Women's soccer nearly conquers West Coast

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003 — a date which will live famously — the women's soccer world was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the offensive and defensive forces of the Empire of Julie Shackford.

Collegiate women's soccer was at peace with Princeton, content to let the Tigers and their head coach hold onto their No. 25 national ranking — so long as those Tigers did not infringe any further.

Looks like that plan went out the window.

The Princeton women's soccer team enjoyed one of the biggest weekends in program history, capping a three-day trip to California with a surprising 1-1 tie with then-No. 10 California.

On Friday, the Tigers (4-0-1) knocked off the Hornets (2-4) of Sacramento State, 3-1, in a very jet-lagged performance.

With the win and the tie, Princeton remains undefeated on the season. California (3-0-3) also staved off its first loss, but the Golden Bears dropped from No. 10 to No. 12 in the newest national poll that came out yesterday.

The Tigers clawed their way up to No. 20, five spots better than last week.

After a scoreless first half against California, Princeton got on the board in the first minute of the second half. Sophomore midfielder Emily Behncke, who had two of the Tigers' three goals against Sacramento State, started the play up the right side. She then fed the ball to junior forward Esmeralda Negron, who ripped a shot into the far corner.

For Behncke, it was her fifth point of the weekend. For Negron, the goal was her fifth tally in five consecutive games. For the Tigers, it was confirmation that they belonged.

"We were a little nervous at the beginning," sophomore midfielder Maura Gallagher admitted. "But we were more excited because it was a great opportunity for us."

The ecstasy was only short-lived, and the lead vanished 15 minutes later when junior defender Janine Willis tackled California senior midfielder Kimberly Yokers in the penalty box. Yokers knocked in the freebie to knot the score at one.

In overtime, the Golden Bears outshot the visitors, 6-2, but Princeton had the most dangerous opportunity of the extra session. Behncke moved the ball up the field to Gallagher, who almost made the magic happen.

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"It was close," Gallagher said with a wince of pain coming over her face. "Behncke gave me a ball about 40 yards out and I stepped over it. I went to goal and whacked it. [The ball] sailed and the goalie just got her fingers on it to tip it over. It was close. It was very close."

In the weekend's two games, Shackford continued to divide time in the net between her two sophomore goalies, Madeliene Jackson and Emily Vogelzang.

Jackson needed to make only one save to preserve the first-half shutout. Vogelzang, on the other hand, was tested often. Playing both the second half and overtime, Vogelzang racked up six saves in preserving the tie for the Tigers.

'Confident'

"I think they will continue to split time because both have been doing an awesome job," Gallagher said. "In the California game, both of them were so strong. I know the team is confident with either one in goal."

Despite the accomplishments of the weekend and the emergence of the Princeton program as a potential contender, the team refused to overplay the excitement over the California game.

"We weren't satisfied," Gallagher said, "but we were happy that we tied a Top-10 team. But we definitely weren't satisfied because we almost had it. It was almost a letdown at the end after being so close."

The squad hardly gets a breather as it plays its next game tomorrow night at Lourie-Love field against Hartford. Though Hartford does not play the caliber soccer that the Tigers saw on the West Coast, the team will be wary of fatigue. In all, the squad has a mere 48 hours to recuperate, since the red-eye flight from California did not land until just after 8 a.m. yesterday morning.

The Hartford match is the last game in Princeton's non-conference schedule. On Saturday night the Tigers host Yale under the lights at Princeton Stadium in their Ivy League opener.