Women's soccer gives up goal, still wins

Calling a team 'streaky' usually implies some inconsistency. The word is most often used to describe teams that play well for a time and then fall apart completely.

The women's soccer team is streaky. But not in a bad way.

Coming into last night's matchup at local rival Rutgers (7-4 overall, 2-1 Big East), the Tigers (6-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy League) had several streaks going. They had not lost a game this year. They had not given up a goal this year. On the other hand, Princeton had also not won a game in which it was scored upon since the 1999 season.

All but one of those ended last night. Fortunately for the Tigers, the remaining streak is the most important of all.

The Scarlet Knights put an end to senior goalkeeper Catherine Glenn's five games of shutout ball when they scored in the 87th minute. The final score would not go their way, however, as Princeton held on, 2-1, to continue its undefeated season.

"They're a real tough team," senior captain and midfielder Linley Gober said. "Outside the Ivies, they're our biggest rival."

Both teams certainly played as if this was a league game. No ball went uncontested and more than a few players ended up on the ground following hits more common in lacrosse or football games than women's soccer matches.

The first goal of the game came with just over 28 minutes to play in the first half. Freshman defender Esmeralda Negron baited Rutgers goalkeeper Christine Caldwell out to the edge of the 18-yard box and faked a shot. When the keeper dropped to the ground, Negron slipped around her and rifled a shot into the open goal.

Rutgers dominated the opening minutes of the second half. Testing the Princeton defense again and again, the Scarlet Knights threatened to score on several plays, including a shot that hit the crossbar — missing a goal by less than an inch.

Caldwell then made her second mistake of the game.

On what should have been a routine ball right at the goal, senior midfielder Liz Patrick scored what would turn out to be the game winner.

Patrick punched the ball at the goal from about 30 yards out, never expecting it to drop over Caldwell's head for a goal.

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"That was a tough goal for her to give up," head coach Julie Shackford said. "She just misjudged it and left enough time for us to hang on."

Late in the game, a rare Tiger defensive breakdown allowed Rutgers to score the first goal against Princeton this year. Rutgers captain Keri Lages outran the entire Princeton defense and then beat Glenn low to her right side.

Even with the end of the scoreless streak, the Tigers were upbeat about their performance last night.

"I thought we played very well," Shackford said. "We knew it was going to be a battle and this was a great experience for a lot of our players."

In one of the stranger plays of the game, Gober was given a yellow card for illegal throw-ins. She had been picking up the ball on throw-ins and then handing it to freshman midfielder Rochelle Willis so Willis could put the ball in play.

Gober was warned once for stalling before getting the card.

Yellow card and all, the captain also had a message for her team and anyone else interested after the game.

"As for the goal: that will be the last one."