Princeton University Athletics
Next Stop, Franklin Field
August 16, 1999 | Field Hockey
Nov. 15, 1998
PRINCETON, N.J. - Kirsty Hale (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va.) scored a goal and assisted on two others to help lead the Princeton University field hockey team to a 3-1 win over Penn State in an NCAA Quarterfinal. Princeton will face Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Franklin Field while Virginia will battle Old Dominion at 5 p.m.
The first two goals for the Tigers came off penalty corners. The first was a blast by Ann Marie Reich (Sr., Washington Depot, Conn.) that got past Penn State goalkeeper Jamie Smith at the 12:39 mark of the game. The next goal came nine minutes later, when Melanie Meerschwam (So., Amstelveen, The Netherlands) blasted a shot that deflected off the stick of Penn State defender Traci Anselmo and bounced into the cage.
Princeton carried the two-goal lead into the second half, when Meerschwam and Hale combined for one of the season's most exciting goals. Meerschwam carried deep into Penn State territory and sent a lead pass to Hale, who knocked the ball past Smith. Hale and Smith ended up colliding with each other, but the ball was already in the cage for a crucial insurance goal.
Meg DeJong (Sr., Tinton Falls, N.J.) made four saves, none bigger than a save with her blocker on a shot by Dawn Lammey. Her attempts at a school-record 11th shutout of the season were thwarted by a late goal by Sonje Volla. Still, the senior posted her 16th win of the season and carried the Tigers to their 3rd consecutive Final Four.
"I'm thrilled to be going back to the Final Four," coach Beth Bozman said. "I don't think this was one of our better performances, but it was good enough to win."
Penn State (18-5) 0 1 - 1 Princeton (16-2) 2 1 - 3Scoring
Reich (Hale, Morris) 12:39, Meerschwam (Hale, Hunsicker) 21:39, Hale (Meerschwam) 43:27.Shots - Penn State 13, Princeton 13. Corners? Penn State 7, Princeton 11.
Saves - Princeton: Meg DeJong 4, Penn State: Jamie Smith 7.