Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
#3 Connecticut
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Princeton Knocks Off No. 3 UConn 2-1
October 07, 2007 | Field Hockey
PRINCETON -- Senior co-captain Paige Schmidt scored off a corner with 14 minutes remaining in regulation to lift the Princeton field hockey team to a 2-1 win over third-ranked Connecticut on Sunday afternoon at Class of '52 Stadium. Junior Holly McGarvie also scored for Princeton while sophomore Cynthia Wray made seven saves for the win.
UConn, which had won five-straight games over Princeton and brought a five-game winning streak into Sunday's game, got off to the start it wanted by getting the game's first two scoring chances and converting on the second when Lauren Aird got the ball midway to the top of the circle and quickly spun around and shot out of the reach of Wray, just inside the far post.
That gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead at 5:34 of the game but the lead lasted just three minutes when Princeton countered and capitalized on pressure in the Connecticut circle with a goal. Junior Katie Kinzer carried the ball along the end line before feeding it to McGarvie, whose quick shot eluded Connecticut goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero and knotted up the score. The goal was her fifth of the season.
That was it for the scoring in the first half, although Princeton had an apparent goal called off. Junior co-captain Candice Arner played the ball on a free hit that was deflected into the Connecticut goal, but it was waved off because of a foul. UConn outshot Princeton 7-4 in the opening half, but the half ended with the score even at 1-1.
The tight play continued in the second half with both teams having good scoring chances. UConn began the half strong but Princeton's strong defense in the circle and timely saves from Wray held the Huskies off the board. As time approached the midway point of the half, the Tigers were pressuring in the UConn end when they were awarded a corner. Sophomore Christina Bortz played the ball in to Arner, who left it for Schmidt, and the reigning two-time Ivy League Player of the Year delivered with a shot beyond the outstretched pad of Mainier for her second goal of the season.
UConn pressured late, earning several corners, but could not convert as Wray and the Tiger defense held and the Tigers picked up the 2-1 win. UConn outshot Princeton 13-7 and outcornered the Tigers 9-6.
Wray finished the game with seven saves, while limiting a UConn offense which scored 19 goals over its previous three games to just one.
The win was Princeton's second in a row and improved Princeton's overall record to 6-4. The win was also Princeton's first this season over a ranked opponent. The Tigers return to action next weekend with two games on the road. They start with an Ivy game at Brown on Saturday and continue at Providence on Sunday.