Princeton University Athletics
Field Hockey Claims Ivy League Title
November 01, 2000 | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2000
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Princeton University field hockey team has earned an unprecedented seventh-consecutive Ivy League Championship with one game remaining on it's 2000 regular season schedule. The title-clinching win came on Tuesday afternoon against Cornell as the Tigers left Ithaca, N.Y. with a 6-1 victory under their belts.
Senior co-captains Hilary Matson (Marathon, N.Y.) and Melanie Meerschwam (Amstelveen, Netherlands) played exceptionally well as they led Princeton to the title. Matson scored two goals and added one assist, while Meerschwam also scored two goals and chipped in three assists.
It was Meerschwam who got things going for the Tigers, as she converted on a penalty stroke 29 seconds into the game. Senior Kellie Maul (Marlton, N.J.) extended the lead to 2-0 when she scored on a pass from Meerschwam at the 9:48 mark. Princeton out-shot the Big Red 24-0 in the first half and took the 2-0 lead into halftime. The second half of play saw even more of the offensive prowess Princeton had been showing all season as they attacked Cornell for four more goals. Matson scored her two goals at 32:31 and 12:31 to give Princeton a 4-0 lead.
Cornell registered its first penalty corner of the game with 10:52 left to play and converted the teams only goal as Ashleigh Snelson slipped the ball passed Princeton goalkeeper Kelly Baril (Peabody, Mass.). Baril faced only six shots during the game, making four saves.
The Tigers countered Cornell's goal 28 seconds later as Meerschwam tallied an unassisted goal with 10:24 remaining on the clock. Freshman Cory Picketts (Marmora, N.J.) rounded out the scoring at the 7:29 mark to make the final score 6-1.
Princeton is currently 12-3 overall and 6-0 in Ivy League action. The final regular season game on the Tigers schedule will be played at home on Class of 1952 Stadium against Pennsylvania on Friday, Nov. 3rd (7 p.m.).
Princeton (12-3, 6-0 Ivy) 2 4 - 6 Cornell (8-8, 3-3 Ivy) 0 1 - 1
1st Half Scoring - P: M. Meerschwam (penalty stroke) 34:32, P: K. Maul (M. Meerschwam) 25:11.
2nd Half Scoring - P: H. Matson (M. Meerschwam/K. Maul) 32:31, P: H. Matson (M. Meerschwam) 12:31, C: Snelson (McMahon/Mirasol) 10:52, P: M. Meerschwam (unassisted) 10:24, P: Cory Picketts (H. Matson/A. Meerschwam) 7:29.
Shots - P: 42, C: 6
Corners - P: 14, C: 4
Saves - P: Kelly Baril 4, C: Kaitlin Tierney 19.