The race for first in Ivy League women’s soccer just got a new frontrunner.
This Saturday, the Princeton women’s soccer team (12-3 overall, 5-0 Ivy League) pushed itself even closer to an automatic NCAA bid, defeating reigning Ivy League champion Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. With the victory, the Tigers maintain not only a perfect record in league play, but also extend their winning streak to double digits at 10 straight. It’s the longest winning streak for the team since 2012, the last year the Tigers went to the NCAA Tournament.
With just three games before the end of the season, the Tigers and Crimson (7-7-1, 4-1-0) went into this match tied for first in the league, with both teams knowing that the winner of the league could very well be decided in Cambridge that day.
“Going into the game, we were all very excited — we knew what was at stake. But at the end of the day, we knew it was a game, we’re having fun, we’re playing with each other [and] being very positive,” junior forward Tyler Lussi said. “I think that, in that moment, everyone was so excited, even [head coach] Sean [Driscoll] had so much energy and was getting us so pumped up.”
Both the Tigers and their fans certainly had reason to be pumped up early in the game. Just over five minutes into the contest, Princeton’s freshman forward Mimi Asom did what she does best — find the back of the net. Getting control of the ball off a long pass up the field from sophomore defender Katie Pratt-Thompson, Asom forced her way past one defender and sent it beyond the outstretched arms of Harvard’s Lizzie Durack. It was Asom’s 10th goal on the season, good for second in the league.
The Crimson, however, were not a team to die quietly. Following Asom’s goal, Harvard managed to tie the game up just seven minutes later, seeming to neutralize a golden opportunity for the Tigers to make a claim for the league title.
One of the great strengths of this Tiger team, however, is maintaining resolve in all situations.
“When they got the tying goal, we came together after they scored and everybody calmed down and relaxed,” Lussi said. “The momentum did shift, but we knew we were not going to lose this game.”
Lussi stuck to those words and indeed, as she’s done time and time again this season, put it upon herself to lift the team up. The Ivy League’s leading goalscorer found her chance in the second half of the online casino game. In the 57th minute, Lussi took the pass from Asom, and as two defenders rushed in to crowd her, fired a shot into the left corner of the goal. Durack was helpless against the shot as Lussi gave her team the lead for good.
Lussi has been the focal point of the Tigers’ offense this season. However, despite her ability to handle double coverage and swarms of defenders, she consistently points out that it’s the play of the team — defenders to midfielders to forwards — that sets her up for opportunities.
“I think that a lot of times, with teams scouting us, they look to the main players … I’m going to get double-teamed a lot, [but] how I score doesn’t just start from me,” Lussi said. “It starts from our defense, playing to the midfield getting us the balls.”
The improvement of the team defense points to a vast leap in the Tigers’ play from last season. The Tigers’ ability to score has not been a question — just as with this year, the Tigers led the league in goals during the 2014 season. However, the defensive line had serious issues — the Tigers were last in the league in goals allowed per game, at nearly two per contest.
This season, and the win streak, however, has shown a different side of the squad. During their last five games, the Tigers have allowed just .6 goals per game.
“From last year to this year, we have not let as many goals in, and that just shows that the character of the backline, and even other people who aren’t starting backline, can come in and keep the same pace of the game,” Lussi said. “It just shows that the communication of the backline is so key. Sean, even from the beginning of the season, focused on defending.”
With the tiebreak advantages over Harvard this victory, the Tigers find themselves one victory away from clinching an NCAA bid. With two matches left, their chances at a tournament appearance are determined solely by their own play.
“[An NCAA bid] would honestly be amazing — for the entire team, for Sean, for the entire coaching staff,” Lussi said. “But I think we’ve beaten Harvard — and it was an amazing win, and we’ll remember that win for the rest of our lives — but that game’s done, we’ve got to move on … It’s a busy week but we just need to stay focused and calm and positive … [and] keep it going.”
Read More
Women’s tennis claims Ivy League title in comeback thriller over Harvard
Josefina GurevichAfter a commanding win over Dartmouth gave women’s tennis the opportunity to play Harvard for the championship, they rallied from match deficits and an overall 3-1 Crimson lead to clinch the Ivy title and their fifth-straight trip to the NCAA tournament.
After a commanding win over Dartmouth gave women’s tennis the opportunity to play Harvard for the championship, they rallied from match deficits and an overall 3-1 Crimson lead to clinch the Ivy title and their fifth-straight trip to the NCAA tournament.
Princeton softball stands atop the Ivy League standings after defeating Yale
Dalynn HoltzclawThe Tigers sit two games ahead of second place and are on an eight-game winning streak. Should they finish as the No. 1 seed next weekend, they will host the Ivy League tournament.
The Tigers sit two games ahead of second place and are on an eight-game winning streak. Should they finish as the No. 1 seed next weekend, they will host the Ivy League tournament.
Princeton Men’s golf falls just short in Ivy League Championships
Matthew YiDespite coming close, a tough round three and poor weather conditions led to the Tigers losing to Yale in the men's Ivy League Golf Championships.
Despite coming close, a tough round three and poor weather conditions led to the Tigers losing out to Yale in the men's Ivy League Golf Championships.
