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Catalino Sparks No. 19 Field Hockey's 4-3 Overtime Win Over Columbia
October 10, 2015 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PRINCETON, N.J. – Freshman Nicole Catalino netted the game winner just 1:38 into overtime to give the 19th-ranked Princeton University field hockey team a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Columbia University on Bedford Field.
With the start of the game delayed by an hour and a half due to rolling thunderstorms, the Tigers found themselves down 3-2 late in the second period. With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Catalino netted the equalizer before striking again early in the extra session.
Extending its win streak to four games, Princeton improved to 6-4 (3-0 Ivy) on the season and 18-1 all-time against Columbia (5-5, 1-2 Ivy). The Tigers' victory also snapped a four-game overtime losing skid dating back to last season. Prior to tonight, Princeton's last OT win came on Nov. 3, 2013 against Rider, 2-1.
Hoping to jumpstart the offense, the Tigers earned a penalty corner in the 12th minute. Sophia Tornetta got the play started with an insert to Elise Wong. Stopping it at the top of the circle, Wong set up Hailey Reeves, who powered a shot off a Columbia defender's stick and into the cage.
In the 18th minute, the Lions took advantage of a penalty corner of their own. After inserting the ball to the top of the circle, Rebecca Bard made a run to the front of the net. Getting a stick on an Anna Scipioni shot, Bard redirected the ball up-and-over Princeton goalie Anya Gersoff to pull the visitors even.
Momentarily retaking the lead, the Tigers went back on top less than two minutes later. Carrying it upfield, Teresa Benvenuti played a ball to Ryan McCarthy on the endline. Sending across the face of the goal, McCarthy linked up with Tornetta at the far post, who made it 2-1 at 19:08.
Once again taking advantage of a couple of Tiger miscues, Columbia netted a pair of goals off of penalty corners in the final minute of the first half. Whitney Hartstone notched the go-ahead goal with a redirection off a Maeve Doherty try with 57 seconds left in the frame. On the final play of the period, Doherty extended the Lions' margin, beating Gersoff with a shot from the top of the circle following a penalty corner.
Still trailing 3-2 in the waning moments of regulation, the Tigers finally found their equalizer. Tornetta got the play started with an insert to Wong. With Benvenuti pushing a shot toward the cage, Catalino made a run to the backpost. Tracking down an initial deflection, the freshman got a stick on the carom while going to the ground, putting in the tying goal at 66:47.
Wasting little time going on the offensive in the first overtime, Princeton earned its eighth penalty corner of the night in the opening minute of the extra session. Receiving the ball at the top of the circle, Cat Caro played it to Benvenuti on the right side. Getting it right back in the middle of the circle, Caro slid a pass toward the backpost to a wide-open Catalino, who tapped in the game winner at 71:38.
Princeton finished with a slim 12-11 shot advantage and an 8-7 edge in penalty corners. Gersoff finished with two saves, while Columbia netminder Kimberly Pianucci made one stop.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Brown.