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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Cornell
Negron's Record-Setting Night Leads No. 8 Princeton To Ivy Women's Soccer Title
October 29, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 29, 2004
Ithaca, N.Y. - Esmeralda Negron set so many records she lost track.
Negron set three Princeton women's soccer records - including points scored in a career - and tied a fourth to lead the eight-ranked Tigers to a 7-0 win over Cornell Friday night. The win gave Princeton the outright Ivy League championship, its fourth league title in five years, and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the Tigers, who will be making their sixth straight postseason appearance.
"I wasn't exactly sure which records they were," Negron said. "I was happy about winning the league and about breaking the records I did. They were both preseason goals of mine."
Negron scored three goals for Princeton. In the process, she set three records, all of which had stood for at least 20 years. Her three goals gave her 14 on the season, breaking the record set by Susan Mooney in 1981 and equalled by Negron last year. She also broke the record for points scored in a season with 36, passing Linda DeBoer's record of 31 set in 1982.
She also became the school's all-time leading scorer with 41 goals and 14 assists for 96 career points, bettering DeBoer's mark of 94 points set from 1982-85. In addition, her 41 goals tied DeBoer's career record.
Lastly, Princeton won its 14th game of the season, tying the school record for wins set in 1980 and equalled in 2001.
"I thought about how long the records have stood," Negron said. "They've been there for a long time. It means a lot to me to get those records, but it's more important that we won the league championship."
Princeton entered the game needing a win in either of its remaining league games, against Cornell or Penn next Saturday, to win the Ivy title. The Tigers won their first league championship in 1982 and then did not win another one until 2000. Princeton then won again in 2001 and then won its first outright championship in 2002 before finishing second a year ago.
"Winning an Ivy League championship is never something you take for granted," said Princeton coach Julie Shackford. "We wanted to get the championship back after last year. That was a huge goal for us. And of course, winning the league gets you an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament."
Negron started the scoring 21 minutes into the game to break the points in a season record, and Diana Matheson then scored two of her own eight minutes apart to make it 3-0 at halftime.
Emily Behncke scored her fourth goal in the last three games and 21st of her career to start the scoring in the second half, and Negron then scored two more seven minutes apart to make it 6-0. Negron did not play in the final 27 minutes after scoring her third goal.
Amanda Ferranti scored the final goal for the Tigers. Maura Gallagher assisted on Negron's first goal, and she, Negron and Lynette Prescott '84 are all tied for third all-time at Princeton in assists.
Matheson assisted on one of Negron's goals, giving her seven goals and six assists on her freshman season.
Princeton, who is at Colgate Sunday, outshot Cornell 26-5. The Tigers are now 14-1 overall and 6-0 in the Ivy League with 10 straight wins. Cornell fell to 4-10-2, 1-5-0.
"It's exciting to win the league," said Princeton defender and two-year captain Brea Griffiths. "It would have been great to win four league championships, but losing last year made us want it more this year. We were all disappointed last year, but to come back and win it as seniors is tremendous. It's not easy to win Ivy League championships. Every team is ready to play in every Ivy League game. To be able to win all of those games is hard to do, and it makes it special."
Princeton (14-1, 6-0) 3-4 -- 7
Cornell (4-10-2, 1-5) 0-0 -- 0
Scoring P: Esmeralda Negron (Maura Gallagher) 21:24, P: Diana Matheson 30:26, P: Diana Matheson (Elizabeth Pillion) 38:48, P: Emily Behncke 54:53, P: Esmeralda Negron (Diana Matheson) 55:53, P: Esmeralda Negron (Janine Willis) 63:30, P: Amanda Ferranti 84:29.
Shots P: 26, C: 5
Saves P: Emily Vogelzang 2, C: Katie Thomas 6