Princeton men’s ice hockey opened up their weekend with a statement-making performance, delivering an exciting upset victory over Dartmouth College in ECAC action. Entering the contest, Dartmouth stood as the favored team, riding an undefeated conference streak and carrying momentum into the matchup. Despite the odds, Princeton embraced the challenge and executed when it mattered most, defeating the Big Green 5-4 and handing them their first ECAC loss of the season.
The opening period belonged largely to Dartmouth, as the Big Green controlled possession and applied consistent pressure in the offensive zone. Their efforts paid off when Hank Cleaves opened the scoring, giving Dartmouth an early 1-0 lead. While Princeton was unable to find the back of the net in the first frame, the Tigers remained composed and competitive. Notably, shots on goal were evenly matched, signaling that Princeton was staying engaged and laying the groundwork for a potential turnaround.
Princeton entered the second period with renewed focus and energy, showing improved puck movement, controlled shots and discipline. Although Dartmouth extended its lead early in the period with another goal, the Tigers responded almost immediately. Brendan Gorman netted a crucial power-play goal to put Princeton on the board, assisted by Tyler Rubin and Jaxson Ezman. The goal sparked momentum for the Tigers and energized both the bench and the crowd.
Later in the second period, David Jacobs tied the game for Princeton, capitalizing on a strong offensive push. He was assisted by Kai Daniells and Kai Greaves, marking a critical moment that shifted the game’s momentum. However, Dartmouth managed to regain the lead before the end of the period, as Hayden Stavroff scored to send the Big Green into the intermission ahead 3-2.
Trailing by one entering the third period, Princeton delivered its most dominant stretch of hockey. The Tigers took control of play, winning battles along the boards and generating sustained offensive pressure. Jacobs opened the scoring in the third period with his second goal of the night, knotting the game once again. Rubin recorded his second assist of the contest on the play, while Jayden Sison added the secondary assist.
With momentum firmly on Princeton’s side, the Tigers continued to attack. Nick Marciano gave Princeton its first lead of the night with a clutch goal later in the period, assisted by David Ma and Daniells. As Dartmouth pushed forward in the final minutes, Princeton maintained defensive discipline and capitalized on an empty-net opportunity. Jake Manfre sealed the win with an empty-net goal, providing crucial insurance.
Dartmouth’s Brock Devlin scored with less than thirty seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one and creating a tense finish. Without the empty-net goal, the late tally could have forced overtime. Instead, Princeton held on to secure a thrilling 5-4 victory, marking a signature win that showcased resilience, composure, and timely scoring against one of the conference’s top teams.
