Bruins end w. soccer's title hopes

CARY, N.C. — For the first time this season, women's soccer got beat. It wasn't their first defeat of the season, but Princeton (19-3 overall, 7-0 Ivy League) was overmatched for the first time in its 2-0 loss in the national semifinals —the College Cup — against UCLA (18-6) on Friday. But the Tigers could still hold their heads high at the of end the greatest season the program has ever seen.

UCLA dominated possession throughout the contest and was the first team all season to outshoot the Tigers, by a tally of 9-3. Princeton's usually potent offense was locked down by the Bruin defense, as none of the top five Tiger goal-scorers even released a shot all game.

"Obviously it's disappointing. They took care of a couple of our special players, and we looked a little tight," head coach Julie Shackford said, "It's a little bit of not having been in this environment before. They did a great job, and they were a little bit more athletic in places."

From the outset, Princeton was off of its game and put on the defensive by the Bruins. The crisp passes and intensely controlled style of play which had typified the Tigers this year was lost amid intercepted passes and repeatedly losing loose balls, as UCLA managed to keep possession on the Princeton side of the field for almost the entire first half.

It was only a sustained level of brilliant play by the defense, including several dazzling plays by junior goalkeeper Madeleine Jackson, that kept the game scoreless going into the break.

Fireworks after the break

As the second half began, Princeton hoped to have its chances rekindled, especially as the Tigers have been better both offensively and defensively later in games this year. Less than three minutes into the half, however, UCLA's Danesha Adams finally found nylon on a leading pass from Iris Mora, which she knocked in for the first goal of the game past Jackson. Adams led the Bruin attack all day, leading all players in shots with three.

"[Adams] was great; very athletic and very fast.She's probably one of the fastest players in the nation," senior defender Brea Griffiths said. "But we've played against players like her before, and we've been able to shut them down."

Playing from behind, a situation with which they were unfamiliar, the Tigers started to show some offensive promise as the second half wore on. Taking control and running their offense with much more success than in the first half, the Tigers desperately attempted to even the score.

The Bruin defense was too quick and too strong. Led by senior Kendal Billingsley, they never even allowed a shot directly on goal. Most surprising, Princeton's top scorers, including senior forward Esmeralda Negron — holder of the team's career and single season scoring records — and junior forward Emily Behncke — who had scored four goals in the previous four tournament games — did not even attempt a shot all game.

Putting the final nail in the coffin, UCLA's Bristyn Davis rocketed a 30-yard shot past a diving Jackson to put the Bruins up, 2-0, with 25:36 left to play. Despite continued efforts, neither team would score again, and time expired with the Tiger season ending on a 2-0 loss. Adding injury to insult, Jackson would have to leave the game in the final minutes after an on-field collision.

Legacy

Even with the loss, the legacy of the team is still powerful. Princeton became the first Ivy League team to ever reach the Final Four of a 64-team NCAA tournament, accumulating 21 school records along the way.

"Our team has had a phenomenal season, and I think that the accomplishments that they achieved this year can't be underestimated, especially at a place like Princeton, where academics come first, and there are no scholarships." Shackford said. "This team kind of fights the odds and did an amazing job to get themselves here."

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In the other semifinal game on Friday, Notre Dame defeated Santa Clara, 1-0. In the national championship, played yesterday, favored Notre Dame came out on top over UCLA, after a 1-1 tie was decided on penalty kicks, 4-3, in favor of the Fighting Irish.