IT’S KK: Princeton University women’s hockey player Katherine Khramtsov goes after the puck last Friday night as the Tigers hosted Brown. Junior forward Khramtsov chipped in two assists as Princeton skated to a 2-2 tie with the Bears through regulation and overtime before the Bears won a shootout 1-0. The Tigers, who beat Yale 3-0 on Saturday to improve 14-8-1 overall and 8-7-1 ECAC Hockey, host Dartmouth on January 31 and Harvard on February 1. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton University women’s hockey team was excited to play its first game at Hobey Baker Rink since December 10 when it hosted Brown last Friday evening, it was particularly meaningful for Katherine Khramtsov.

Having been sidelined from early November to mid-January due to a shoulder injury, junior forward Khramtsov was fired up to be back on home ice.

“It is a relief, I love being back,” said Khramtsov, a 5’5 native of Kensington, Md. who returned to action at Cornell on January 17 after enduring an arduous physical therapy regimen with range of motion and strength exercises. “There is nothing like playing again, especially being at Baker. Being hit in the beginning was a little scary. Now I feel good. It took me a couple of games to get my confidence back. Now everything is where it should be, I am very happy.”

Khramtsov gained some more confidence from the clash with Brown, assisting on two goals by junior forward Sarah Paul as the foes skated to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime with the Bears winning a shootout 1-0.

Khramtsov’s first helper of the night came when she slotted a feed to Paul 2:50 into the contest.

“I was coming down and I saw No. 19 (Paul) right behind me,” said Khramtsov. “I know she has a better shot than anyone on the team. I dished it to her and chose the right decision.”

With Princeton trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, Khramtsov and Paul connected again with 4:54 left in regulation.

“It was the same exact story, I was going to be a team player and pass her the puck,” said Khramtsov. “She has a better shot than anyone so the safest play is to pass it to her.”

While Princeton couldn’t push across another goal over the rest of the third period and the five-minute overtime, Khramtsov was proud of the way the Tigers battled back.

“I think that separated us from the past games we have had when we had a deficit,” said Khramtsov of the Tigers who entered the game on a three-game losing streak having lost 2-1 in overtime to Yale on January 11, 6-1 to Cornell on January 17, and 4-0 to Colgate on January 18.

“We had an inspirational speech by coach Cara [Morey] before the game on how to respond to being in a deficit. It worked today. We were in a deficit and we came back. I think that is what our team differentiated from in the past couple games to today.”

Khramtsov likes the way her line of Paul and fellow junior Jane Kuehl is coming together.

“We work very well,” said Khramtsov, who now has five goals and five assists in 15 appearances this season. “Having a sniper like Sarah on your line is always a bonus. Jane’s work ethic is incredible. We play very well together. We create a lot of offensive chances but we have got to finish those.”

Princeton head coach Morey wasn’t surprised that Paul finished her early chance against Brown.

“It was a beautiful shot, Paulie can shoot,” said Morey of Paul who scored a goal a day later to help Princeton defeat Yale 3-0 and was later named the ECAC Hockey Forward of the Week. “It was great. I wish we had put in a few more.”

Morey was heartened by her squad’s third period rally. “We just talked about winning our one-on-one battles and beating them in the third period,” said Morey. “I think we totally took over and looked quite dominant. We knew it was a matter of time.”

Having Khramtsov back in the lineup is a plus for the Tigers.

“She can fly and she is really offensive,” said Morey of Khramtsov. “She had some great play.”

While Princeton didn’t get the bounces on the night, Morley likes her team’s grit.

“We hit four posts; we talk about puck luck,” said Morey. “Sometimes those pucks go in that hit the post and now you are looking at a 6-2 game and it feels totally different but that’s hockey. I think with our mental toughness and our resiliency, we made huge strides with that.”

Making more strides a day later with the shutout of Yale, Morey will be looking for the Tigers to keep progressing as they host Dartmouth on January 31 and Harvard on February 1.

“We were getting tons of puck luck at the beginning of the year; we knew we couldn’t sustain that kind of offense forever,” said Morey, whose team is now 14-8-1 overall and 8-7-1 ECACH. “Now we have to grind and play the right way. I thought we did a good job tonight.”

In the view of Khramtsov, the Tigers are heading in the right direction.

“After being swept on the road for two games and coming back, we were in a deficit again,” said Khramtsov. “It was absolutely progress. I think the mentality we had today will carry us on.”