Rio Recap, Day 4: Advancements, Upsets & Overtime Highlight A Thrilling Tiger Day In Rio

Wait, we have two weeks of this? Buckle up, Tiger Nation … if the next two weeks are anything like the first Saturday, these will be as memorable an Olympic Games as any in University history.

A quick summary:
• Katie Reinprecht '13 scored the opening goal, while fellow starters Kathleen Sharkey '13 and Julia Reinprecht '14 helped lead Team USA to a 2-1 upset over Argentina, the second-ranked field hockey team in the world
• Gevvie Stone '07, Robin Prendes '11 and Tyler Nase '13 survived some crazy conditions on the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas Olympic race course to advance past repechages in their respective Rio debuts for Team USA.
• Diana Matheson '08 drew a penalty kick and helped lead the Canadian women's soccer team to a second straight win to open pool play.
• Katharine Holmes '17, one of two current Princeton student-athletes competing in Rio, rallied three times in her individual épeé opener and pushed her higher-seeded opponent to overtime before falling in a 5-4 thriller.

How's that for one day?

Now to the details …

Rising senior Katharine Holmes, ranked 25th in the world, battled 19th-ranked Erika Kirpu of Estonia to overtime in her épée Round of 32 match before Kirpu advanced, 5-4. It was a thrilling match, as Holmes overcame three different one-touch deficits to force overtime. With both fencers in close for the winning touch, it was Kirpu who was able to get it and advance. It was Holmes' first appearance in the Olympics, and she'll be back Thursday to compete for the U.S. in the team competition.

U.S. rowers Gevvie Stone '07, Tyler Nase '13 and Robin Prendes '11 began their competition Saturday in impressive fashion, as each advanced to their respective next rounds without having to battle it out in a repechage.

First up was Stone, who was highly impressive in her heat victory. It was the first opportunity for most of the viewing audience to see the challenges of a choppy race course, especially through the middle 1,000 meters, but Stone handled it exceptionally well. She built a huge lead early, then dealt with the conditions and two hard-charging opponents in the middle, but she pulled away late for the victory.

Thanks for the support! Phew, glad to get across the line. Never mind across in first. #whataday
— Gevvie Stone (@gevgevs) August 6, 2016

Nase made his Olympic debut as the stroke of the USA ML4-, the boat that former lightweight teammate Prendes led to an eighth-place finish in London. The duo placed second in their heat, trailing only strong medal contender New Zealand, to also advance to the semifinal. Both Stone (US W1x) and the LM4- will compete again Tuesday morning, and their races can be seen via the live stream.

What a ride! Proud of our effort. On to the semi! #RioOlympics2016
— Tyler Nase (@The_Sy5tem) August 6, 2016

Diana Matheson '08 started and played the first 63 minutes for Canada in a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe that saw the Canadians get all three of their goals by the 35th minute and Zimbabwe add one in the 86th. Matheson drew a penalty kick when Zimbabwe goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai collided with her in the 18-yard box, setting up Christine Sinclair to knock in the PK. Janine Beckie, who as a senior at Texas Tech last season was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist with Princeton rising senior Tyler Lussi, had the first and third Canadian goals.

The win, coupled with Germany and Australia playing to a draw, allowed Canada to advance to the quarterfinals of the knockout round, which will begin Friday. Before then, Canada, ranked 10th in the world in the most recent FIFA ranking, will take on second-ranked Germany in the final group-stage game Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.

The trio of Katie Reinprecht '13, Julia Reinprecht '14 and Kathleen Sharkey '13, as well as Team USA staff member Nate Franks '07, made their Rio debut against Argentina, which has medaled at four straight Olympics. The South American power presented a strong early case about a potential fifth, dominating most of the first quarter in what would be a scoreless half.

In fact, it would stay scoreless until Katie Reinprecht, the Honda Award winner for field hockey during Princeton's 2012 NCAA championship season, scored from a crazy angle in the third quarter. The shot went off the Argentine goaltender's blocker and into the cage. The lead would go to 2-0 in the fourth on a successful penalty corner — which included a leaping Sharkey clearing the way for the deflected goal — and hold for a 2-1 thriller.

Sunday promises to be a calmer day for Princeton, though don't tell that to Kate Bertko '06. The bow of Princeton's 2006 NCAA Championship V8+ makes her long-awaited Olympic debut at 9:40 in the opening heat of the women's lightweight double competition. A complete schedule of Princeton athletes and alums in Rio can be found here.

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