Men's Soccer: Tigers net shutout at home

After a seven-game winless drought, the men’s soccer team (6-5-2 overall, 1-2 Ivy League) has reached an oasis and drunk deeply.

Princeton has regained some of its vigor with back-to-back commanding shut-outs. After a 3-0 win over Columbia last Saturday, the Tigers earned another 3-0 victory, this time over Colgate (6-7-1) in Roberts Stadium last night.

“It feels really good,” senior midfielder and captain Devin Muntz said. “I think it’s tough, when you start to lose games like that, to believe that you’re going to get the next win and you’re going to get out of that rut. I think we’re out of it now, and we’re being confident again.”

The Tigers controlled the first half offensively Tuesday, but they did not find the goal until the 40th minute of the game. In the first half alone, Princeton outshot the Raiders, 13-2, including two close headers from freshman defender Mark Linnville and freshman midfielder Lester Nare.

Sophomore midfielder Antoine Hoppenot found the back of the net toward the end of the half, with assists from junior defender Josh Walburn and sophomore midfielder Colby Hahn. Hahn sent a well-placed ball to Hoppenot, giving him a one-on-one opportunity with the Colgate keeper and setting him up for the first goal of the game. Raiders goalie Grant Reed earned seven saves before the halftime buzzer.

“I think we really made an effort to come out from the start to put a lot of pressure on them,” Muntz said. “We made them make decisions, made them make mistakes, and really moved the ball ourselves.”

Colgate improved its play in the second half. After the Raiders’ first shot of the half sailed wide, the Tiger offense took advantage, responding with the next four shots and offensive pressure that culminated in a free kick for Princeton just outside the box. Muntz took the kick and scored, giving him his first goal of the season and putting the Tigers with a comfortable 2-0 margin.

“It was a little lucky,” Muntz said. “But it feels good, and it feels good to help out the team in that way. To get that second goal that helps take the pressure off us.”

Princeton sealed the deal with junior forward Brandon Busch’s goal in the 82nd minute. Busch earned a one-on-one with the goalie, and his shot eased over the goal line after Reed made contact but failed to gain control.

Shortly after, the Tigers switched tactics and substituted some less-used players into the game. Junior goalkeeper Thomas Gasperini came in for the starter, junior Sean Lynch, who had yet to face a shot on goal during the 80 or so minutes he was on the field. Less than five minutes later, Gasperini recorded the first and only Princeton save of the game, and his first this season.

All in all, the Tigers reigned both on the field and in the stat box. Princeton outshot the Raiders, 24-6, and attempted 15 shots on goal while Colgate only managed one in the final minutes of the game. Eight different Tigers attempted shots, and 19 players saw playing time in this team effort. Reed recorded 11 saves.

Nare earned his second career start last night, with his first coming this past weekend against Columbia. Nare seems to be finding his place on the Tiger squad with two goals and an assist in the past two games, and he has garnered attention from both within and outside of the Princeton program. He was named the goprincetontigers.com Athlete of the Week and is the first Tiger this year to receive recognition from within the Ivy League, as he was honored Rookie of the Week.

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Last night closed the non-conference portion of the Princeton schedule. With four Ivy games to close out the regular season, the Tigers will travel to No. 11 Harvard this weekend for a game that is critical in keeping the team’s hopes of an Ivy League title afloat.