Guelich, Tigers blank Lions

The weather may be cooling down, but the men's soccer team is just starting to heat up. In a chilly contest last night under the lights at Lourie-Love Field, the Tigers (6-7-3 overall, 3-2-1 Ivy League) defeated Columbia, 1-0, in a contest that was decided primarily by defense. The win was Princeton's third straight against an Ivy League opponent and gives the team a winning record against league opponents this season.

The first 80 minutes of the match featured a tight defensive struggle punctuated by key stops on both sides of the field. Neither squad could find the back of the net, and only a few shots made it beyond the wall of defenders to the keepers.

The Tigers broke this defensive stalemate deep in the second half with just seven minutes, 46 second remaining in the game. Though senior captain Darren Spicer recorded the goal, it was senior midfielder Ben Young who made the key play.

Young drove the ball hard into the box, where he was charged by Columbia goalkeeper Alex Maffeo. Just as Maffeo slid in for the stop, Young dumped the ball to his left where a waiting Spicer kicked a clean shot into the center of the net for the goal.

It was Spicer's team-leading seventh goal of the season and would be the only one Princeton needed to secure the win.

Guelich keeps Lions at bay

Despite several attacks, the Tigers were able to fend off the Columbia offense for the final minutes of the game. Senior goalie Bobby Guelich sealed the victory when he punched a Lions crossing pass out of the air with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

The game was not without its close calls for Princeton, but the squad never lost its composure and came up with all of the right stops. The team seemed to play with a renewed confidence after its two previous league wins.

Four minutes into the second half, the Tigers were called for a questionable foul while making a stop in front of their own net. Instead of becoming frustrated by the call, which would have been understandable given the circumstances, a Princeton player called out to his teammates, "Who cares! We'll stuff him on the next one." And the team did.

This self-confidence was present throughout the match and certainly contributed to the final score.

Tough 'D'

In the closing moments of the first half, the Tigers' tough defensive effort was nearly wiped out by a closing Columbia offensive flurry. With just 20 seconds remaining, a Lion player from 20 yards out curved a high arcing shot toward Guelich.

The Princeton keeper timed his leap well but could not get a hand on the ball, which clanked off the top post to a waiting blue jersey. But Guelich was well positioned for the quick shot off the rebound, and he stepped in front of the ball for an easy save.

Minutes earlier, the Tigers had come up with another key defensive stop to keep the score locked at zero. After driving up the left side of the field, a Columbia midfielder rolled a slow cross in front of the Princeton goal just outside the reach of Guelich. The Tiger defense converged on the ball — reaching it just as a Lion player was winding up for a shot — and kicked the ball out of bounds, clearing the ensuing corner kick.

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Princeton will look to extend its Ivy League winning streak to four Saturday at 4 p.m., hosting Yale at Lourie-Love Field. A win would tie the Tigers for third in the Ivy League.