MORE TO COME: Princeton University women’s hockey player Morgan Sly controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Junior forward Sly contributed a key assist as Princeton tied Rensselaer 3-3 on Friday and then chipped in another helper a day later as the Tigers defeated Union 4-2 and clinched home ice for the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals. Princeton, now 21-6-2 overall and 14-6-2 ECACH, is seeded third and will host sixth-seeded St. Lawrence (15-13-6 overall, 9-8-5 ECACH) in a best-of-three quarterfinal series, beginning on February 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Morgan Sly tallied a total of 13 points in her first two seasons with the Princeton University women’s hockey team.

Bumping up her production considerably this winter, junior forward Sly entered last weekend with a total of 19 points in the 2015-16 campaign.

Sly’s 20th point of the winter came against Rensselaer last Friday and proved pivotal as she assisted a goal by Karlie Lund in a 3-3 tie with the Engineers which moved Princeton one step closer to earning home ice for the upcoming ECAC Hockey playoffs.

“I knew Karlie would be going to the net because she is such a good goal scorer,” said Sly, recalling her assist.

“I saw the girl go down but I figured I would try my best to squeak it through her and I knew if I got it to Karlie, she would put it in and luckily it worked.

The next day, Sly added another assist as Princeton topped Union 4-2 and clinched home ice for the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals. Princeton, now 21-6-2 overall and 14-6-2 ECACH, is seeded third and will host sixth-seeded St. Lawrence (15-13-6 overall, 9-8-5 ECACH) in a best-of-three quarterfinal series, beginning on February 26.

The Tigers brought extra motivation into the Union game as it marked the program’s annual Senior Day.

“They are such good role models; they are great players as well as people,” said Sly, a 5’6 native of Collingwood, Ontario, regarding her senior teammates.

“I think dedicating the game to them will definitely fire us up and really motivate us to get a lot of shots and score.”

In Sly’s view, her increased scoring this winter is the product of a bond she has developed with Lund and classmate Cassidy Tucker as the trio has thrived playing on the same line.

“I think I can attribute that to my linemates, Karlie and Cassidy,” said Sly.

“We all have a similar type of game. We all look to score, we are more offensive than defensive. They have great vision and you know if you are open, they are going to find you.”

Sly has worked hard to get open more around the net. “Our new assistant coach, Tony Maci, has been great on the offensive side of things,” said Sly.

“He is definitely influencing me to shoot more and to go to the net hard, which I don’t think I did as much in my first or second year.”

While Princeton head coach Jeff Kampersal liked his team’s aggressiveness against Rensselaer, he saw a lack of sharpness.

“We had a lot of oomph and hustle which was good,” said Kampersal.

“We weren’t necessarily moving the puck as a team in the first period. In the third period, we played better. They have a lot of heart and soul all the time. They compete hard but we didn’t execute well.”

Kampersal acknowledged that his team has been scuffling a little over the last few weeks.

“We have been leaking a little oil since exams, we are not fully operating like we were before then,” said Kampersal, whose team split its two meetings with St. Lawrence, falling to the Saints 3-2 on November 20 before edging them 4-3 in overtime on February 13.

“We just need to tighten up. Our defensive zone needs to be better. All three goals tonight, even though one was a power play, started off with terrible breakout passes, just stuff that we don’t normally do. We usually break the puck out really well and we usually defend really well and those areas have been loose.”

With Princeton’s seniors setting the tone, Kampersal is confident that his team will rise to the occasion.

“They are an awesome group, they have set a great culture for us in their four years,” said Kampersal, whose group of seniors includes goalie Kimberley Newell, forwards Jaimie McDonell, Cristin Shanahan, and Maddie Peake, along with defenseman Karen MacDonald.

“It is my 20th senior day and it is amazing how quickly it rolls around every year. I am saying goodbye quicker than I would like. They are a good group, they listen, and they are coachable.”

Sly, for her part, is happy that the seniors will get another weekend at Baker Rink as the Tigers host their first home playoff series since the 2010-11 season.

“That is a big, important aspect, we haven’t had home ice in so long,” said Sly. “It will be great if we get home ice.”