Princeton field hockey bounces back against Dartmouth, No. 11 Delaware

No. 12 Princeton field hockey (5–4 overall, 1–0 Ivy League) started a new two-game win streak this week with victories over Dartmouth and No. 11 Delaware.

Princeton ended a three-game losing streak with a 4–0 takedown of Dartmouth (2–5, 0–1) in its Ivy League opener on Saturday. Just six minutes into the game, junior striker Clara Roth picked up a loose ball in front of the goal and turned the score in the Tigers’ favor. In the first quarter alone, Princeton produced six shots and two corners.

Scoring resumed in the second period, as first-year midfielder Sammy Popper drilled home a backhanded shot off a corner. The defense did its part, too, not allowing a shot until the 21st minute of the game.

Princeton added two more scores in the fourth quarter of play. Early on, sophomore striker Ali McCarthy perfectly deflected a shot by sophomore midfielder Hannah Davey off a corner. Five minutes later, Popper added her second goal of the day. Her shot, off yet another corner, bounced off the Dartmouth goalie’s shin-guard and into the back of the net.

Princeton outshot Dartmouth 24–4 and came away with a 9–2 advantage on corners, thus sustaining its winning streak, which dates back to 2011, against the Big Green. Popper was honored as one of The Daily Princetonian’s Players of the Weekend for her play in Hanover.

Roth also took home her second Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week of the season for her performances against Dartmouth and No. 4 Maryland earlier in the week. She scored twice in the Tigers’ overtime loss to the Terrapins last Tuesday, followed by a goal and two assists against the Big Green. Roth leads the team with 17 points so far this season, including five goals and seven assists.

Tuesday evening, Princeton continued its non-conference slate in front of 222 fans at No. 11 Delaware (6–2 overall). The Blue Hens had won four of the previous six meetings coming into this season’s match-up, but the Tigers came away with the victory last year, 4–2.

In this year’s matchup, Princeton continued its winning ways, ultimately prevailing 1–0. It was a defensive battle in the first half, as the Tigers held the Blue Hens without a shot during the first 30 minutes of play. Delaware would not even earn its first corner try until the clock was running out on the third quarter.

Princeton, too, was struggling on offense until late in the game. McCarthy picked up a steal with just 2:09 left to play and fired a shot that resulted in a loose ball. Hannah Davey, however, scooped up the ball and sent it into the back of the net, making the only score of the night.

With the win, senior goalie Grace Baylis is now second all-time, with 44 career victories, in the history of the University’s program.

Princeton will return home on Friday to take on Yale (2–5, 0–1) at 5 p.m. at Bedford Field. The Bulldogs are on a two-game losing streak, with losses coming against No. 16 Harvard and Hofstra, both by a score of 1–2. The game is no doubt a must-win for Princeton, as the Tigers continue to hunt for their second Ivy League regular season title in the last three years.