Pensavalle Scores Yale goal

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Yale women's ice hockey team entered Friday afternoon's game at Princeton ranked No. 6 in the country in scoring offense, averaging 3.33 goals per game. But the Tigers became one of the few teams this season to stymie the Yale attack, getting 31 saves from goalie Kimberly Newell in a 4-1 win. Four different players scored goals for Princeton, and the Tigers played penalty-free hockey.

Princeton (9-9-1, 7-6 ECAC Hockey) took command early with two first-period goals. A nice set up in front gave forward Jaimie McDonnell the chance to put Princeton ahead 1-0 on a goal at 2:15 of the first. Seven minutes later, the Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 on a slap shot by defenseman Ali Pankowski.

Yale had to kill off one penalty late in the first and another that wrapped around into the start of the second. The Bulldogs did so successfully, and killed off another penalty in the third, as they have allowed just one power play goal in the last nine games.

Last season at Baker Rink, Yale had fallen behind 2-0 and 3-2 before rallying for a 5-3 win thanks to four goals from senior forward Jackie Raines and 47 saves from senior goalie Jaimie Leonoff. A similar comeback was not in the cards this time, however. After a scoreless second period, forward Cassidy Tucker extended Princeton's lead to 3-0 at 10:42 of the third, batting in a feed from forward Brianna Leahy in transition.

Yale (7-8-1, 4-5-0 ECAC Hockey) has only been shut out twice this season, and the Bulldogs kept that statistic intact when a one-timer from the left circle from freshman forward Courtney Pensavalle found the back of the net with 1:34 to play. Junior forward Janelle Ferrara and freshman defenseman Grace Wickens assisted on the play. That was Wickens' first career point.

The Bulldogs then pulled Leonoff for an extra attacker, but the Tigers quickly gained control of the puck and got an empty-net goal from forward Molly Contini to make the final score 4-1.

Yale held the edge in shots, 32-31, as Leonoff finished with 27 saves.

Yale plays again at No. 5 Quinnipiac Saturday afternoon.

Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity