CREASE CONTROL: Princeton University women’s ice hockey goalie Alysia DaSilva guards the crease in action last weekend. Junior DaSilva made 38 saves in a 3-1 loss to St. Lawrence on Friday and then had 28 stops in a 4-2 loss to Clarkson a day later. Princeton, now 3-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 ECAC Hockey, plays at Harvard on November 11 and at Dartmouth on November 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The first home weekend of the season for the Princeton University women’s hockey started last Friday evening with banners being unfurled on the wall of Baker Rink with 2016 added to each.

The new entry on each banner commemorated the NCAA tournament berth and Ivy League crown earned by the program last winter.

But once the action started on the ice, it didn’t end up being a banner weekend for Princeton as the 10th-ranked Tigers fell 3-1 to seventh-ranked St. Lawrence on Friday and then lost 4-2 to eighth-ranked Clarkson a night later.

In reflecting on the first two periods of the contest against St. Lawrence, which saw Princeton fall behind 3-0, Tiger head coach Jeff Kampersal acknowledged that his team was on its heels at times.

“I felt like the first period was a little split where they had flurries and they were really good but I thought we had a couple of flurries,” said Kampersal.

“In the second period, we flat-lined. Their top line looked like the Red Army team, tic tac toe in the front. It was ridiculous. We didn’t do a good job with it, we talked about it all week.”

At the second intermission, Kampersal beseeched his players to pick up the intensity. “It was to go out there be physical and play,” said Kampersal recalling his message.

In the third period, the Tigers played much better, skating with the Saints and picking up a late goal by Kiersten Falck to make it a 3-1 final.

“I think the whole third period is something we can build on, we played much better,” said Kampersal.

“We had more oomph to it and passion. That is what we have to do, play good, passionate hockey; like what we would like to think is Tiger hockey.”

The Tigers have been getting very good goaltending from junior goalie Alysia DaSilva, who has stepped into the starting role after backing up Kimberly Newell the last two seasons.

“Sils has been great all year,” said Kampersal of DaSilva, who made 38 saves in the loss to St. Lawrence. “She was under siege tonight and she made some good saves.”

Looking ahead to the matchup against Clarkson a day later, Kampersal knew his team would be under siege physically. “Clarkson is going to be bigger and tougher,” said Kampersal.

Building on its strong third period against St. Lawrence, Princeton started quicker against Clarkson, outshooting the Golden Knights in jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Cassidy Tucker and Morgan Sly.

But things went south after that for the Tigers as Clarkson outshot the Tigers 27-16 over the last two periods and scored four unanswered goals to earn the 4-2 win.

With Princeton playing at Harvard on November 11 and at Dartmouth on November 12, Kampersal will be looking for his players to show more resolve. “It is just to play with grit and win your battles,” said Kampersal, whose team is now 3-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 ECAC Hockey.

“I told them at the end if you are soft and we lose, I will be on you forever. If you are tough and we lose, what are you going to do.”