PRINCETON, N.J. – The Army hockey team got to within a goal in the third period, but Princeton responded with two goals to hand the Black Knights a 4-1 loss on the road at Hobey Baker Rink.
Army (5-17-2) got its lone goal from Joe Llaurado, which was his third of the season with assists to Joe Kozlak and Clint Carlisle. For Carlisle, it was his sixth point in the last seven games. Parker Gahagen earned the start in net and made 32 saves.
The Tigers (3-14-1) saw four different skaters score goals, while Justin Liam recorded a game-high three points, all of the assist variety. Ben Foster tallied a goal and an assist for two points. Colton Phinney showed what type of night he was going to have after the first 20 minutes. He came up huge for the Tigers with three great saves in the first period.
Princeton took the first lead of the game with a power play goal from Tucker Brockett. The Tigers and Black Knights played a minute of 4-on-4 hockey and then Princeton got its second power play chance of the period and made it count. Foster charged in on Gahagen and the netminder made the stop, but Brockett batted the puck out of midair on the rebound for the 1-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first.
The Black Knights had their chances in the first, but Phinney stood tall with some great stops. He robbed C.J. Reuschlein twice and was saved by the post in the final minute with Zak Zaremba trying to the tie the game.
The Tigers gained a two-goal lead at the end of two periods with Mike Ambrosia scoring from the slot. Princeton killed of Army’s fifth power play of the night and on the ensuing rush up ice, Kyle Rankin got behind the net and slipped a pass out to Ambrosia and he beat Gahagen at the near post for the 2-0 advantage.
In the third period, the Black Knights cut the lead to one with Llaurado scoring with 15:07 left. Kozlak drove behind the net and shoveled a pass to Llaurado. The rookie was fighting hard for positioning in front and jammed the puck over the line. Phinney tried to reach back and cover the puck, but it was too late and Army had life at 2-1.
The momentum swung back into Princeton’s favor with 7:46 left as Foster tallied his second point of the night with a wrap around goal. Gahagen made a great stop on a slap shot from the slot, but Foster collected the puck and skated around the net to beat the netminder to the far post to regain the two-goal advantage at 3-1.
Princeton closed out the scoring with a power play tally with 3:56 remaining to make it 4-1. Tommy Davis scored with Liam and Aaron Ave assisting on the play.
The Tigers won the shot battle at 36-27 and scored on two of their four power play chances. The Black Knights had seven opportunities with the extra man and didn’t find the net.
The Black Knights have a quick turnaround as they head to RIT for two league games beginning on Friday night.
Ice Shavings: This was the 64th meeting between Princeton and Army and first since 1998-99 … The teams first met back in 1910 … Coach Riley faced the Tigers for the first time as a head coach … tonight’s game was the last non-league game for the Black Knights … it was Princeton’s first game since Jan. 10 and the game was originally scheduled for yesterday … Princeton has won the last three meetings and has gone unbeaten in the last nine … Llaurado’s last tally came against Bentley on Nov. 28 …Carlisle is one behind his season high for assists with nine on the year and is tied with Andrle for second on the team in helpers.
