McCumber, PU top Mercyhurst
By: Justin Feil
Dina McCumber’s role has grown a little bit each season for the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team.
In this, her junior campaign, the defenseman understands she has a big hand in the Tigers’ success. If she looks around at her fellow defensemen, she sees just one older player, senior Chrissie Norwich, and one other junior, Kate Hession. The rest of the defense is younger.
"Every year, you acquire more responsibility as you get older," McCumber said. "You have the younger kids looking up to you and you try setting an example for them. It’s hard stepping in as freshman and not knowing your role. With a younger D’, you try to room with them on weekends and talk to them about everything. You know what they’re thinking. You’ve done it. It’s nice to have a new perspective."
Not only does Princeton need McCumber’s defense every game, but also they can use her offense, particularly against a schedule that has been loaded with top teams. Her versatility is an asset that’s tough to find anywhere.
McCumber provided strong defense and a goal as the Tigers topped No. 6 Mercyhurst, 4-3, in overtime Saturday, one day after they lost, 3-2, on a goal with one second left in regulation. The win came a week after the Tigers beat then-No. 9 Clarkson by a goal and tied then-No. 1 St. Lawrence, 1-1.
"Mercyhurst was definitely strong," said McCumber, who is second on the team with three goals and six assists this year. "They played really well. They played more physical than St. Lawrence did. They’re a disciplined team and they were really prepared for us. They were some tough fought games."
Friday’s loss was as tough as they come. The game appeared headed for overtime when the Lakers won it with a single tick on the game clock. Princeton’s bounced back from the disappointing loss to improve to 5-3-2 before hosting Cornell 7 p.m. Friday at Baker Rink.
"It was definitely a tough loss," McCumber said of Friday. "We battled through. We didn’t have our best game. It didn’t work out in the end. We knew we had to split with them at least. We came back and battled with them and won."
The Tigers won dramatically on a rebound goal by Annie Greenwood 23 seconds into overtime Saturday. The emotional win was just what Princeton needed after losing Friday.
"I was thinking that morning, I was so happy after that loss to get a chance to play them again right away," McCumber said. "We got to go right back at them after everything that happened the game before. We knew we didn’t want that to happen again and we had to come out strong.
"Both were pretty tight games. We watched video on the first one and all the mistakes we made Friday were little mistakes we could correct Saturday. We were playing stronger defensively and getting the puck out of there."
After a scoreless first period, Mercyhurst took the lead before McCumber notched her third goal of the young season. She had three goals all of last season to go with a team-high 18 assists. She’s on her way to breaking both marks.
"When you’re getting more opportunities on the power play, you need to produce more," McCumber said. "I’ve been given some opportunities. It needs to get done. We’re not a real high-scoring team. We rely on our defense and getting a few goals a game. We just try to bear down in front of the net."
McCumber is needed equally at both ends of the ice. The Tigers are averaging just 2.3 goals per game this season on offense. As recently as the 2003-04 season, they averaged 3.43 goals per game. Defensively, the Tigers have proven even stronger than in past years, though they’ve always allowed less than two goals per game. This year, the defense has permitted an average of only 1.8 goals per game.
"We know our forwards will get it done," McCumber said. "And the forwards help us in the D’ zone. We all work together.
"We can always rely on Roxanne (Gaudiel, Princeton goaltender). If you make a mistake or something happens, she’ll most likely make the save. It’s so nice having her back there. It gives you some more confidence."
Having McCumber back on defense also gives the Tigers more confidence. She’s part of a defensive-oriented team that has a little different make-up than those teams of her first two seasons for the Orange-and-Black.
"Freshman year, we had some more goal scorers," McCumber said. "We don’t have any particular goal scorers this year. There’s no animosity on this team. Those first road trips brought us together. We got to know the freshmen. This year’s team is something special. We miss (Olympian Liz) Keady. We know we have to step up to the plate. There’s no one team right now that’s dominating everyone else. With all the Olympic players gone, who knows what can happen?"
The Tigers have benefited thus far from being in a home stand that started Nov. 18 and won’t end until after the New Year. Princeton is in the midst of a 10-game home stand. Recently, those home games have featured some of the top teams in the country who have come to Baker Rink to challenge Princeton.
"We’re just going weekend to weekend," McCumber said. "We’re enjoying it."
Friday wasn’t one of the most enjoyable of those games with a last-second loss, but Saturday helped ease some of the pain of the loss as they beat Mercyhurst in overtime.
"It doesn’t completely erase it," McCumber said. "We have to remember it. We know there are no easy teams out there. Even though we won that, we have to show up and play that way every day. We need to win every game.
"I feel like we’re doing really well. There are some games we could have won and we regret not doing it. But our freshmen are doing well. We’re growing as a team. It should be a good battle this year. We should perform well."
Dina McCumber will help, not just on the defensive end but on the offensive end as well. She did so last year, but this year it’s even more critical as she takes on even greater responsibility for the Tiger women’s ice hockey team.

