BIRTHDAY PARTY: Princeton University women’s hockey player Megan Healy sends the puck up the ice in recent action. On Friday, freshman defender Healy scored a goal on her 19th birthday to help Princeton defeat Harvard 3-1. A day later, Healy chipped in an assist as the No. 7 Tigers defeated Dartmouth 5-0 to improve to 17-4 overall and 12-2 ECAC Hockey and post their 13th straight win to set a program record for consecutive victories. In upcoming action, Princeton hosts Cornell on January 23 and Colgate on January 24. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Megan Healy got a special gift on her 19th birthday last Friday night.
With the Princeton University women’s hockey team hosting Harvard, freshman defender Healy got her stick on a clearing attempt and then bounced it off a Crimson defender and into the back of the net to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
“We were just laughing about it, I am glad I got the point,” said Healy. “It was some birthday luck.”
Healy’s goal turned out to be the winning tally as Princeton earned a hard-fought 3-1 win over Harvard.
The Tigers rode a stingy defense to the victory as they held the Crimson to 16 shots on goal.
“I think we were really strong defensively,” said Healy. “We stuck to our habits, that is why we spent so much time in the o-zone and found so much offensive success.”
As Healy has gained more experience this winter, she is feeling more and more into the offensive flow.
“Especially because of winter session, I was really focusing on hockey, I had time to really dial in and things are going well,” said Healy, who chipped in an assist a day later as No. 7 Princeton defeated Dartmouth 5-0 in improving to 17-4 overall and 12-2 ECAC Hockey and posting their 13th straight win to set a program record for consecutive victories. “The coaches have really helped me and the defenders just in general on the blue line getting shots through and then just quick transitions up the ice.”
In adjusting to college hockey, Healy is learning to juggle things as she has gotten up to speed.
“It has definitely been faster and more physical,” said Healy, a 5’4 native of South Burlington, Vt. who now has two goals and eight assists this season. “Then it is just balancing school and athletics in general and the schedule.”
Before coming to Princeton, Healy did hone her game by playing for the 2025 U18 USA Development team.
“The whole U18 tournament was very professional and very high intensity,” said Healy. “Doing that definitely helped leading into college. I think college itself is a whole another jump too.”
Being paired with junior star Gabby Kim on the blue line has helped Healy make that jump.
“Gabby is an unbelievable player but it is just her support,” said Healy. “She talks through plays off the ice and just supports me, that has really helped.”
Princeton head coach Courtney Kessel wasn’t surprised to see Healy’s birthday heroics.
“She is a young defender who has so much potential,” said Kessel. “Every game we are just seeing growth from her so it is really exciting to know that we have her for three and a half more years.”
Kessel was excited by the play of senior star forward Issy Wunder, who scored one goal against Harvard and then had one goal and one assist in the win over Dartmouth.
“Issy is a special player to have for sure, there are not many people who can find the back of the net like her,” said Kessel. “I think her leadership speaks volumes for the success that we have had for sure. The way she carries herself on and off the ice is awesome. That goal was pretty sweet, just a shot on net. You find the rebound, you put it in. She has been tremendous.”
The team’s aggressive play all over the ice has been a key factor in its record-breaking winning streak.
“I thought our transition was great and that was what allowed us to continue to play offense,” said Kessel. “We possessed the puck offensively but when it came into the neutral zone, we were turning pucks over and transitioning back on offense. I think that is a big key to our success as a team. It is something we take pride in, it is something we work on daily. Our defenders have really bought into that transition part of the game. They are a huge part of our offense because of that transition.”
The stellar work of junior goalie Uma Corniea has been a huge plus for the Tigers.
“That is hard too when you haven’t seen too many shots,” said Kessel of Corniea, who made 15 saves in the win over Harvard and 19 in shutting out Dartmouth and now has a 1.65 goals against average. “To save that shot at the end there when it was 6-on-5 speaks to her as a goalie. She has been our backbone all year. We are on a great streak because of her.”
While Kessel is proud of the team’s winning streak, that is not the focus.
“We don’t think about how many wins we have, we take each opponent at a time,” added Kessel, whose team hosts Cornell on January 23 and Colgate on January 24. “Our game plan hasn’t changed from the start of the year. We are just getting buy-in from all 22 players. It is an exciting time.
In Kessel’s view, that buy-in is the result of a positive vibe around the squad.
“I think this is a special group and they have really come together,” said Kessel. “They play for each other, they show up, they love each other and they enjoy being around each other. To be able to do that and then go on the ice and perform and win, that creates a special environment. It is something that hopefully they are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”
Healy, for her part, is feeling that love. “Everyone is so inclusive,” said Healy. “As a freshman I feel very involved and everyone is just unbelievably kind. Everyone has a lot of grit. It is a shared goal of just winning and working hard.”