When Princeton battled Loyola last season to a 0-0 tie, both teams were in the midst of promising seasons. Loyola, then No. 16 in the country with a record of 10-1-1, was just one spot ahead of the then-No. 17 ranked Tigers. The teams matched up evenly in that mid-October duel and the scoreless tie was more the result of equally good defense on both sides than bad offense.
Now turn the clock up a year, almost to the day. Princeton and Loyola met again Tuesday night, with both teams having considerably different seasons than they had in 2001. Suffering from the loss of the heart of their teams due to graduation, Princeton and Loyola are currently unranked and post records hovering around the .500 mark.
The teams battled to a 1-1 tie last night in another defensive duel. The tie, the third straight between the two teams, was the result this year of equally good defenses on both sides, and a pair of struggling offenses.
The games scoring took place in the final 20 minutes of regulation, with Loyola breaking the tie at the 70-minute mark off a deflection by a Greyhound scorer planted in the box.
Princeton stormed back, however, and earned the equalizer with 7:02 remaining in the second half. Sophomore forward Adrian Melville redirected junior midfielder Marty Shaw's corner kick with his head, with senior defender Bob Nye picking up the rebound and putting the ball into the back of the net.
Nye, who has two goals on the season, scored his first in the season opener, which also ended in a tie.
Erik White, who again filled in at goal for his senior brother Jason, who is nursing a hip injury, played well, posting three saves and earning his first tie as a Tiger.
Tuesday's game marked the sixth in a total of 11 games played which has reached the overtime period for the Tigers. Princeton is currently 1-2-3 in the extra frame, its only win coming against La Salle in late September when freshman forward Darren Spicer scored the game-winner.
Princeton now embarks on the final six games of the season with a must-win attitude. The team hosts Brown this Friday night, then hosts Harvard the weekend after in what could be its two toughest games of the season.
If the team, currently in last place in the league with an 0-2 record, can win those games. it still has a chance to recapture the title it won last season, though it will be hard. The team finishes its season in November with games against Cornell, and then Penn and Yale in the same weekend. That last weekend might prove to be especially crucial, and especially difficult, as both teams stand just on the bubble of the Top-25.
Read More
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
Two-way treats: Shenefelt and Kram do it all for Princeton baseball team
Joseph UglialoroThe baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.
The baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.