The No. 12-ranked Princeton women’s hockey team experienced a narrow 6-5 defeat against No. 7 Quinnipiac in a thrilling game at Baker Rink. This match, held on Saturday afternoon, marked the Tigers’ final fixture of 2023, preceding their upcoming participation in the Friendship Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Jan. 5 and 6, where they will compete against Providence.
Despite outshooting Quinnipiac 46-18 on goal and 69-37 overall, Princeton found themselves trailing as Quinnipiac took a 3-1 lead at the first ice cut, after scoring three times in just under five minutes during the final six minutes of the first period. However, the Tigers staged a significant comeback in the second period, with Issy Wunder, Daniella Calabrese, Sarah Fillier, and Sarah Paul all scoring, propelling Princeton from a 3-2 deficit to a 5-3 lead.
An untimely power play cost the Tigers, as a five-minute penalty resulted in two Quinnipiac goals in the third period, tying the game at 5-5. The deadlock remained until midway through the overtime period when Sadie Peart netted the winning goal for Quinnipiac.
Individually, the game was a milestone for several members of the Princeton team. Sarah Fillier’s two goals brought her career goal total to 77, tying her for ninth in program history. With 93 assists, Fillier moved within a point of third place on the program’s career assist list, and with 170 points, she moved into a tie for fifth in program history on that career list. Eight Tigers contributed points in the game, with standout performances from Wunder, Calabrese, and rookie defender Gabby Kim.
The exciting matchup served as a testament to the skill and determination of both teams and has paved the way for an eagerly anticipated rematch in the future.