On a clear Saturday afternoon, Princeton women’s soccer (2–4–3 overall, 1–1–0 Ivy League) faced Harvard University (3–4–2, 1–1–0) away in Cambridge, coming off their 1–0 win away at the University of Pennsylvania (4–2–3, 0–1–1) last week. The weekend game ended in a 2–0 Crimson victory.
Princeton began the game with possession and energy, taking two early shots, both flying just above the crossbar. Between the two shots, junior goalkeeper Cecilia Cerone saw her first save of the match during Harvard’s first connected offensive run.
After 15 minutes of competitive play, Harvard forward Ólöf Kristinsdóttir completed the first goal of the day with an assist from Harvard midfielder Elsa Santos López. The play was the result of a quick run up the left field, a cross to the center, and a battle in the box for Tiger junior midfielder Kayla Wong and Harvard’s Santos López.
Harvard won the contest and directed the ball further toward the goal. Kristinsdóttir met the ball and found the open space in the net to finish the run and put the Crimson on the board.
Princeton’s defense shut down the majority of Harvard’s forward runs, however. Notably, Harvard’s six total shots in the Saturday match was a season low, a downturn from the 13 shots in their prior game against Dartmouth. Of the Crimson’s two shots in the first half, both occurred within the first 16 minutes.
Harvard’s aggressive offense, typically averaging seven corner kicks per game, only saw three this matchup.
“They [Harvard] came out with a game plan that really put pressure on our back line. I think that we did a pretty good job of feeling that,” senior forward Drew Coomans told The Daily Princetonian. “I think our problems came when putting pressure on their back line.”
As cited by Coomans, the difficulty for the Tigers this weekend manifested itself primarily in converting offensive possession into shots on goal.
“It’s been the challenge all year for us,” women’s soccer Head Coach Sean Driscoll explained. “It’s not for a lack of trying, certainly not for a lack of getting into those spaces. Sometimes it just comes down to a simple lack of execution in that moment, but the only way that changes is if we continue to work on it and create even better habits.”
Halftime marked a distinctive shift in Princeton’s approach. The team exhibited a renewed sense of urgency, capitalizing on more opportunities for offensive efforts, doubling their number of shots from the first half, and forcing two corner kicks.
Despite several good setups from Princeton, including the work of senior midfielder Pia Beaulieu and first-year midfielder Maddie Recupero, less than five minutes into the second half, the Tigers’ struggled to score.
With a little over 30 minutes left on the clock, Harvard saw their second goal of the match. A penalty kick was called on a handball from first-year defender Julia Johnson inside Princeton’s 18-yard box. The shot, taken by Kristinsdóttir, lodged cleanly into the top right back of the net as Cerone dove the opposite way.
In response, the Tigers maintained their energy. Coomans pushed the Tigers up the field on several occasions, including one at the 72 minute mark, giving Princeton a corner. Yet, the Tigers weren’t able to score.
“There were moments during the game where we did show what we’re capable of, but it’s going to be about turning those moments into a full 90-minute game,” Cerone told the ‘Prince.’
Harvard, up 2–0, fended off Princeton’s remaining attacks and ended the game on top.
“Going into next week we just have to try to hit the reset button and get focus for playing at home,” Driscoll told the ‘Prince.’ “We play well in that environment, on that surface, in that stadium, and so I’m looking forward to getting back out there again.”
Next, the Tigers will take on Yale University (2–7–0, 0–2–0) on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, in hopes of regaining their momentum and clinching a second conference win.
“It’s a long season,” said Cerone. “We still have a chance to regroup, fix what we need to fix, and get back into the position that we want to be.”
Siena Sydenham is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Please direct any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Princeton Football dominates first away game 38–28 against Lafayette
Andrew KangFootball returns next week for their Ivy League opener against Columbia at the Princeton Stadium.
Football returns next week for their Ivy League opener against Columbia at the Princeton Stadium.
Lawnparties budget, transport for off-campus religious observances discussed at USG meeting
Oliver WuAt the USG meeting on Sept. 28, members discussed offering funding for religious transportation and addressed additional methods to make communication with the USG more transparent.
At the USG meeting on Sept. 28, members discussed offering funding for religious transportation and addressed additional methods to make communication with the USG more transparent.
Heroics from Ittycheria, Samuels secure 1–0 win against Harvard in Ivy League opener
James LiPrinceton picks up 1–0 win against Harvard on the road in their first Ivy League matchup of the season.
Princeton picks up 1–0 win against Harvard on the road in their first Ivy League matchup of the season.