep as well, everything falls on your shoulders,” said Morey. “I love the relationship I have with the players. We knew it was going to be a little bit challenging compared to the last couple of years with the short bench and all of graduating seniors. You have to find ways to intrinsically motivate them.”