NORTHEASTERN FALLS TO PRINCETON, 5-3

Sophomore forward Katie MacSorley scored a goal for the Huskies

PRINCETON, N.J. - Kelly Wallace scored her second goal in as many games, and Katie MacSorley and Stephanie Gavronsky engineered the makings of a miraculous comeback, but Princeton held on to hand No. 8 Northeastern women's hockey its first loss, 5-3, at Hobey Baker Rink in Princeton, N.J.

After grabbing the lead in each of their first three fixtures, the Huskies fell behind for the second straight game thanks to a one-two punch from the Tigers' top two returning goalscorers. Freshman Kendall Coyne and Princeton's Sally Butler (9-10-19 in 2010-11) hit the post within seconds of one another early in the first period, but it was Butler who made good on her next effort, scoring Princeton's first goal of the season with three minutes to play in the opening frame. The Tigers doubled their lead just before intermission through an unassisted strike from Olivia Mucha (9-12-21 in 2010-11).

Northeastern kept Tigers on the back foot through much of the second period, thanks in large part to four Princeton penalties. It was at even strength, however, that the Huskies halved the deficit: junior Rachel Llanes found junior Kelly Wallace, who bagged her second in two games to bring Northeastern within striking distance as the two teams headed to the locker room once again. Freshman Chelsey Goldberg earned her first collegiate point on the play with a secondary assist. The Huskies dominated the run of play in the second period, winning the shots battle, 14-1, and spending a full seven minutes on the power play.

The momentum switched once again in the third period, and Princeton extended its lead through a familiar recipe. Just three minutes into the final stanza, Butler tallied again to restore the two-goal lead. When Northeastern left the door open with a tripping penalty on sophomore Claire Santostefano, Olivia Mucha capitalized with a second marker of her own, and in the span of 90 seconds Princeton had gone three up.

Just as Princeton seemed to have the game locked up, however, Northeastern needed only 54 seconds to score a combination blow of its own. Less than a minute after Mucha's second made it 4-1, sophomore Katie MacSorley tallied her third goal of the season to keep the game in the balance. As if for symmetry, the Tigers immediately committed a penalty of their own - a Danille DiCesare holding minor - and the Huskies seized the opportunity: senior tri-captain Stephanie Gavronsky making it a 4-3 game with 14 minutes to play, with helpers from freshman Kendall Coyne and sophomore Sonia St. Martin.

A bodychecking penalty from Princeton's Heather Landry gave the Huskies a six-on-four advantage when Northeastern coach Dave Flint pulled senior Florence Schelling for an extra attacker. But after four shots went through in the first six minutes of the period, the game had no goals left for the Huskies. Kelly Cooke added an empty-netter to ice the game for the Tigers.

It was the first off-night of the season for Schelling, the 2009-10 Hockey East Co-Player of the Year. After allowing just three goals over her first three games, Schelling surrendered four goals on 11 Princeton shots.

There will be no rest for the weary Huskies; Northeastern will look to get back on the winning track tomorrow afternoon at Yale. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.