It was an intense Saturday afternoon at Hobey Baker Rink for the Princeton women’s ice hockey team. The Tigers, coming off of a hard-fought victory over Clarkson University the night before, were back on the ice with momentum on their side. Unfortunately, St. Lawrence University had other plans. The Saints pushed out a 1-0 win in a tightly contested battle that came down to stellar goaltending on both ends.
From the opening faceoff, both teams came out firing, trading scoring chances and heavy defensive pressure. Princeton dominated the offensive zone, outshooting St. Lawrence 45–31. Despite their relentless attack, the Tigers just couldn’t find a way past Saints goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordström. Nordström turned in a flawless performance, stopping all 45 Princeton shots to secure the shutout victory for St. Lawrence.
At the other end, Princeton’s own wall in the crease, junior Uma Corniea, was just as sharp. Corniea allowed only one goal – a well-placed shot from graduate forward Alexa Davis early on in the first period — and recorded 30 saves in yet another strong outing between the pipes.
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Alexander and senior assistant captain Emerson O’Leary were bright spots for Princeton in the offensive zone. O’Leary, a Massachusetts native, was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning an impressive 19 draws, while Alexander led the charge with a team-high eight shots on goal. Both players provided the energy and offensive spark the Tigers needed but couldn’t quite convert.
The Tigers were eventually able to slow down the Saints strong offense, only allowing them seven shots on goal, while the Tigers put up 22 themselves. Unfortunately, this late push was not enough for them to tie up the game.
Saturday’s matchup echoed Princeton’s previous game against Clarkson — another defensive duel that ended with limited scoring opportunities. In that contest, freshman Riley Sorokan notched her first collegiate goal, while Corniea picked up a shutout of her own, helping the Tigers secure the 1–0 victory.
Despite the weekend split, the Tigers continue to show promising balance and discipline on both ends of the ice. As they move forward, head coach Courtney Kessel’s squad will look to turn their offensive pressure into more consistent scoring results.
Princeton now sits at 4-2 in the ECAC putting them in 5th place with 11 points and returns home next Friday to face the Providence College Friars in another non-conference test. With their defense and goaltending locked in, the Tigers will aim to find that finishing touch as they look to regain momentum heading deeper into the season.
