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Field Hockey Knocks UConn From Unbeatens With 3-1 Win
October 04, 2009 | Field Hockey
Box Score | Photo Album | Updated Stats | Ivy League Standings
PRINCETON (10/4/09) -- The seventh-ranked Princeton field hockey team scored two goals in a 1:05 span late in the first half to overcome an early deficit in a 3-1 win over fifth-ranked Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at Class of '52 Stadium.
In one of three games this weekend showcasing a pair of teams ranked in the Top 10, the Tigers got off to strong start, generating the first seven shots and two corners of Sunday's game. Connecticut held defensively however and scored on its first chance going the other way as Loren Sherer scored her 19th goal of the season on a quick break into the Princeton zone.
The Tigers continued to counter with pressure and eventually broke through in the 27th minute on their ninth shot of the game. Following a Husky foul, sophomore Alyssa Pyros played a free hit into the circle where sophomore Rachel Neufeld was able to put her stick on the ball and redirect by UConn goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero into the cage for her third goal of the season.
Princeton then went ahead just over a minute later on sophomore Kathleen Sharkey's team-leading 11th goal of the season. Her goal came on a backhanded shot from the top of the circle that sailed high into the net.
After being outshot 10-3 in the first half, Connecticut generated more chances in the second half, but was unable to crack the Tiger defense and junior goalkeeper Jennifer King, who made all of her four saves in the second half.
The UConn defense also played tough, not allowing the Tigers too many chances, but Princeton took advantage of its first chance in the 53rd minute when freshman Julia Reinprecht scored her sixth goal of the season. Sharkey had a shot attempt blocked and the rebound came to Reinprecht on the opposite side who had an open net to shoot at.
Shots for the game ended up even at 12-12, with Princeton edging UConn 10-3 in the first half and UConn edging Princeton 9-2 in the second. Both teams had four corners in the game.
The Tigers' win knocked UConn from the ranks of the unbeaten and improved the Tigers to 9-1 overall this season, while the Huskies are now 11-1. Princeton was also the first team this season to score more than two goals against UConn's defense.The win was Princeton's third this season over a ranked opponent.
Princeton will face another tough test this coming week when it travels to top-ranked Maryland on Wednesday night.