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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Syracuse
Behncke Leads No. 8 Princeton Past Syracuse Despite 17-Save Performance By Keeper
October 27, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2004
Final Stats
Emily Behncke scored twice and Esmeralda Negron moved closer to several school records with a goal of her own as the eighth-ranked Princeton women's soccer team defeated Syracuse 3-1 Wednesday afternoon.
The victory improved Princeton to 13-1 as the Tigers head to Cornell Friday night, when a victory over the Big Red would clinch the outright Ivy League championship. Syracuse ended its season at 8-9-2.
Princeton, now 3-0 against Big East teams this season, won its ninth straight game despite a sterling 17-save performance by Syracuse goalkeeper Shannon Myers in her final collegiate game. The Tigers outshot the Orange 34-2. Princeton was playing for the first time since a dramatic 2-1 win over Harvard Saturday night that put the Tigers in command of the league race. Behncke had the tying goal in that game with 41 seconds in regulation and then assisted on Negron's game-winner with 1:31 remaining in the second overtime.
This time, Princeton would need no such dramatics. Behncke put Princeton ahead 1-0 just eight minutes into the game after converting a long feed from Brea Griffiths, and Myers kept it a 1-0 game through the end of the first half, making eight saves in the first 45 minutes while Princeton put up 17 of its shots.
The Tigers came back with 17 more shots in the second half, and Behncke's second goal, this time off an assist from Kristina Fontanez, made it 2-0 eight minutes after intermission.
Syracuse's Shana Thomas cut the lead in half when she converted a long pass from Talia Andrews-Rankin three minutes after Behncke's goal. The Tigers would not allow Syracuse another shot after that, and Negron headed in a feed from Diana Matheson in with 20 minutes left for the final margin.
Negron's goal was her 11th of the season and 38th of her career, leaving her three away from the school career record. The goal gave her 30 points on the season, one away from the school single-season record, and 89 career points, five away from the school record.
"I knew it was going to be a tough game," said Princeton coach Julie Shackford, whose team can tie the school record for wins in a season with a win in any of its remaining three regular season games. "We were coming off an emotional win over Harvard, and we have a big game at Cornell Friday. [Myers] was great for them, and she kept it a close game. It was good to get a win."
Princeton, who follows the game at Cornell with a game at Colgate, added to its school record with its 13th straight home win. Princeton concludes the regular season Nov. 6 at home against Penn; Princeton would win the league outright with a win in either of its remaining Ivy games or a Penn loss to Brown this weekend.