Saints Upset No. 13 Tigers

It took St. Lawrence a while to get going, but once it did, it didn’t stop until the visiting Saints had topped No. 13 Princeton by a 5-2 count before 1,635 fans at Hobey Baker Memorial Rink in the ECAC opener for both schools.

Alex Bogosian and Jared Keller each tallied a goal and an assist, and Alex Petizian made 32 saves as St. Lawrence (5-2-1, 1-0-0 ECAC) remained unbeaten in its last four meetings with Princeton (1-2-0, 0-1-0 ECAC). Zane Kalemba had 25 stops for the Tigers, who killed off all seven St. Lawrence power plays.

“We knew we had to bring our ‘A’ game against a very good Princeton team,” said St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh. “Our guys battled hard.”

Freshman defenseman Michael Sdao put the Tigers up, 1-0, early on with his first career collegiate goal, just seconds after a Princeton power play had expired. Sam Sabky fed Sdao at the left point, and the rookie’s shot eluded Petizian at 2:45, with Brodie Zuk also assisting. Both teams came up empty on three power plays apiece in the opening period, and the Saints also went scoreless in a two-man advantage that lasted just over a minute.

“I thought we played well in the first period,” said Princeton coach Guy Gadowsky. “They took it to us in the second and third, and they played harder than we did down the stretch.”

St. Lawrence tied the game midway through regulation on Mike McKenzie’s third goal of the year. Kyle Flanagan pushed the puck ahead to Jeremiah Cunningham at the Princeton blueline, and Cunningham carried it into the left circle before feeding McKenzie for a one-timer inside the far post at 8:23.

The Saints then took the lead less than five minutes later while killing a hooking penalty to defenseman Peter Child. Bogosian and Keller first made their own shorthanded rush that was denied; but then Jacob Drewiske picked up a loose puck at the St. Lawrence blueline and skated into the Princeton end where he deked past a defender and fired from the left side. Kalemba made the save, but sophomore Max Mobley was there to poke the puck home at 13:48 for his first college goal.

“The shift that Bogosian and Keller had set up things for the next shift,” said Marsh. “Those four guys did a fabulous job.”

Bogosian made it a 3-1 affair at 17:03 when he took a Keller pass in front of the team benches, skated past Sdao at the Princeton blueline, and then uncorked a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Kalemba to the far side.

“I saw top blocker side,” said Bogosian. “It went in off their d-man, and I kind of got lucky.”
Bogosian then helped St. Lawrence to a three-goal advantage just 2:13 into the final stanza, as he set up Keller in the left circle for a wrister past Kalemeba’s blocker.

“Jared was in a great spot,” said Bogosian. “He got open and got a shot off, and it was a big goal for him.”

Princeton would get back within two goals at 16:03 when Tyler Beachell deflected a Jody Pederson point shot home with six seconds remaining on a two-man advantage, and Kalemba off for an extra attacker. Alex Curran then put Princeton’s comeback hopes to rest when he slid the puck into an empty Tiger cage from center ice at 17:31.

“As the game wore on, we got better defensively,” said Marsh. “We played hard until the end and were able to stay out of the box. It was a good solid effort.”

Gadowsky would like to see his team execute better, especially on offense.

“We’re used to converting odd-man rushes, but we’re missing the net or putting the puck in the goalie’s belly,” he said. “It’s hard to win when you’re not scoring at even strength or getting grade-A chances.”

Princeton now hosts Clarkson tomorrow afternoon, while St. Lawrence will visit Quinnipiac.

“I believe in the talent we have,” said Gadowsky. “It’s just not clicking right now.”