CRIMSON TIDE: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sharon Frankel battles for the puck in recent action. Last Sunday senior forward and co-captain Franklin tallied a goal and an assist to help the eighth-seeded seeded Tigers edge top-seeded Harvard 3-2 in the decisive game three of an ECAC Hockey best-of-three quarterfinal series. Princeton’s series victory over the Crimson marked the first time since the ECACH started quarterfinals in 2002 that an eighth-seeded team eliminated the top-seed. This weekend, Princeton, now 13-14-5 overall, will be competing in the ECACH semis at New Haven, Conn., facing second seeded and seventh-ranked Yale (24-7-1) on March 4 with the victor advancing to the title game the next day. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cara Morey saw it coming.

As Princeton University women’s hockey head coach Morey looked ahead to the ECAC Hockey best-of-three quarterfinal series last weekend between her eighth-seeded seeded Tigers and top-seeded Harvard, she was confident of an upset.

“I am excited, we always play well against Harvard,” said Morey, whose team had two narrow losses to the Crimson in regular season action. “It was a 1-0 game (on January 21) and a 2-0 game (on February 11). We can definitely take it to them. Our league this year is so tight, anybody can win. Harvard is not happy drawing us.”

Acting on Morey’s message, the Tigers took it to Harvard, ranked sixth nationally, in game one on Friday, topping the Crimson 4-2 as senior captain and Arlington, Mass., native Shannon Griffin tallied two goals and an assist to lead the way for Princeton.

A day later, the Tigers nearly knocked out Harvard, taking a 1-0 second period lead on a goal by Grace Kuipers before succumbing 2-1 in overtime.

On Sunday, Princeton made Harvard very unhappy, building a 3-1 lead by midway through the third period on goals by Sharon Frankel, Maggie Connors, and Griffin and then held off the Crimson for a history-making 3-2 win.

The triumph by the Tigers, now 13-14-5 overall, marked the first time since the ECACH started quarterfinals in 2002 that an eighth-seeded team eliminated the top-seed.

Griffin enjoyed a special homecoming, tallying three goals and three assists on the weekend. Senior goalie Rachel McQuigge spearheaded the Tiger defensive effort, stopping 103 of 109 shots for a .945 save percentage and was later named the ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Week.

Underdog Princeton will face another big challenge this weekend as it plays in the ECACH semis at New Haven, Conn. facing second seeded and seventh-ranked Yale (24-7-1) in the semis on March 4 with the victor advancing to the title game the next day. Princeton split its two regular season games with the Bulldogs, winning 2-0 on October 29 before falling 3-0 on February 19.

In reflecting on a season that has seen the Tigers fight through COVID-19 issues and injuries, Morey believes the character shown by her players will make them tough to beat.

“There is a lot of heart and soul with these kids,” said Morey, whose team won the last ECACH tournament, defeating top-ranked Cornell 3-2 in overtime in the 2020 title game. “They are great kids.”