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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn
Players Mentioned
Tie Equals Win for Penn over Women's Soccer
November 06, 2010 | Women's Soccer
PRINCETON -- Penn needed only a tie to clinch the outright Ivy League women's soccer title and advance to the NCAA tournament, and that's just what the Quakers did Saturday night on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.
With the 0-0 tie, Penn thwarted Princeton's late bid to claim the Ivy title with a win, instead taking the Bessie H. Rudd Cup back to Philadelphia.
"It's like having a little extra change in your pocket," Princeton head coach Julie Shackford, who has won six Ivy League titles in her tenure, said of Penn's tie-equals-win situation. "They did what they needed to do."
The Tigers were suddenly thrust into the effective Ivy League championship game after Kalie Bartholomew's overtime goal at Cornell last Saturday gave Princeton the win and Columbia and Harvard, also fighting for the league crown, later lost. Penn also won in overtime, a decision that proved key as a tie in this week's game then favored Penn. The Quakers end the Ivy season with 14 points, at 4-1-2 (9-6-2 overall) to Princeton's 13, at 4-2-1 (9-6-1 overall).
Princeton last made the NCAA tournament in 2008. Penn will be going for the first time since 2007.
"No matter what game ends your season, it's never fun," Shackford said.
If the chance to win an Ivy League title wasn't enough intrigue for Princeton, the Tigers were forced to give a first-career start to sophomore goalkeeper Ciaire Pinciaro. Kristin Watson, who had started all but two of the team's first 15 games, suffered an injury during the week in practice. Alyssa Pont, who started the first two games, was also out injured.
Pinciaro entered late in Princeton's loss to Harvard two weeks ago for her first collegiate action.
"I thought that was the most special part of the night, to do what she did with 22 (career) minutes under your belt," Shackford said.
Pinciaro made five saves to eight for Penn counterpart Caroline Williams.
Each team had late chances to score, with a Penn corner kick in the last minute of regulation bouncing off the crossbar and off a Princeton defender before Pinciaro pounced to secure it. Midway through the first overtime, sophomore Jen Hoy, who led Princeton on the season with seven goals, had a chance that slipped just wide of the right post.
Sophomore Caitlin Blosser, who led Princeton in points with six goals and seven assists, had a team-high four shots and three on goal.