A backhand move by first-year Justine Reyes at 5:37 of overtime sealed a thrilling 4-3 victory for St. Lawrence women’s hockey on Sunday afternoon at Hobey Baker Rink, as the Saints upset No. 8 Princeton to win the quarterfinal series 2-1 and advance to the ECAC Hockey semifinals. The Saints improve to 17-14-6 overall, while Princeton finishes its season at 22-8-2.
“Fitting that this series needed OT to end it,” Head Coach Chris Wells said. “Over five games with them the final score was 14-13 with two overtime games. Both teams gave everything they had today and a beautiful goal was the difference.”
In addition to advancing deeper into the season, the Saints also celebrated senior captain Amanda Boulier’s record-breaking day as she set the program record for goals by a
defenseman with her 28th in the third period that put St. Lawrence in front 3-2. The goal also gave her the program record for points by a defenseman, carrying 104 into next weekend’s semifinal series.
Princeton netted a game-tying power play goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
After falling behind 1-0 on a goal from Princeton’s Cassidy Tucker in the first half of the opening frame, the Saints got a pair of goals from junior Brooke Webster in the second period, including one on the power play, to take a 2-1 lead.
The Saints got a fortunate bounce on the first goal, as Webster’s wrister from the left circle was saved by netminder Kimberly Newell but popped into the air and rolled down her back and into the net to tie the game at the 5:43 mark of the second.
Five minutes later Princeton was assessed two minor penalties 41 seconds apart to give the Saints 1:19 worth of 5-on-3 time. After sustained zone time for St. Lawrence, and with the trio of Princeton defenders packed in tight in front of Newell, Webster ripped a shot from the bottom of the right circle that beat her glove side for the lead. Kennedy Marchment and Boulier assisted on the play.
But Princeton would answer three and a half minutes later with Molly Contini’s first of two on the day to send the teams into the second intermission knotted at 2-2. After St. Lawrence goaltender Grace Harrison made a pad save on Emily Achterkirch, the puck trickled behind her and Contini crashed the net to finish from the goal line.
Four minutes and 22 seconds into the third, Boulier ripped a slapshot from the right point that froze Newell and floated in just under the bar for the record and the 3-2 Saints lead. Webster and linemate Hannah Miller picked up the helpers after work along the wall deep in the Princeton zone.
The lead stood until the 19:45 mark of the frame when, in a fashion that is fitting of the series between these two teams, Contini netted the game-tying power play tally. The Saints went on the kill when Hannah Miller was sent to the box for slashing with 1:56 remaining and pulled Newell for the 6-on-4 advantage with the game on the line.
“At this time of the year it’s a great feeling to know you get to practice again!” Wells added. “The seniors on this team have done a great job being so resilient no matter what their role in the team is and it’s great to see.”
Heading into the overtime period the Saints held a 34-23 shot advantage, including 12 shots on the power play through 60 minutes. In the bonus frame, each team recorded three shots on goal.
The third shot for St. Lawrence came in the form of a beautiful backhander by Reyes after she picked up the loose puck that was kicked forward by Kayla Nielsen, toe-dragged around Newell and lifted the puck into the open net for her 12th of the season.
The Princeton netminder finished with 32 saves, while Harrison stopped 23 in the win for St. Lawrence; her seventh of the season.
It was a total team victory for the Scarlet and Brown, who arguably played their best hockey of the season throughout the series. They’ll face another nationally-ranked opponent in Quinnipiac next Saturday in the ECAC semifinal at Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn.
