Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Delaware
Delaware Scores Twice Early, Defeats Field Hockey 2-0
September 05, 2004 | Field Hockey
Sept. 5, 2004
For the second straight game, the Princeton field hockey team dominated possession and played most of the second half in their opponents' end of the field. But for the second straight game, the Tigers were also unable to recover from a first-half deficit. Katie Evans and Leah Geib each scored in a four-minute span early in the first half for Delaware and Geib made a key defensive save on a Princeton shot midway through the second half as the Blue Hens defeated the Tigers, 2-0, at Class of 1952 Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Blue Hens (3-1), who held on despite allowing seven second-half Princeton penalty corners and being outshot 14-7 for the game, broke a nine-game losing streak to the Tigers (0-2) that dated back to the 1994 season. The Tigers, who had fallen 2-1 to Northeastern Friday evening in their season opener, begin the season 0-2 for the first time since 1992. "We just need to do a better job of finishing when the ball gets in the circle," said Tiger head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn. "Give Delaware credit for being opportunistic and taking advantage when they needed it. We we're unable to take advantage of many of those same kind of opportunities." Both Delaware goals came as a result of counterattacks in the first 11 minutes of the game. The first came 6:32 into the first half when Stephanie Swain found Evans with a perfect pass inside the circle, where Swain scored past Juliana Simon for a 1-0 Blue Hen lead. Another counterattack four minutes later forced Delaware's first penalty corner of the game, and the Blue Hens would take advantage of that opportunity. Leah Geib, the initial player who took the corner, snuck in behind the defense, taking a nice pass from Erica LaBar and scoring past Simon 10:26 into the half for a 2-0 lead. Princeton's best opportunity to pull within one goal came with just over 15 minutes left in the game. Natalie Martirosian's drive looked like it would cross the goal line, but Geib knocked the ball out of harm's way before it crossed the line. Delaware also had a good chance to make it 3-0 midway through the half, but Simon (three saves) stopped Evans' shot on a penalty corner and Lauren Carr's rebound attempt went wide. The Tigers begin Ivy League play next Saturday (Sept. 11), traveling to Yale for a noon game. Princeton has a 31-game winning streak in league play dating back to a loss at Brown midway through the 1999 season.