With God on Our Side: Princeton 7, Yale 1

Ali Pankowski

When I covered college hockey for a few years it was always a lot easier to get a 500-word article out of a game with a lot of scoring (there was once a 0-0 tie against Colgate I had to write about--try coming up with 500 words on a game with no scoring!). So yesterday's goal outburst against Yale would fill an entire article just with a recitation of scoring.

Five different players had at least three points in the dismantling of the Bulldogs, but this was slow to develop. For a while it looked just like the Brown game, with Princeton overwhelming the opposition without cashing in; after one period the score was only 1-0, on a goal by Denna Laing. But in the second the Tigers tallied three more goals, and added three more in the third.

The scoring so far this season is being dominated by the line of sophomores, (I suggested calling them the "Jinx Line," a play on the saying "sophomore jinx," but this was not met with enthusiasm) Laing, Sally Butler, and Olivia Mucha. They had half of the points in the Yale game, and for the season have 25 of the team's 44 points. Laing added a second goal and an assist, Butler and Mucha had a goal and two assists each. Senior co-captain Paula Romanchuk, who once upon a time was the Tigers' biggest scorer, got things going with her first goal of the season plus two assists, and Alex Kinney, who was all around the net against Brown, got on the board, sliding one in from the corner.

Also with three points was freshman Ali Pankowski, who had two assists and her first career goal, a blast from outside the face-off circle that went just inside the post. So far Pankowski is the most impressive rookie--she has a heavy shot from the point, which should make her a natural for power play opportunities, and she plays a solid D. Before the game I had the chance to chat briefly with her aunt, who is an honest-to-goodness nun. I imagine it isn't often you see a nun at a hockey game. The Sister was at both games this weekend, and the Tigers had wins in both contests. I hope she comes to more games, because having a nun on your side can't hurt.