SPEED SKATING: Princeton University women’s hockey player Issy Wunder, left, races down the ice in recent action. Senior forward Wunder has tallied two goals and three assists so far this season as the Tigers have started 4-4 overall and 4-2 ECAC Hockey. Princeton, which fell 1-0 to St. Lawrence last Saturday, will look to get on the winning track as it hosts Providence for a two-game set on November 14 and 15. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Issy Wunder was dangerous all game in the offensive zone for the Princeton University women’s hockey team as it hosted St. Lawrence last Saturday afternoon at Hobey Baker Rink.
Senior forward and team captain Wunder generated five shots and some grade A chances.
“I have been trying to be confident with the puck on my stick,” said Wunder. “We have such a fast line with so much chemistry. Whoever has the puck, it doesn’t matter. I think we are bound to create chances.”
While Princeton created a slew of scoring opportunities as it fired 45 shots on goal in the contest, it fell 1-0 to the Saints to move to 4-4 overall and 4-2 ECAC Hockey.
“I feel like any time you can do that, it means you are doing something right,” said Wunder. “It was unfortunate that we didn’t get a bounce here or there. We were certainly trying.”
Playing on a line with fellow senior Emerson O’Leary and sophomore standout Mackenzie Alexander, Wunder believes the goals will start coming.
“It has been a year now; we are best friends off the ice and we have fun on the ice,” said Wunder, a 5’11 native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who has tallied two goals and three assists so far this season. “It is great because we can be constructive and talk to each other and figure out between periods what we need to change and what is working well. The communication is there. Everything has been going great. I think we just need to start bearing down on our chances, eventually they have to go in.”
Reflecting on the team’s 4-4 start, Wunder sees a lot of positives.
“I think it has been great seeing some of the younger players step into their roles,” said Wunder. “We have a mix of younger players on defense and at forward. They have been taking huge strides, that has been the most fun to watch. Even from game one to game four and game four to game eight, they are playing with a lot more confidence now that they have learned our systems. They are really starting to shine.”
Going forward, Wunder is confident that the Tigers will keep making strides.
“We have been doing a lot of good things, so I think it is keeping our confidence up,” said Wunder. “Scoring one goal this weekend (after a 1-0 win over Clarkson on Friday), there is obviously room for improvement there. You can’t really wish for goals. The harder you try, the harder you hold your stick, it doesn’t always go the right way. If we keep putting 45 shots on net, I think things will go in.”
Princeton first-year head coach Courtney Kessel credited her players with trying hard to the final buzzer against St. Lawrence.
“It is a lot of shots, but you have to find the back of the net,” said Kessel. “I was happy with our third period. I think we had a little bit of a lapse at the beginning of the second period and the rebound from our second to our third speaks volumes. You win some, you lose some.”
In Kessel’s view, Wunder will be finding the back of the net.
“Issy finds the soft spot, she reads the game so well,” said Kessel of Wunder, who tallied 26 goals and 24 assists last winter. “Each and every game she has so many opportunities. She wants to find the back of the net.”
The line of Kessel, O’Leary, and Alexander has been generating a lot of opportunities this season.
“They are our top line, they carry a lot of minutes,” said Kessel. “Emmie does a great job. She was tremendous in the circle winning draws today. When you start with the puck, it is always helpful. Mac is just an unbelievable hockey player with her speed, her stick handles, her shots. She hit the post with how many seconds left in the game. It is an exciting line.”
While Princeton’s lack of finishing against St. Lawerence was frustrating, Kessel was excited by how the team kept firing away.
“The chances were there so we have to finish the puck,” said Kessel. “The worry is if the chances are not there so they are there. We just have to stay patient. We played two good goalies this weekend.”
Princeton’s goalie, junior Uma Corniea, stepped up over the weekend, making 24 saves in the 1-0 overtime win against Clarkson and then making 30 stops against the Saints.
“Uma was fantastic all week,” said Kessel. “You have to have a good goalie to win and she gave us a chance to win both games. That is all you can ask of her. She was tremendous in both games.”
Corniea is making a big difference as she has returned to action after being sidelined by injury all last season.
“It is great, she is like a shining light in our room,” said Kessel of Corniea, who has posted a goals against average of 2.04 and a save percentage of .926 so far this season. “She just has this presence about her. She is amazing. I am excited for her and the health of her playing. She is getting more confidence as each game goes by. That is what you want to see.”
With the Tigers hosting Providence for a two-game set on November 14 and 15, Kessel is confident that the Tigers will get on the winning track.
“I am happy with the adjustments and their ability whether it is on video or in practice and just take what we are saying and do it in the game and commit to it whatever that role might be,” said Kessel. “I think we are going to be a tough team to play against. I think we have to break pucks out as a unit of five. We can’t look for the long stretch pass all of the time because then that player is up at the far blue line all by herself. So breaking out as a unit of five is a big thing. If we can transition quickly and catch teams sleeping, I think that is where our offense is going to come from.”
In taking the helm of the Tigers this season after serving as an assistant coach for the program from 2019-23, Kessel is enjoying her return to Princeton.
“It has been amazing; these women are tremendous, they are different, they are special,” said Kessel. “Every day coming to work is fun. I love our staff. We enjoy each other, we enjoy being around each other, and that is important. That is what we want from our players too, we want them to enjoy every day. We spend so many hours here, so if you are not enjoying it, it is going to be a tough four years.”
Wunder, for her part, is looking to make the most of her final year with the Tigers.
“The season goes by fast, we are a quarter of the season in,” said Wunder. “It is important not to make anything for granted. Every game is a gift. It is hard when a game like this slips away a little but it makes us more motivated for next week to come back.”