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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Hofstra
Players Mentioned
Hofstra Scores Last Two to Top Women's Soccer, 2-1 (Video Included)
September 05, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Below: Jen Hoy and Julie Shackford postgame interviews
PRINCETON -- Two seasons, same site, same score. Different opponents, different outcomes. A year after opening Roberts Stadium with a 2-1 win, the Princeton women's soccer team began Year Two at the new facility with a 2-1 loss to Hofstra Friday night.
The difference lies in the change in Princeton's makeup from one year to the next. When the Tigers opened Roberts on Sept. 2, 2008 with a win over Boston University, both Princeton goals were by seniors. A year later, three freshmen and a sophomore who missed all last season due to injury were among the starting 11. The youthful exuberance showed, but so did the inexperience.
A Hofstra (2-1) team that had already played two games this season and picked up its one win in overtime showed it knew how to gut out a win. With goals in the 44th and 60th minutes, Hofstra overcame an early Princeton score to drop the Tigers to 0-1 on the young season.
In the loss, Princeton showed plenty of promise from young talent. As the game was approaching seven minutes into the first half, freshman Stephanie Iantorno lobbed a ball down the end line for fellow rookie Jen Hoy, who put a crossing pass in front of sophomore Barb Previ for Previ to knock inside the left post.
Princeton outshot Hofstra 18-14, but the Pride put more shots on net, 8-6.
Perhaps Princeton's biggest missed opportunity, and likely a more unusual circumstance than the Tigers have seen in a long while, came less than three minutes in to the second half.
After a tie-up in the box, Princeton was awarded a free klck at the six-yard box. With Hofstra defenders lined up on the goal line as in a field hockey penalty corner, Princeton's chances resulted in three straight body blocks of shots and no go-ahead goal.
The loss came a year after Princeton suffered another one-goal defeat to Hofstra, a 1-0 loss on the road. The Pride now leads the series 2-1 after two straight victories following a Princeton win in 2006 in a Penn-hosted tournament.
Princeton will face another New York-based team at Roberts Stadium Sunday when St. John's, another road opponent for Princeton a year ago, comes to campus for a 1 p.m. game.
Friday's game was broadcast to tape by Verizon FiOS 1 and will air on that channel next week.