By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton High and West Windsor-Plainsboro High South ice hockey teams came into last Wednesday’s matchup against each other with something to prove.
Both teams were 3-0 heading into the contest, but also knew they would be facing their biggest test of the season. In the end, the teams played to a 4-4 tie that left both teams happy but wanting a little more.
”It would have been a big boost for us to come out and beat a real good hockey club like that,” said South forward Matt Sayde, who scored a pair of goals in the game. “But it was a good game and we can take a lot of positives out of it and work going forward.”
Princeton had taken a 1-0 lead on a Jackson Andres goal in the opening period, but the Pirates answered back with three goals in the second period — two by Sayde and the other by Jeremy Greener — for a 3-1 lead. But Princeton responded in the third period to take a 4-3 lead on two goals by Patrick McCormick and one from Spencer Reynolds. The Pirates, however, bounced back with a Brian Tso goal with just over three minutes left for the tie.
”This game was definitely our first test,” said Reynolds, whose goal with 7:39 left gave Princeton a 4-3 lead. “The middle of the game sort of caught us off guard but we all adapted and adjusted and closed the gap. We knew we were in trouble going into the third period. We knew the only way to get out of that situation was to stay focused.”
The Pirates had opened the season with three straight wins in which they had outscored their opponents, 20-6. At 3-0-1 they fell in another big test Friday against undefeated Robbinsville. WW-P South led, 1-0, after the first period on a power play goal by Steve Cangelosi that was assisted by Sayde. Brian Tso scored in the third period, but the Pirates could not hold off Robbinsville despite 34 saves from Andrew Holubec.
Princeton was also 3-0-1 after the tie with South, and improved to 4-0-1 with an 8-0 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Thursday. The Little Tigers opened the season by winning their first three games, outscoring the opposition, 23-2, and were back at their high-scoring pace on Thursday with Connor and Brendan McCormick tallying four points apiece and Patrick McCormick and Andres adding three points apiece. John Reid had a goal and Eammon McDonald and Reynolds had an assist apiece. Sawyer Peck made 14 saves for the shutout. Princeton was scheduled to take on Hopewell Valley on Monday.
”We competed hard,” said Princeton coach Terence Miller after his team outshot the Pirates, 40-14. “I thought that first period we jumped on them and had our legs moving. And then in the second period we started taking some penalties and got out of our rhythm a little bit. I was extremely happy with the third period. We came out two goals behind and tied it up in the first five or six minutes and then we took the lead. They got one on us late but overall I was happy with the effort.”
South also gave a strong effort and responded nicely after surrendering the lead midway through the third period.
”I told them they can be proud that they never gave up and a tie is better than the loss they could have had,” South coach Laurent Lassance said. “But it is still a bad tie. It is a game they could have won. When you go into the third period with a two-goal lead, even with a two-minute penalty to kill off, you are in good shape.
”The thing I am most proud of is as much as the guys were down and deflated they still worked hard and dug deep and continued to do everything they could to get that goal back and they did.”
For both teams, being unbeaten through four games is a nice way to start the season. It’s also a good way to head into a stretch against some pretty good teams.
”We have been pretty happy,” Sayde said. “We’ve gotten a couple wins. This would have been a big win for us today. But we can take a lot of positives from this game and work on the negatives and get ready for Robbinsville.”
The Pirates seemed like they could be headed to a fourth straight win to open the season, but McCormick came through with a couple of big goals to get the Little Tigers even.
”Unfortunately we couldn’t contain Pat McCormick,” Lassance said. “He’s a good player. I think we actually had him outnumbered with three guys along the wall and somehow he got through us and slid one in from being on his stomach. What can you do?”
Added Miller: “Patrick McCormick really gave us a lift in the third period. He gave us the boost we needed. We tied it up and had all the momentum. It was there for the taking. You have to give their goaltender credit. He played well.”
