Women's Soccer: Whatley’s OT goal clinches first Ivy win

Junior midfielder Lauren Whatley’s shot in the second half hit the crossbar, missing the net by mere inches. And she didn’t miss again.

Her goal in the third minute of overtime on Saturday led the women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Brown (3-6 overall, 1-2 Ivy League). The win was the team’s first in Ivy League competition this season and the 200th for head coach Julia Shackford in NCAA Division I competition.

Princeton’s first league victory came on the road and at a much-needed time. Having dropped their first two league games, the Tigers (5-6-1, 1-2) had to travel to Providence, R.I., and return with three points if they wanted to maintain any hope of defending their Ivy League championship.

Princeton secured those three points behind a few quick plays. Sophomore midfielder Sara Chehrehsa controlled the ball in the middle of the field early in overtime and then found Whatley racing down the left sideline. Whatley did the rest: Her shot went past the lounging Bears goalie, Brenna Hogue, and into the far side of the net.

“It is always a difficult task to play Ivy teams on the road, so pulling off this win was huge,” senior defender and tri-captain Melissa Seitz said. “It also keeps us in the running for the [Ivy League] title.”

Brown very nearly landed the killing blow in the second half. That period saw the Bears record a 6-2 advantage in shots, the most dangerous of which was struck by midfielder Sylvia Stone.

Stone took a shot from the left side of the field, but junior goaltender Alyssa Pont made a diving stop to keep the game scoreless.

Wind played a major factor in the game. The Tigers started the game with the wind at their backs and outshot Brown, 6-5.

In the second half, after the teams switched sides, the Bears edged Princeton, 6-2. When the sides were swapped once again in overtime, Whatley took advantage.

For the Tigers, it was the second time this season an Ivy League game had been decided in overtime.

Last week, Princeton suffered a heartbreaking double-overtime 2-1 loss to Dartmouth. But this time, Princeton dealt the felling blow early in the extra period.

“We actually played much better last week against Dartmouth but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” Seitz said. “It may not have been the prettiest game yesterday, but Lauren Whatley stepped up again and was the hero that we have been needing this whole season.

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It was also the second time in as many games that Whatley stepped up with a beautiful game-winning strike.

The Tigers beat American, 1-0, last Monday after the midfielder scored with time was running down in the first half.

Pont put in a noteworthy effort, recording three saves to post her fourth shutout of the season, and she has gotten help from a stingier Princeton defense of late.

In the Princeton-Yale game back in September, the Bulldogs got behind the Tiger defenders twice and converted both of those opportunities into goals, despite losing the margin in ball possession and shots. Since that game, Princeton has given up only one goal in regulation. The young defense, led by Seitz, seems to have come together.

“Getting two consecutive shutouts is quite promising. We have a young back line, so we knew it may take a little while to figure it all out,” Seitz said. “I think our defense all over the field, especially in the Dartmouth game, has been excellent. Players are coming into the game and making the difference.”

The two teams were scoreless through regulation on the blustery day. The game was a battle all afternoon long, and the Tigers were actually outshot for only the second time this year.

And though Brown took 11 shots to Princeton’s nine, it was the Tigers that had more quality looks: Five of the nine strikes found the net, while only three of the Bears’ did.

A landmark victory

Shackford’s 200th win was her 158th as a Tiger. She is only the second coach in Ivy League women’s soccer history to have reached the 200-win mark — the only other was her opponent Saturday, Brown head coach Phil Pincince.

“What an amazing achievement!” Seitz said of Shackford’s win total. “We all take a lot of pride in being able to get that win for her, and obviously, there will be plenty more wins for her in the future.”

Princeton will head to Lehigh for a midweek tuneup Wednesday before hosting Columbia (5-5-2, 2-1) next Saturday afternoon.

“Our goal is to win the rest of the games outright and see what happens from there,” Seitz said. “It is such a competitive league, so we have to keep plugging away. It’s not over until it’s over.”