Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
#14 American
Players Mentioned
Early Deficit Too Much in 3-2 Field Hockey Loss to American
October 03, 2010 | Field Hockey
LINKS: Box Score | Updated Stats
PRINCETON (10/3/10) - A 3-0 first-half deficit proved too much for the fourth-ranked Princeton field hockey team to overcome in a 3-2 loss to 14th-ranked American on Sunday afternoon at Class of '52 Stadium. American scored three goals on four shots in the opening half and then withstood 16 Princeton shots in the second half to hang on for the one-goal win.
The Eagles jumped ahead with two goals in a one-minute span 10 minutes into the first half. Lotte van de Mierop scored the first goal after deflecting a sweep shot by Gina Hoffman on a corner. Less than a minute later Christine Fingerhuth made it 2-0 as her turnaround shot popped up and over Tiger goalkeeper Jennifer King and into the Princeton goal. Fingerhuth made the score 3-0 with four minutes left in the first half scoring with a turnaround backhander from the same spot.
Princeton regrouped at halftime and put the pressure on American in the second half, sending 16 shots towards the American goal and earning nine corners. Princeton broke through in the 29th minute when Kathleen Sharkey sent a blast by Hannah Weitzman for her 19th goal of the season. The goal came on a direct corner and was assisted by Alexandra Douwes and Julia Reinprecht.
The Tigers moved within a goal in the 61st minute again putting pressure on the American goal and drawing a yellow card on Hoffman. Playing with an extra player, Princeton earned a penalty corner and as the corner continued Sharkey fed Katie Reinprecht on the opposite side of the circle and Reinprecht scored her eighth of the season to make the score 3-2 with nine minutes remaining.
Princeton had its best chance to draw even a few minutes later when Katie Reinprecht sent a lead pass to Michelle Cesan who was behind the American defense, but Weitzman came out to challenge and knocked the ball away from Cesan just inside the circle.
The Tigers pulled Christina Maida from the goal in favor of an extra player and continued to pressure American, drawing two corners in the final two minutes of the game and a yellow card to Fingerhuth, but the Tigers couldn't draw even and dropped their first game of the 2010 season.
Princeton outshot American 22-4 for the game, including a 16-0 margin in the second half. Princeton has 12 corners to Americans 4. Weitzman finished the game with seven saves for the win, while neither Princeton goalie had a save in a half of action each.
Princeton is now 8-1 overall while American is 9-2. Princeton returns to action on Friday night at third-ranked Virginia.