SAVING GRACE: Princeton University women’s hockey goalie Uma Corniea makes a save in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman Corniea made 17 saves to help Princeton defeat Brown 2-0 and improve to 3-1 overall and 1-1 ECAC Hockey. It marked Corniea’s second shutout in three appearances this season. The Tigers play at St. Lawrence on October 27 and at Clarkson on October 28. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

As freshman Uma Corniea has emerged as the starting goalie this season for the Princeton University women’s hockey team, she has focused on getting up to speed at the college level.

Last Friday, as Princeton hosted No. 5 Yale in its ECAC Hockey opener at Hobey Baker Rink, Corniea got a trial by fire.

“The pace is so fast, I am just really honored to be able to play,” said Corniea. “We have two other incredible goalies (Jennifer Olnowich, Taylor Hyland). It is just really a blessing and super fun. Everyone was super ready to go; everything is a lot quicker than I’m used to.”

Yale got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead with 13:22 left in the second period.

“They are definitely faster, they work really well together and they have a great goalie (Pia Dukaric) in the back,” said the 5’9 Corniea, a native of Edina, Minn., in assessing the challenges presented by the Bulldogs. “That is what makes them tough to score on. She is so calm, she robbed us sometimes.”

While Princeton struggled to find an offensive rhythm, Corniea held the fort, making 24 saves as the score remained at 2-0 until Yale scored an empty net goal with 1:39 left in regulation to cap off a 3-0 win.

As the game went on, Corniea got more and more comfortable.

“I was getting more used to it, feeling it out a little bit,” said Corniea. “I felt like I was getting more settled into the game. With every save, I got more rhythm going. I should have controlled the rebound first — you have got to do what you have got to do.”

Corniea credited the Tiger blue line unit with stepping up in front of her.

“They absolutely killed it, the defenders are incredible,” said Corniea. “They are always supportive, they always backcheck 100 percent. They are amazing people and players.”

Producing an amazing debut, Cornea started her career by posting a shutout in a 4-0 win over visiting Robert Morris on October 14.

“That was so much fun, I was really, really excited to play because it is such a treat to be able to play, especially here,” said Corniea, who made 24 saves in the win. “I was super-pumped — that was a really fun game. Robert Morris played well, they battled hard.”

Princeton head coach Cara Morey liked the way her team battled against a high-powered Yale squad.

“They don’t stop, they are one of the most relentless teams that you are going to see all year,” said Morey of the Bulldogs. “I think at first we had trouble adjusting to the speed of their game and the tenacity of those players. I thought in the second period we really tilted and we were taking it over. We out-chanced them and out-shot them in the second period. They had a little adjustment and came back in the third and it was pretty even. The game overall was pretty even, we just couldn’t break through here.”

Morey acknowledged that the Tigers could have been sharper at the offensive end.

“I thought overall, we probably over-handled the puck a little too much, we tried to do too much individual skill work instead of using our linemates and teammates,” said Morey. “I think we can move the puck a lot better than we did tonight. If you are not moving the puck well and you are playing against a fast, physical, relentless team, you are going to have turnovers and we had too many turnovers tonight.”

The Tigers got a superb individual effort from Corniea between the pipes.

“Uma did really well. I think she was a little shocked in the first; there was that empty net where she came across and she thought the kid was right there,” said Morey of Corniea, who posted her second shutout with a 17-save performance as Princeton topped Brown 2-0 on Saturday to improve to 3-1 overall and 1-1 ECACH. “It was a way higher level than she had been used to. Uma is a super athlete, she is a phenomenal goalie. She is going to adjust in no time to this.”

While the loss to Yale hurt, Morey likes the upbeat approach she is seeing from her squad.

“I am happy with the mentality of this team, they have a lot of positive energy which is great,” said Morey. “It is one loss. We need to feel the sting, but hopefully they keep that positivity and know we have to do better if we want to win in this league. It is the toughest league in college hockey.”

The win over Brown a day later was a positive as the Tigers earned their first ECACH win of the season.

“How we respond tomorrow is going tell you a lot about what we are going to do this season,” said Morey, whose team will look to keep on the winning track as it plays at St. Lawrence on October 27 and at Clarkson on October 28.

Corniea was ready to put the loss to Yale behind her and move forward to Brown.

“It is just think about what I could have done on the goals,” said Corniea.

“One of my coaches used to say, ‘think about this one until midnight and then move on.’ That is the plan, so think about it until midnight and then move on.”