Michigan State University
Princeton
Spartans Rebound to Top Princeton, 4-2
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
PRINCETON, N.J. - The Michigan State hockey team got goals from four different players in a 4-2 win over Princeton at Hobey Baker Rink on Saturday night in Princeton, New Jersey. Tanner Sorenson, Matt DeBlouw and Matt Berry all had a goal and an assist as the Spartans (5-8) fought back to earn a series split.
The Spartans scored one goal in the first and then two in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third period. The Tigers made it a 3-2 game with two third-period goals, but Jake Hildebrand closed the door down the stretch and Berry sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
"I thought we played a pretty good 60 minutes tonight," MSU head coach Tom Anastos said. "They capitalized on some of their chances late, but I was happy with our performance."
The Spartans jumped on Princeton from the opening puck drop and were rewarded at the 5:01 mark when Michael Ferrantino scored his second goal in as many games to give MSU a 1-0 advantage. After a stretch of sustained pressure in the Tiger end, Joe Cox made a diving play to the right of Princeton goaltender Colton Phinney, swatting a rebound back toward the front of the net where Ferrantino took possession and put the puck into the open net.
Michigan State created more scoring chances as the period continued and finished the stanza with a 14-7 advantage in shots on goal.
"I thought we set a very good standard early in the game," Anastos said.
The Spartans built on their lead with two more goals in the second period.
The first Spartan goal of the second stanza came at the 3:22 mark when DeBlouw finished a nice tic-tac-toe play on a delayed penalty call. With the extra attacker on during the delayed penalty, Ryan Keller picked up the puck at the right point and fed it to Sorenson at the left faceoff dot. Sorenson immediately sent the puck to the low slot where DeBlouw tapped it into the net.
Sorenson made it 3-0 just over 10 minutes later as he got his first goal of the season. Sorenson put the puck home after Carson Gatt's point shot bounced off the back boards.
"We have to find some depth in our offense and it was good see those guys make an impact," Anastos said. "Hopefully that will be a good confidence boost for those guys that were able to contribute tonight."
Trailing by three goals to start the third period, Princeton quickly cut into its deficit, scoring 1:23 into the frame. Jonathan Liau and Mike Ambrosia teamed up to get possession in the MSU zone, getting the puck to Kyle Rankin in front, who put it in to make it 3-1.
Just past the midway point of the third, the Tigers countered an odd-man rush by the Spartans and scored to pull within a goal, 3-2. Ryan Siiro eventually banged home the puck from the slot after Hildebrand denied the original chance.
Princeton had two more good looks at the net in the closing minute, but Hildebrand stopped both chances.
Hildebrand stopped 20 of 22 shots on the night.
After four straight games on the road, Michigan State will return home for three in a row at Munn Ice Arena. MSU will next host Minnesota on Friday at 7 p.m.
