A pair of disappointing losses came for Princeton field hockey last weekend (3-7 overall, 2-1 Ivy League), making this a season already defined by struggles more than success. Losses to Columbia (6-4, 2-1) and No. 13 Syracuse (8-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) by 3-2 and 4-3 (2OT) decisions extend the Orange and Black’s losing streak to three.
During the 17-game history of this matchup, Columbia had not once beaten Princeton. Additionally, 22 consecutive Ivy League contests had gone in the Tigers’ favor before Friday loss.
The Lions, hosting their previously unconquerable adversaries, struck very early in this contest. Rebecca Pope hit Kater Reusterholz with a deep pass. Reusterholz, one-on-one with junior goalie Anya Gersoff, found the back of the net from close range with only 1:43 having elapsed in the game.
While the Tigers maintained good pressure throughout the period, managing nine shots to their opponents’ three, precision rather than volume resulted in a 2-0 Columbia first-half advantage. The Lions’ Zoe Blake converted a penalty stroke at the 16:46 mark.
Princeton kept hope alive with an early second-half score. Just two minutes into the period, senior striker Allison Evans picked up her second goal of the season on an unassisted effort.
Under 10 minutes remained in regulation when the Tigers converted their second attempt. Sophomore back Annabeth Donovan inserted a penalty corner which was picked up by senior midfielder Sydney Kirby. The tri-captain picked up her sixth goal of the season – good for second-most on the team – and finally equalized.
All indicators pointed to overtime, until Columbia's Christina Freibott assisted her teammate Reusterholz for the Lions’ third and final goal. The game clock read 1:15, which time expired without Princeton managing another attempt.
Bedford Field hosted the matchup between the Syracuse Orange and the Princeton Orange and Black. By virtue of the two overtime periods, the fans got all the action they anticipated and more.
Just as in the previous contest, Princeton fell behind quickly. The visiting Syracuse side scored off a penalty corner with just 1:50 having elapsed. 6:19 remained on the clock in the first half when Syracuse picked up their second goal, also off a penalty corner.
No time remained in the second half when Princeton lined up for its third penalty corner of the evening. After some scrambling for possession, senior back Cassidy Arner flicked the ball past the Orange’s keeper to give her team some needed energy entering the break.
The contest continued to favor Princeton, as junior striker Maddie Copeland picked up a pair of quick goals — her seven tallies lead all Tigers — within the second half’s first five minutes.
One more attack penalty corner for Syracuse knotted the score back up. Drawn 3-3, the two sides played the 70 minutes of regulation to a draw.
NCAA overtime rules call for two 15-minute periods of “sudden victory” overtime, with a penalty shootout following if necessary. In order to facilitate scoring, each team fields only six outfielders alongside a goalie as opposed to the usual ten. That facilitation was at least putatively effective, as the first period saw eight shots from the visitors and four from the home team.
Neither side found the back of the net during the first period, though the fans were on their feet at a number of incredibly close chances.
Princeton and Syracuse players, now only seven per side, were exhausted by the game’s extension coupled with the new mandate to cover more ground. 6:32 remained in the second overtime period when the Orange’s Emma Russell knocked a deflected shot past an outstretched Princeton keeper. The visitors took the contest and left the Princeton side at a loss once again.
Impressive throughout, Gersoff tallied 12 saves, a career high mark.
Princeton’s all-time series advantage over Syracuse narrows to 11-7 with Sunday’s loss.
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