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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Vanderbilt
Behncke Leads No. 20 Princeton Past Vanderbilt, 3-0
September 12, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2004
Final Stats
Philadelphia - Emily Behncke is starting to love being a forward.
Behncke, moved from midfield to forward this season, scored twice in the first half to lead the 20th-ranked Princeton women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Vanderbilt on the second day of the Penn Invitational. Esmeralda Negron scored the other goal for Princeton.
The victory improved the Tigers to 3-0 on the young season with wins over teams from the Big East, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference, two of whom were in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament a year ago. Princeton has outscored its three opponents by a combined 6-1.
"The great thing is that we've been having good results, but I think we can still play so much better," said Behncke, the 2002 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a 2003 first-team All-Ivy League selection as primarily a midfielder. "This has been a big adjustment for me, but I can get more opportunities this way. It seemed like it paid off today." Behncke's goals both came after long feeds gave her clear runs to the goal. The first came in the 20th minute after Kristina Fontanez sent a long pass through the middle, freeing up Behncke on a breakaway. Behncke delayed long enough and forced Vanderbilt goalkeeper Nicole Reed to fall down, which opened up the entire net for Behncke.
The second goal came 19 minutes later on almost a repeat of the first, only this time off a feed from Diana Matheson. Behncke faked out Reed and then sent the ball into the goal past two Vanderbilt defenders who tried to fill in. It was the first career assist for the freshman Matheson, who also has two goals on the young season.
"Emily was great today," said Princeton coach Julie Shackford. "It was good to see her break out."
Negron's goal, a header off a pass from Maura Gallagher four minutes after halftime, broke the game wide open. It was the 29th career goal for Negron, who needs 12 to tie the school career record, and it came on the 12th career assist for Gallagher, which moved the junior into fifth place all-time in assists at Princeton.
The Tigers outshot Vanderbilt (0-4-1) 15-7. Emily Vogelzang made four saves for the shutout, the second by Princeton at the event after Madeleine Jackson shut out Villanova 1-0 Friday.
Princeton next plays Friday and Sunday at UNC Greensboro and Wake Forest, both of whom were NCAA tournament teams a year ago.