Overtime loss resembles last year's contest

Despite a different field and a different year, the result was the same.

The men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 overtime decision against No. 10 Brown on Saturday in the team's Ivy League season opener in Providence, R.I. Princeton (2-7-1 overall, 0-1 Ivy League) took the lead in the 55th minute, but Brown (7-1-1, 1-0) leveled in the 87th minute before scoring the game-winner in the sixth minute of extra time.

The result was reminiscent of last year's overtime contest between the Tigers and Bears at Lourie-Love Field, when then-junior midfielder Robbie Morgenroth's sixth minute goal was overcome by Brown goals in the 81st and 97th minutes.

This year's result was Brown's third-straight victory over Princeton.

Freshman midfielder Teddy Schneider picked up the visitors' only goal. Schneider's goal was his third of the season, tying him for the team lead with senior forward and team captain Kyle McHugh, who recorded the Tigers' only assist.

Brown outshot Princeton 19-9 for the game, forcing freshman goalkeeper Sean Lynch to make four saves. Sophomore midfielder Devin Muntz recorded three shots for the Tigers, while freshman defender Ben Burton was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 83rd minute.

For the many freshmen who get consistent minutes for Princeton, the loss was heartbreaking.

"As a freshman, it's one of most difficult things I've done so far," Lynch said. "To be leading with three minutes, 30 seconds [left] and give up three goals is tough. I don't think you can blame it on anyone. We did everything we could."

The game was Princeton's third of the year to go past 90 minutes, with the Tigers finishing 1-1-1 in those contests. From Princeton's seven overtime games from 2006, the Tigers finished 1-3-3.

After a scoreless first half, Princeton took the lead on a heads-up play by McHugh. After Brown goalkeeper Jarrett Leach left his position to put a long ball out of bounds, McHugh quickly played the ensuing throw-in to Schneider, who buried the ball in the open net as the goalkeeper scrambled back to his post.

Leach was eventually replaced in the 73rd minute, despite having made four saves.

After Burton's red card, the Tigers had difficulty weathering the subsequent storm. Brown peppered Princeton with 12 shots in the second frame. The Bears finally broke through less than four minutes from time when a corner kick took several bounces around the Tiger box before landing at the feet of midfielder Christopher Roland. Roland capitalized on the close range opportunity.

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Five minutes, 11 seconds into extra time, Brown midfielder Nick Elenz-Martin collected a pass from Kevin Davies before rifling a shot into the goal's lower-right corner. Princeton managed three shots to Brown's two in overtime, forcing two saves from the Bears' substitute keeper, but none found the back of the net.

"In the first three or four minutes [of overtime], we really came out firing," Lynch said. "They had one good chance and put it away. We had our chances but couldn't finish."

In the minute preceding the Brown game-winner, Princeton had two great chances to put the game out of reach for the Bears. But the Tigers could not close the deal on their first chance, and what appeared to be an intentional handball by a Brown defender was not called, eliminating that opportunity.

Despite giving up the last two goals, Lynch remained upbeat about the team's performance.

"I think we're pretty happy with the way we played," Lynch said. "We gave it everything we got. Many people thought we deserved the game, and there were some calls that could've gone our way. It's tough to lose, but that's the best team we're going to play in the Ivy League."

After conceding a second goal in less than 10 minutes, Lynch lay prone on the pitch in disappointment. But as soon as he was down, McHugh was right behind him to pick him up.

"Kyle was the first person to come over and help me up," Lynch said. "It was just reassuring that no matter what happens, everybody has each other's backs. It meant a lot to me for a senior to come over and help me."

The Tigers return to action next Saturday on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium, as both the men's and women's teams take on Columbia in a doubleheader.