Five-game losing streak broken with win over Brown

Field hockey (4-9 overall, 2-1 Ivy League) secured its first October win this past weekend with a complete effort against Ivy League rival Brown (8-4, 1-3). After 70 minutes of play, the scoreboard read 4-0, signaling an end to Princeton field hockey's historically worst five-game losing streak. This victory represents a major rebound for the Tigers, who can hardly afford a misstep in conference play.

Offensively, the home side overwhelmed the opposing defense. Its 23 shots represented a substantial improvement on its previous average of 13.25. The defense proved stifling, allowing Brown only seven shots through 70 minutes. With this win, Princeton’s all-time record against Brown improves to 29-8-1, with the last Orange and Black loss coming in 1999.

The first and final class years produced Saturday’s outstanding offensive performers. Senior striker Allison Evans scored her team’s first and last goals. Freshman striker Ryan McCarthy, who has started every contest in her rookie campaign, tallied the middle two scores for her team.

The Tigers’ first score came 7 minutes and 41 seconds into the contest during an effective offensive possession, which saw the home side maintain pressure in their opponents’ defensive area. Senior striker Stephanie Goldberg, taking the ball from the top of the half-circle, deftly maneuvered past a defender and drew a pair of slides. Evans, left open in prime scoring position, took a back-handed pass from Goldberg before firing her shot past the out-of-position Brown keeper.

“I think it was really important for our mindset,” said Evans in a postgame interview with GoPrincetonTigers.com. “The first goal really got us going and energetic for the rest of the game. I think we kept that up through the whole match.”

Princeton continued to press against its challengers, totaling nine shots on goal during the first 35-minute period while allowing only one on-target attempt.

Saturday marked the first start of the season for senior goalkeeper Julia Boyle. Only two saves were required of her during the shutout, including one just before the five-minute mark in the first half. Junior keeper Anya Gersoff, who started all of her side’s previous games, ranks seventh among nine qualifiers in goal-against average with 2.77.

Shannon McSweeney, who stood between the pipes for Brown, was called upon to make 11 saves while allowing the four Princeton goals. She currently leads the Ivy League in save percentage with .752.

A dominant first half yielded one more goal for Princeton. With just under two minutes remaining in the period, McCarthy took an assist from senior captain and midfielder Sydney Kirby with a full view of the Brown goal. Her shot found the top left corner of the net to give her team a two-goal lead heading into halftime.

Sustaining their first-half form, the Tigers scored quickly in the second period. McCarthy took an assist from senior back Cassidy Arner and converted a low shot for her fifth marker of the season.

Unassisted, Evans tallied her team’s final point after exploding through the Brown defense. With 29:12 left on the clock, she turned and fired a distance shot past McSweeney for her third score of the season.

Princeton’s offense, which has struggled of late to establish the requisite attack, was able to move the ball effectively on the day and create menacing chances.

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The homestand continues next weekend for the Tigers, who will host Harvard and No. 4-ranked University of Connecticut on Saturday and Sunday. Princeton has not lost to the Crimson during head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn’s tenure. The Huskies, who hold a 7-13 series lead, will provide a far more potent challenge.