The field hockey team faced its first back-to-back games this season, with matches against Brown and Connecticut on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. And while the Tigers (10-3 overall, 4-0 Ivy League) easily disposed of the Bears (2-10, 1-3) 7-1 at Class of 1952 Stadium, they fell 4-2 in Storrs, Conn., to the Huskies (12-3) after a valiant comeback attempt.
On Sunday, Princeton fell behind early. In the 11th minute, Connecticut back Rayell Heistand took a shot, which was saved, but midfielder Ali Blankmeyer picked up the rebound to put the Huskies up by one.
In the 22nd minute, Heistand again pulled the trigger, and Connecticut midfielder Cara Silverman deflected the ball into the goal, placing Princeton in a 2-0 hole.
The Tigers would respond. Junior striker Kathleen Sharkey led the way, finding the goal in the 24th minute after sophomore midfielder Julia Reinprecht’s corner and a stop by senior back and co-captain Alexandra Douwes. It was Sharkey’s nation-leading 23rd goal of the season. Though Princeton outshot Connecticut 8-5 in the first half, the team found itself down 2-1.
The Tigers entered the second half looking to build on their momentum from their first-half goal, but the Huskies matched their intensity as the two teams traded shots. In the 55th minute, however, Princeton tied it up as Sharkey played the ball into the circle and junior midfielder and co-captain Katie Reinprecht was able to tip the ball into goal.
The tie, however, would not last long. In the 61st minute, Connecticut forward Anne Jeute drove along the baseline and scored to put the Huskies back up by one. The Connecticut defense then tightened up, not allowing the Tigers another shot on goal for the rest of the game.
The Huskies added one more goal with eight seconds left to go in the game. Connecticut forward Marie Elena Bolles stole the ball off freshman keeper Christina Maida’s attempted clear and increased her team’s lead to 4-2, sealing the Tigers’ third loss of the season.
Princeton expressed its domination on Saturday early and often in the first half. In the 4th minute, Katie Reinprecht received a corner from Julia Reinprecht and fired toward goal. Brown keeper Lauren Kessler saved the ball, but Sharkey picked up the rebound and buried the ball in the back of the net.
The Princeton offense controlled the ball for the vast majority of the half. Sharkey was able to find Katie Reinprecht open in the scoring circle in the 13th minute. Reinprecht then fired a shot over a diving Kessler and put the Tigers up 2-0.
Princeton’s offensive prowess was again showcased in the 16th minute. The Tigers’ attack drove into the scoring circle. After a flurry of passing, junior striker Rachel Neufield shot through Kessler’s legs to put the Tigers up 3-0. Neufeld is also a staff writer for The Daily Princetonian.
In the 22nd minute, Princeton earned a penalty corner. Julia Reinprecht fed the ball to Sharkey at the top of the circle, who then shot, but Kessler saved the ball. Sophomore striker Michelle Cesan was there on the rebound to extend the Tigers’ lead once again.
A minute later off another Julia Reinprecht corner, Cesan took a shot that was saved by Kessler, but sophomore midfielder Carrie Diamond was there to put the backhand rebound in the net.
After two more minutes, Neufeld would again score as Kessler initially saved her shot, but the ball eventually rolled over the line. Princeton ended the scoring spree with a 6-0 lead thanks to four goals in a span of 10 minutes.
In the 33rd minute, the Bears notched their only response of the game. Brown forward Leslie Springmeyer passed across to open midfielder Charlotte Small, who scored the Bears’ only goal. The Tigers outshot Brown 19-1 in the first half.
“We approach every opponent the same; we don’t treat any game differently,” Sharkey said. “Our Ivy League games are really important to us. Obviously, we are competing for the Ivy League title. We want to go undefeated in the Ivy League.”
After the half, the Bears’ defense tightened up. Brown adjusted well to Princeton’s offensive pressure, but in the 40th minute, Sharkey found the goal again off a Julia Reinprecht corner and Douwes’ stop.
“Last year when we played Brown, in the second half we didn’t score any goals, and they scored one, so technically they won the second half,” Sharkey said. “That was a goal in this game — to not let that happen.”
Fortunately for the Tigers, their defense would not allow Brown’s offense a single shot in the second half, and Princeton won 7-1 in convincing fashion to improve to 4-0 in Ancient Eight play.
Read More
Preview: Football names captains and looks ahead to their first game
Lily PampolinaPrinceton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
Princeton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
By the Numbers: Goals and medals for the Tigers’ start to the fall
Harrison BlankThis week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
This week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
Late goals lift men’s soccer past University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2–0
Harrison Blank and Matthew YiMen’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.
Men’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.