On Saturday afternoon, Princeton women’s soccer (1–3–3 overall, 0–0–0 Ivy League) traveled to the United States Military Academy to take on Army West Point (6–2–1 overall, 0–0–0 Patriot League) just three days after winning their first regular-season game against Villanova, 1–0. To end nonconference play, however, the Black Knights surmounted the Tigers 3–1.
“We ride the ups and down of each game, every game and every season is always a challenge,” senior forward Ally Murphy wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “We try to always have total effort and a positive attitude because those are the things we can control. If a ball doesn’t bounce our way, or a call doesn’t go our way, that’s out of our control. But our effort and attitude are constantly ours.”
The match was a battle from the whistle, with Army West Point on the scoreboard first just eleven minutes in. The goal from forward Brigid Duffy came unassisted and targeted the lower right corner, before nailing off the side goalpost to the back left of the net. The Tigers thus trailed 1–0 early.
Princeton did not fall behind for long, though, regaining its footing thanks to a strong performance from first-year forward/midfielder Sarah Houston. The Tigers weaved the ball through the Black Knight defense from the left corner of the field. The assist came through junior midfielder Kayla Wong and sophomore forward Dylan Jovanovic, landing at Houston’s feet, and she swiftly finished the job with a successful shot to the lower right corner.
With 33 minutes left in the half, the game was equal at 1–1.
The half ended in a tied stalemate, with both teams possessing about equal offensive opportunities at five shots a-piece.
“We knew we had to get at them, they were strong, athletic, and fast. And again, controlling what we could control to give us the best chance at winning,” Murphy wrote to the ‘Prince’ about the mindset coming out of the half.
Shortly after the break, though, Army West Point came out with a new sense of urgency. Their second goal of the game came just three minutes into the half off of a floating cross in the box, resulting in a header. The Black Knights recaptured the lead, ahead 2–1.
The Tigers tried to respond, but could not connect and find the back of the net. With 20 minutes left in the game, Army West Point breached the Princeton defensive unit again, earning their third and final goal of the game with a two-touch volley to score off a missed clearance from the Tigers.
As the clock hit 90 minutes, the Tigers fell 3–1 to the Black Knights.
After completing a less-than-ideal nonconference stretch, Princeton looks to recuperate in time for their first Ivy League matchup against Penn this Friday. After hosting and winning the Ivy League tournament last year, the Ivy League preseason poll overwhelmingly favored the Tigers to repeat as champions this season.
However, the team has lost multiple key members since last fall season: Goalkeeper Tyler McCamey ’25 graduated and is now playing for the Kansas City Current, and star forward Pietra Tordin left Princeton last January for the Portland Thorns.
Currently, the Tigers sit second-to-last in the opening season standings within the league, while Penn boasts four wins thus far. Nevertheless, the Tigers will look to bring a strong start to the second half of the season in Philadelphia later this week.
“Our results so far do not impact the Ivy season. It’s a fresh slate,” Murphy told the ‘Prince.’ “We have plans to improve our play and our coaches have been working hard to help us keep improving. We have lots of talent, and I know we have the compete and attitude to find success one game at a time in the Ivy.”
Lily Pampolina is an associate Sports editor and an assistant Audience editor for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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