Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Villanova
Villanova Edges Princeton 3-2 in Field Hockey
October 02, 2005 | Field Hockey
Oct. 2, 2005
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Villanova's Rory Rogers scored late in the first half to snap a 2-2 tie and lead the 15th-ranked Wildcats to a 3-2 win over the Princeton field hockey team Sunday afternoon at Class of 1952 Stadium. Senior Hillary Schmidt and freshman Katie Kinzer scored for Princeton in the game.
The loss moves Princeton to 5-5 on the season, while Villanova is now 10-2. Princeton is 4-0 in the Ivy League and sits atop the league's standings.
The Wildcats opened the scoring less than five minutes into a seesaw first half. Stephanie Campbell notched the goal on a penalty corner after Lauren Campanelli moved the ball into play, Sara Schmidt stopped it, and Campbell scored on the blast from the arc.
Princeton battled back six minutes later when Schmidt scored off a penalty corner. Sophomore Paige Schmidt's shot off the corner was blocked, but sophomore Sarah Ng batted at the rebound and knocked it behind the Villanova goalkeeper. The ball then bounced to Schmidt who buried it for her third goal of the season.
The Wildcats retook the lead eight minutes later when Catherine Somits took advantage of a penalty corner. After junior goalkeeper Allison Nemeth blocked Villanova's first shot, Somits got to the ball before the Tiger defenders and scored.
But Princeton answered back 10 minutes later to knot the game up again, this time at 2-2. After a Villanova foul, freshman Holly McGarvie sent the ball into Villanova's arc, where Kinzer was able to get just enough of the ball to redirect it by Villanova goalkeeper Erin Scott for her second goal of the year. The score was tied though for just three minutes before Rogers scored to give Villanova a lead it would not relinquish. After receiving the ball in the arc, she circled around and took an off-balance shot that squeezed between Nemeth's pad and the post.
In the second half, Princeton controlled play and pressured the Wildcats for almost the entire 35 minutes. Princeton outshot Villanova 6-1 in the half and had three corner attempts but could not score. The best chances came during two defensive breakdowns in the Villanova arc, but the Tigers could never get a clean shot off in those situations.
Nemeth made five saves in the loss, while Scott stopped four Princeton shots. Princeton held the shot advantage 17-13 and had nine corners to Villanova's six.
Princeton returns to action next Friday night when Hofstra visit Class of '52 Stadium.