Tigers top Rutgers

The game-winning goal in Princeton's 5-1 win over Rutgers (8-4-1 overall) on Tuesday night will go into the books as an own goal, but to say that Rutgers scored on itself would be a gross injustice to the Tigers. The goal, set up on a brilliant individual effort from sophomore forward Vicki Anagnostopoulos, was a classic example of a player making her own luck. More importantly, it opened the floodgates for a second half offensive explosion in which the Tigers (4-4-1, 1-0 Ivy League) tallied four goals in a span of nine minutes.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Anagnostopoulos picked up the ball outside the box and dribbled toward the Rutgers goal. She beat two girls around the penalty mark, then eluded a third defender with a fancy spinning deke. Falling to the ground, she got enough on a shot to beat the Scarlet Knights' goalie, and the ball rolled to the feet of a visibly surprised Rutgers defender. Suddenly under pressure, the defender tried to clear the ball off the line but instead knocked it into her own net.

The goal was certainly a tribute to Anagnostopoulos, who epitomized the Tigers' relentless pressure and hard work, which kept Rutgers off-guard from the opening minutes of the game.

"This team is very dangerous when we pressure the ball and gain consistent possessions," senior midfielder Diana Matheson said after the contest. "Every time we play, we gain more and more confidence, and I think that was evident tonight."

The downside of such pressure is susceptibility to attacks on the other end of the field. That vulnerability can occasionally lead to quick counterattacking goals, and just seven minutes into the game, that's exactly what happened.

Off a Rutgers free kick, the Scarlet Knights strung together two quick touches before an off-balance shot floated over the outstretched hands of senior goalkeeper Maren Dale. It was not a pretty goal — a mistouch turned perfect purely by chance — but it gave Rutgers an early 1-0 lead.

Princeton, however, was quick to respond. Just five minutes later, Matheson headed a lead pass to junior forward Aarti Jain, who ran onto the ball and curved a beautiful 20-strike inside the left side netting for her first point of the year.

The goal was a product of the relentless Princeton attack, but with the game tied 1-1, the Tigers let their foot off the pedal. For the rest of the half, the two teams traded possession in the midfield, neither squad taking control. Princeton at times looked out of sync on defense, but a few smart saves from Dale and solid defense from senior defender Melissa Whitley — who cleared a ball off the goal line midway through the first half — kept the game even after 45 minutes of play.

The second half continued in the balanced manner of the first frame until Matheson, struggling to find room to move, sprung Anagnostopoulos for the game-winning goal.

With its first lead of the game, Princeton continued to apply pressure, finding the net again just four minutes later. Matheson, controlling the ball at the top of the Rutgers box, fed a beautiful cross onto the feet of junior midfielder Jen Om, who took a touch to control and fired the ball past the diving Rutgers goalie.

The helper was the 20th of Matheson's collegiate career, tying the Princeton mark for all-time assists, but just two minutes later, Matheson took the record for herself, assisting on sophomore forward Marci Pasenello's second goal of the season. Controlling the ball in the middle, Matheson found Pasenello streaking down the right side of the field. Pasenello received the pass and dribbled toward the goal, where she slid a shot just inside the left post.

Matheson's assist record is certainly an impressive one, but after the game, the Ontario, Canada native was quick to attribute much of her success to her past teammates.

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"I have played with a lot of great strikers in my career," Matheson said, "so while I am happy with the mark, I know that a lot of people contributed in making it happen."

The onslaught continued less than two minutes later when Pasenello found the net again, this time unassisted. The goal, struck into the upper-right corner, capped a five-minute span in which the Tigers scored three goals, and effectively put the game away. Suddenly graced with a four-goal lead, head coach Julie Shackford made sure to rest a large majority of her starters, and the game ended 5-1.

After the game, Shackford was quick to praise Matheson, whose return from World Cup play with the Canadian national team has certainly sparked the Tigers.

"Getting Diana back has been huge," she said. "She is a coach on the field, and that is very important to us. She is not afraid to step into that role, and it makes everyone around her better."

Now it is up to the Tigers to translate this offensive outburst into success in their Ivy League games.

"Things are coming together at the right time," said Shackford, who with the win became Princeton's all-time winningest soccer coach. "Going on the road to play Brown this weekend will be a real tough challenge, but I think that with the way we possessed and finished tonight, we've proven that we can beat anyone."