WORKING OVERTIME: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sarah Paul controls the puck in a game last winter. On Saturday, junior forward Paul scored both goals for Princeton as it edged Quinnipiac 2-1 in overtime. The Tigers, who improved to 9-5 overall and 4-5 ECAC Hockey with the win, were slated to host LIU on December 10 before going on an exam/holiday break. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton University women’s hockey team trailing Quinnipiac 1-0 in the third period last Saturday at Hobey Baker Rink, Sarah Paul took matters into her hands.

Junior forward Paul tallied a power play goal with 13:33 left in the third period to knot the game at 1-1 and force overtime. Then at the 2:06 mark of the extra session, Paul slotted a feed from Jane Kuehl into the back of the net to give the Tigers a 2-1 win as they posted their fourth straight win and improved to 9-5 overall and 4-5 ECAC Hockey.

After a strong first period which saw Princeton outshoot the Bobcats 11-6, the Tigers sputtered in the second period as they fell behind 1-0. Heading into the third period, Princeton was looking to recapture the jump they displayed in the early stages of the contest.

“It was just go back to our game and how we played in the first and bring that back,” said Paul. “It was re-focus, re-set and keep playing our game.”

Sharp-shooting Paul showed her game with her power play blast. “It was an empty slot, I had half the net to shoot at,” said Paul.

In the pivotal sequence of overtime, Paul helped the Tigers gain possession of the puck and as Jane Kuehl got loose on a breakaway, it looked like she was going to get the game winner. Instead, Kuehl slid the puck over to Paul who closed the deal.

“I thought she was absolutely going to shoot it, her patience freaked out that goalie,” said Paul of Kuehl’s rush to the net. “That play was amazing, it was all Jane. The patience was fantastic too. I would not have been upset if she just wanted to float it into the net. It was kind of a freebie, she had an empty net and didn’t want it and gave me an empty net. I will take it.”

With Princeton going 7-1 after a 2-4 start, Paul points to taking better advantage of scoring opportunities as leading to that surge.

“We just started coming together a little bit more, clicking and jelling offensively,” said Paul. “Our first years are getting a lot of ice time. Getting young players just a little bit more experience through a couple of more games is huge. I think that was a big difference.”

Paul has assumed a mentorship role with the squad’s newcomers.

“I have enjoyed getting to play with some of the younger girls,” said Paul. “I have been in their shoes before and being able to mentor them a little bit has really been fun for me too.”

Competing for the Canada’s National Development Team this summer has helped Paul have more fun with Princeton this winter.

“It was good, it just helped me realize that I can play at that level and bring that here as well,” said Paul, a 5’8 native of West Kelowna, British Columbia, who now has a team-high 16 goals this season. “To continue pushing the pace, keeping it fast, has been amazing.”

For Paul, who missed the 2022-23 season due to injury, being at full speed means a lot to her.

“At the end of the day, I am just grateful for my health and that I get to be here every day,” said Paul.

Princeton head coach Cara Morey is grateful to have Paul on the ice for the Tigers.

“When Paulie gets the puck on her stick and has a lane to the net, I don’t think there is a goalie in our league that can stop her from the tops of the circle in,” said Morey.

As the Tigers headed into OT against Quinnipiac, Morey was confident that her squad would come through.

“We love overtime,” said Morey. “The girls love it, it is one of their favorite things and we are really good at it.”

As the extra session unfolded, Morey thought that Kuehl was going to end things.

“I was surprised to see Sarah score because I thought Jane was going to put it in the empty net,” said Morey. “Jane had to shoot it right away, I don’t know why she didn’t because the net was wide open but then once she didn’t shoot it, she made the right play. They all stared at the puck and Paulie was standing on the back door. Paulie forced that play to happen so that was good.”

Morey liked the way the Tigers played defensively in stifling the Bobcats.

“I thought our defenders were really good today, Jen [Olnowich] played well in the net,” said Morey. “That was one of our better defensive games from our actual defenders. Our forwards were playing fine but our defenders really played solid. They played within themselves, they kept it simple and they played defense first. I thought they were outstanding today.”

In reflecting on the team’s 7-1 stretch, Morey believes it comes down to her younger players developing a comfort level.

“We just needed time, we are so young and we still need some more time to clean up some of that stuff,” said Morey. “They will probably write upset again after this but they should be giving us a little more credit for what a good team we have.”

With the Tigers slated to host LIU on December 10 before going on an exam/holiday break, Morey is hoping to end the 2024 portion of the schedule on a high note.

“I would love to go out on a five-game winning streak and go into the holidays happy, that is our plan,” said Morey, whose team will return to action when it plays at RPI on January 3. “We have one more game Tuesday. Then it is give them a break, let them celebrate and go have holidays with their families and then we get back to work in January.”

Paul, for her part, believes that Princeton will keep up the good work.

“We definitely want to finish it off strong — it is a quick turnaround,” said Paul. “We will build off of this and learn from what we need to change and then we will be ready to go Tuesday.”