Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Princeton University scored three times in the final five minutes of the third period, including the game-winning goal on a power play, to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-1, in an ECAC Hockey game at the Houston Field House.

The Tigers, the 12th-ranked team in the nation, improve to 4-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the league. RPI is now 2-7-1 and 1-3-0 despite a 49-save performance by senior goaltender Mathias Lange (Klagenfurt, Austria/New York Apple Core).

Princeton captured the lead at 15:04 of the third period on a power play goal scored by sophomore Matt Arhontas (Naperville, IL), who scored on a snap shot from outside the crease at the bottom of the left faceoff circle. He was assisted by Kevin Kaiser (Pelham, N.H.) who had the primary helper, and Cam Ritchie (Edmonton, Alb.). The goal was the first of the season for Arhontas.

Junior Tyler Beachell (Rosser, Man) added an insurance goal three minutes later. Taylor Fedun (Edmonton, Alb) advanced the puck to Dan Bartlett (Portland, ME), who dropped the puck back to Beachell. Stationed directly in front of the goal, he had a clean look which he converted, drilling the shot into the back of the net.

Fifty second later with the RPI goalie pulled, Princeton scored one final time. Matt Godlewski (Elk River, MN) found the net on an break-a-way opportunity at 18:56 of the third period for his second goal of the season. Godlewski was assisted Cam MacIntyre (Sooke, B.C.), his first, and Lee Jubinville, his second. Jubinville is the reigning ECACH Player of the Year.

After a scoreless first period, in which Princeton outshot RPI, 18-9, freshman Patrick Cullen (Washington, D.C./Indiana Ice) put the Engineers on the board 1:26 minutes into the second period. Cullen blasted a shot past goalie Zane Kalemba (Saddle Brook, N.J.) from just outside the crease for his third goal of the season. Classmate Jordan Watts (Oakville, Ont/Aurora Tigers) picked up his first career assist on the play, beating two defenders along the left side and chipping the puck to Cullen from behind the net.  Defenseman Jeff Foss (Moorhead, MN/Moorhead) also had an assist on the play. 

Princeton tied the game at 11:11 of the second period when sophomore Kevin Lohry (Sioux City, IO) beat an RPI defender along the right side in a battle for the puck and managed a shot on Lange, who nicked the attempt, but had the puck skip up and over his shoulder for the unassisted, shorthanded goal.

Kalemba earned the win, stopping 16 shots. Lange finished with 18 saves in the first period, seven in the second and 24 in the third period.

Rensselaer returns to action tomorrow night at 7pm home against Quinnipiac. Princeton will travel to Union, face-off at 4pm. Both games are ECAC Hockey contests.