Jeff Kampersal knew that his Princeton University women’s hockey team was in for some trouble when it took five penalties in the first period last Friday as it hosted Dartmouth.

“We want to pride ourselves on being a disciplined team and we didn’t do a good job of that today,” said Princeton head coach Kampersal.

“Dartmouth’s power play is potent, to say the least, they are a very good group. They are well coached and to give them five power plays in the first period is ridiculous.”

The Tigers weathered the storm, though, surrendering only one goal in the first period. After giving up an even strength goal to fall behind 2-0 midway through the second period, Princeton got a goal from senior Alex Kinney to halve Dartmouth’s lead. But the Big Green cashed in on a power play late in the period to regain their two-goal lead on the way to a 3-1 victory.

Kampersal did see some positive signs when his squad wasn’t killing penalties.

“I thought 5-on-5, we did a good job,” said Kampersal. “We played a sound, solid game.”

Princeton got a solid game in the loss from gritty senior forward and assistant captain Kelly Cooke.

“I thought Cookie worked real hard; she was all over today,” said Kampersal of Cooke, who scored Princeton’s lone goal on Saturday as the Tigers suffered a dispiriting 9-1 loss to Harvard.

“She had a lot of energy; she was good on the penalty kill. She had a nice 2-on-1 on the kill. I thought she was good at both ends of the rink.”

With Princeton, now 2-2 overall and 0-2 in ECAC Hockey action, the Tigers will have to be a lot better at both ends of the rink next weekend as they play at second-ranked Cornell (4-1 overall, 2-0 ECACH) on November 2 and at Colgate (2-6 overall, 0-2 ECACH) on November 3.

“It doesn’t take a perfect game, it takes a smart, disciplined effort,” said Kampersal.

“Our goal is to stay under four penalties each game. When we stay under four penalties, get a certain percentage on the power play, and play good, tough defense, we have a good chance of winning.”