JACOBS LADDER: Princeton University men’s hockey player David Jacobs goes after the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, freshman forward Jacobs tallied a goal and an assist in a losing cause as a late Princeton rally fell short in a 5-4 loss to St. Lawrence. The Tigers, now 4-7 overall and 3-6 ECAC Hockey, host Union on December 9 and RPI on December 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It took a while for David Jacobs to start producing this winter in his freshman season on the Princeton University men’s hockey team.

Though the first eight games of his college career, Jacobs had just one assist. But catching fire after Thanksgiving, he has tallied two goals and two assists in his last three appearances.

“I think it is just growing every day and trying to get more and more comfortable out there,” said Jacobs, a 5’10, 180-pound native of Needham, Mass. “I have great teammates so it is great playing with them. We work hard every practice and I am just trying to get better every day.”

Last Saturday, Jacobs displayed his growth, getting a goal and an assist in a losing cause as a late Princeton rally fell short in a 5-4 loss to St. Lawrence.

The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Nick Seitz then fell behind 2-1 early in the second period. Jacobs evened up the game at 2-2, blasting a one-timer into the back of the net with 11:08 left in the second period. The Saints responded with three unanswered goals to lead 5-2 midway through the third period. After St. Lawrence got hit with a five-minute major penalty, the Tigers scored two goals to narrow the gap to 5-4 but couldn’t get any closer as they moved to 4-7 overall and 3-6 ECAC Hockey.

In reflecting on his goal, Jacobs credited it to some scrappy play.

“We were just hounding the puck and we had a nice reload,” said Jacobs. “[Adam] Robbins kicked it down and it popped out and I came over the top. It was a little 2-on-1 with [Spencer] Kersten in there and I shot it glove side.”

Getting the five-minute major in the third, Princeton focused on hounding the puck all over the ice.

“With the power play, we knew we had to turn it on there,” said Jacobs. “We were down three goals and we had to make something happen. We got two goals. We were hoping for the third but we will build off that.”

Jacobs picked up an assist on Princeton’s fourth goal, helping to set up a tally by Jack Cronin.

“I was in the bumper there; Robbins gave it up to me and I was thinking about shooting,” said Jacobs. “I saw the top guy kind of collapse, so I knew Pito [Walton] was there. I chopped it to him and he found 19 in his sweet spot there and he let it go.”

The tight contest with the Saints exemplified the intensity Jacobs is finding in his first taste of ECACH play.

“That is the great thing about playing in the ECAC, there is never going to be a night that is free,” said Jacobs. “Every team is good, every team can beat every team. When there are three points on the line, we are all going head-to-head 100 percent every time.”

Heading into the St. Lawrence game, Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty was hoping his squad could build on an encouraging 6-2 win over Clarkson one night earlier.

“We had a great game last night and we were probably on for 90 percent of the time tonight,” said Fogarty. “For those 10 percent times, it was just in the back of the net with tips and backdoor play. The guys know it wasn’t a full 60 minutes of consistent effort.”

Fogarty credited his guys with giving a great effort on the third period power play.

“It was big and we capitalized on it but that is the energy that we expect to have for the 60 minutes,” said Fogarty. “We had didn’t have that energy all game. With eight minutes left to go in the third period because we have a power play then all of the energy was there and we were jumping on our toes. That has to be continuing through the whole game.”

The lapses in energy kept Princeton from getting a weekend sweep.

“It is just a wasted opportunity today, it is a big opportunity to get three points on a homestand,” said Fogarty. “If we played like we did last night throughout the 60 minutes then we would get the result.”

With Princeton having topped RIT 5-0 on November 26 to bring some momentum into last weekend, Fogarty believes his young squad is headed in the right direction.

“I think you see how we are playing,” said Fogarty. “It is up-tempo and we are getting chances. You see lapses of consistency in the second period and the beginning of the third but I like where this team is going.”

Fogarty likes the production he has been getting recently from Jacobs and his linemates.

“The Robbins, Jacobs, Seitz line is playing really well, they have been consistent and creating scoring opportunities,” said Fogarty. “David is very relentless on the forecheck. He puck protects very well. That was a great shot on his goal, he helped create plays in the third period.”

With Princeton hosting Union on December 9 and RPI on December 10, Fogarty is looking for his players to be relentless.

“We have to make sure that we play 60 minutes, tonight’s game was uncharacteristic of how we have been playing,” said Fogarty. “It could be a great learning experience, using today as a reference point for next week of what we need to do period in and period out.”

Jacobs, for his part, is primed to keep piling up the points.

“I am moving my feet, sticking to what I do best, hounding pucks and playing the o-zone,” said Jacobs. “I think the line I am on is starting to connect a bit better as well and we have been creating offense lately.”