The Bobcats took an early lead on the Olympic ice, with Taylor Brueske '28 scoring in the first period of the semifinals game, but things got tense in the third period when Princeton evened the score at 1. The unparalleled talent of goaltender Felicia Frank ’28 — who was named ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Year and All-ECAC First Team honors — kept the game even until Avery Bairos ’28 scored the game-winning goal early in overtime.

“They have so much heart, they trust in each other a ton — and that showed today from the beginning of the game to the end,” said Head Coach Cassandra Turner. “It’s so awesome to see Avery finish it up in the end for this group.”

Bairos expressed her gratitude for her team.

“I am super proud of this team,” she said. “We’re so tight, and we really grinded out that win. It was a team win, and we fought really hard for it. I am so happy to be going to the final tomorrow with this team. I’m really pumped.”

With the win, the No. 3 seed Bobcats skated past No. 2 seed Princeton for a spot in the ECAC Ice Hockey Championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday against archrival Yale. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

“We don’t need to be perfect to win,” Turner said regarding Saturday’s game. “We need to be more resilient than the other team. We’ve shown game in and game out, we are so resilient and have been bouncing back.”

The team cares so much about each other, she emphasized.

“The trust level between them is so high and the way they are trusting themselves, too,” she said. “Trusting in each other is what we’ll need tomorrow to win the championship.

“This group is just so special,” said captain Mia Lopata ’25, MAT ’26. “We are a great defensive team. Even when teams push against us that hard, we know how to play defense — and it helps to have Frankie in the net.”

Lopata said making the moment even poignant was having her family at the arena supporting her.

“It’s so special,” she said. “My family hasn’t missed a beat all year, honestly my whole career. To have them here means a lot, and I had a few extra family members here because it’s close to home.”

For Bairos, scoring the game-winner on Olympic ice added something special.

“This is a legendary rink,” she beamed. “There’s a lot of history that goes behind it and it’s just super cool to be a part of it. For this to be the first time that the women’s tournament is here is truly a special thing to be a part of and I am really grateful for this opportunity.”

Turner had a similar sentiment — touting the honor of competing for the championship while making history for women’s sports.

“To be a part of the first is so amazing,” she said of the first time the championship game was being played on the Olympic ice.

Bobcat fans cheered the team on from Lake Placid as well as at a watch party in Hamden. Before the game, families and fans of the student-athletes gathered for a reception across the street from the historic arena.

“I was walking through the tunnel and saw some fans from Hamden who made their way up here — little kids who care so much about our team,” Turner said. “Year after year, I think it will continue to grow and build from there.”