W. soccer staves off Yale comeback

On Saturday night the women's soccer team defeated Yale in Princeton Stadium, 4-2, in the Ivy League opener for both teams. Senior captain and midfielder Liz Bell scored her first career goal after starting all but one game in her career. Juniors Brea Griffiths, a defender, and forwards Esmeralda Negron and Kristina Fontanez also scored in the win.

Princeton's first goal came off a corner kick. Griffiths put Princeton on the board after finding the back of the net off a cross from Negron.

Two streaks

A streaker ran through the stadium moments after Griffiths' goal, shocking the teams and the fans.

Griffiths' strike was the lone goal at halftime as Princeton went into the locker room ahead, 1-0.

Neither team would score again until the final twenty minutes of the game. Over this time, five goals were scored during an astonishing finish.

In the 72nd minute, sophomore outside midfielder Maura Gallagher dribbled down the left sideline and played the ball to Negron's feet. Negron shot from about 12 yards out and put it past the Elis' goalie on the lower left side.

With that goal, Negron continues her scoring streak, having netted at least one goal in each game this season.

In less than a minute after that play, senior forward Theresa Sherry found Bell outside the eighteen-yard box. Bell drilled the ball into the back of the net, making the score 3-0. This goal marked Bell's first collegiate goal, and revealed one of her great strengths — a hard, direct shot from long range.

Yale answered that goal streak by scoring two goals in the remaining 17 minutes, however. Michelle Gosselin nailed the first goal and Laurel Karnes the second. Between the scoring of those two goals, sophomore netminder Emily Vogelzang saved a penalty kick taken by Christina Haung.

The nail in the coffin

Fontanez stopped the Bulldogs' momentum by securing the win with 58 seconds left in the game. Off a cross from Liz Bell, she put the ball in the back of the net — assuring no possibility of a last second tie game.

In the meeting between these teams in 1999, Yale scored with less than a minute left in regulation time to tie the game. Though no active Tiger had played in that game, the legend of the contest stood out in their minds. The Tigers were not about to let go of their lead.

"It was a really emotional game," Griffiths said. "In the second half it seemed like the game was switching momentum every few minutes. It was probably one of the most exciting games I've ever played in."

Overall — despite the craziness and general excitement in the last twenty minutes — the Tigers played well. Offensively, they moved the ball well and took advantage of good opportunities.

"It was certainly a unique game. We haven't played in the stadium in three years, so that was a semi-unfamiliar atmosphere for us," Bell said. "Then there was a streaker after the first goal and there were five goals scored in the second half. The fact that we were able to maintain the lead throughout it all shows that this team has alot of strength and composure."

The result places Princeton in a familiar position — undefeated as the team enters October. In 2002, the first loss came against Harvard on Oct. 26. In 2001, the Tigers lost to UCLA on Oct. 7.

Although the Tigers recognize they are doing well, they will try to focus on what they have to do next.

'Reevaluate'

"We realize from the first part of our season that even though we've had some good results there is still a lot we have to work on," Griffiths said. "We are going to have to sit down and reevaluate our goals for the rest of the season so that we don't get complacent."

More accolades and awards certainly will not help the Tigers avoid complacency. In that way, sophomore midfielder Emily Behncke may be contributing to the problem. The second-year player was just named Athlete of the Week by goprincetontigers.com for her play last week in California. Behncke had two goals and assist in the two games out West.

The Tigers will prepare this week for their contest next Sunday against Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H. Rivals Rutgers and Brown await in the near future. With over a month left in the season, there is much soccer to be played.