NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the first time in program history, the Yale Women's Ice Hockey Team will play for an ECAC Hockey Championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
The No. 7 Bulldogs erased an early deficit and scored the next three goals to beat Princeton 3-1 in the first conference semifinal at Ingalls Rink. Emma Seitz, Claire Dalton and Elle Hartje hit the net and Gianna Meloni made 25 saves as the Blue improved to 25-7-1.
 
The Elis face Colgate tomorrow at Ingalls with an NCAA Tournament automatic bid on the line.
 
"The atmosphere was great," said Mark Bolding, Yale's Susan Cavanagh Head Coach. "We were up and down at times trying to figure things out. They (Princeton) really tested us and we eventually figured it out and the players responded. We buried the shot when it counted."
 
The Tigers, who outshot the home team 26-23, scored just 2:53 into the contest for a lead that stood until the seventh minute of the second period. That's when Seitz, who was in the slot, re-directed an Olivia Muhn slapshot from the point to tie the game.
 
"We are getting comfortable playing from behind," said Seitz, the conference defenseman of the year who now has 14 goals. "I try to get lost on the power play. Somehow I got in the lane and managed to get my stick on the shot."
 
This game was ultimately decided by hard work from the Bulldogs in the closing seconds of the second period. Charlotte Welch, who had two assists, stripped the puck from a Princeton player and send it over to Tess Dettling in the right circle. The senior forward spotted Dalton heading for the low slot and put it on her stick for a highlight-show one-timer with 32 seconds left.
 
The visitors pulled their goalie with 1:55 left and had a few chances before Hartje clinched the win with 56 seconds left.
 
"We are no strangers to special teams," said Hartje. "And we get contributions from everyone and we trust each other and play for each other."