Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Boston University
Field Hockey Wins Thriller over Boston University, 5-4
October 01, 2004 | Field Hockey
Oct. 1, 2004
Box Score
Maybe it was only right that the Princeton field hockey team would win after the kind of performance they showed for much of Friday at Class of 1952 Stadium against Boston University. Fortunately, senior Kelly Darling was there to make victory happen.
Darling redirected a shot by Lizzie Black on a penalty-corner situation past Terrier goalie Erin Prediger with 1:24 left in regulation, cementing a 5-4, come-from-behind Princeton victory in a game that was wild right from the beginning.
"I'm really only waiting there by the post in case Lizzie's shot is a little wide," said Darling, who had earlier scored a goal that tied the game at 3-3 midway through the second half. "The play isn't really designed for me, but it worked out for the best." The Tigers (3-6) outshot Boston University (5-4) 24-8 and had 12 penalty corners to just four for their opponents, but had to come from way behind after a stunning first six minutes of the game. The Terriers had three penalty-corner situations in those six minutes and scored, either directly or indirectly, because of every one of them.
Lauren Vendetti connected with Ashley Parker after an initial shot was blocked with just 1:57 gone in the game, and the Terriers took a 1-0 lead. Then, less than three minutes later, Vendetti scored more conventionally on a penalty-corner situation for a 2-0 BU lead. Jen Joyce then gave the Terriers a 3-0 advantage less than two minutes later, shoving a rebound into the net and forcing a Princeton timeout.
Princeton, which won at home for the first time in five tries this season, would get a goal on a hard drive from Hillary Schmidt less than two minutes after the timeout, but still trailed 3-1 at halftime.
The Tigers then benefitted from a BU infraction just 59 seconds into the second half when goalie Prediger was whistled for pushing the ball forward with her blocker. Black scored on the ensuing penalty stroke, and the Tigers had cut the BU lead to 3-2.
Darling then tied the game with 16:32 left after a nice feed from Natalie Martirosian, and Paige Schmidt then gave the Tigers the lead six minutes later on a penalty-corner goal. But the Terriers would tie the game at four less than four minutes later, as Sarah Shute shoved a shot past Juliana Simon on BU's first shot attempt of the second half.
Princeton held the Terriers without a shot or a penalty corner from the 29:00 mark of the first half until the 7:00 mark of the second half. The Tigers outshot BU 13-3 in the second half and had eight penalty corners in the final 35 minutes.
Prediger was outstanding in goal for BU, stopping 12 of Princeton's 24 shots, including several diving stops in the second half.
The Tigers play host to No. 12 Richmond Sunday morning (11 a.m.) at Class of 1952 Stadium.