Tigers clear bench in blowout of Rider

Winning is fun. Whatever else the women's soccer team (4-6-2 overall, 1-2-0 Ivy League) takes away from its win Wednesday night against Rider (2-13-2), that's sure to be high on the list.

In a 4-0 defeat of its Route 1 rival, Princeton tied its season high in goals scored. Senior midfielder Maura Gallagher scored twice, every Tiger received playing time — some for the first time all season — and the Tigers improved their home record to 3-2.

The Tigers wasted no time in taking a commanding lead early in the game. Six minutes and 56 seconds into the first half, sophomore defender Melissa Whitley set up senior forward Emily Behncke for her seventh goal of the season, a shot that crossed the goal box from the right side and into the net.

In what would become a pattern all night, Princeton wrested control of the ball away from Rider immediately after the goal, and two minutes later was in position to score again. This time, it was sophomore midfielder Diana Matheson who set up the play, taking a shot that bounced off the goal post and was knocked in by Gallagher for her first score of the day and the year.

Throughout the first half, Princeton entirely dominated the game's flow. While the offense took 15 shots in the half, the Tiger defense did their best impression of a brick wall, allowing Rider not a single shot all half.

"We talked a lot this week about keeping the ball, and I think we did a very nice job of moving the ball," head coach Julie Shackford said. "They weren't under a ton of pressure, but at the same time, the level didn't drop in terms of possessing the ball."

With such a high level of control being exhibited by the Orange and Black, even the defense was in a position to contribute to the rout. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity to get on the scoreboard, senior defensive leader Romy Trigg-Smith managed to land a header into the net in the 25th minute of play after one of Princeton's eight corner kicks in the half.

The second half gave those Tigers who have played in every game this season a chance to take a breather, and let in some of the younger players whose contribution this year had been limited to practice and training.

"It's hard to make the jump from the practice field to the playing field," Shackford said. "And anytime you get an opportunity to reward the people who, every day, bust their butt and don't get any playing time, it's awesome in my mind."

Gallagher wasn't going to get pulled without scoring another goal, though. Three minutes into the start of the second period, she found herself dribbling down the center of the field with only Rider goalie Hannah Harris between herself and the buttery soft nylon of the Broncs' net. Just before making contact with the opposing netminder, the wily Gallagher cut quickly to the left and past Harris to launch the ball dead center into the goal.

The rest of the second half showed the depth of the Princeton bench. Rider would manage a few more touches than the first half, but the closest they came to scoring was a one-on-one situation between Michelle Matricardi and senior goalie Emily Vogelzang, in which the veteran netminder sprinted out and dove on the ball just before Matricardi could release a shot.

"I think for this group the win is good because they're so young, and they still need confidence, and anytime you win, it gives you a boost," Shackford said. "After a few losses, it's a little disheartening, so I think anytime you win it gets you back on track psychologically."