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Princeton University
Columbia
Players Mentioned
Princeton Field Hockey Falls Short at Columbia, 3-2
October 03, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
WATCH PRINCETON GOALS
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Despite a pair of second half goals, the Princeton University field hockey team came up short in its comeback bid at Ivy League rival Columbia University, falling 3-2.
Down 2-0 at the intermission, Allison Evans and Sydney Kirby pulled Princeton (3-6, 2-1 Ivy) even with a pair of scores in the 37th and 62nd minutes, but Katie Ruesterholz netted the game winner with just 1:15 remaining in regulation to give the Lions (6-3, 2-1 Ivy) the win. Entering the contest with an 0-17 all-time record against the Tigers, the victory marked Columbia's first ever win over Princeton in a series that dates back to 1997.
Catching the Tigers on a counter attack, Columbia's Rebecca Pope played a long ball to Ruesterholz. With Princeton goalie Anya Gersoff coming off her line to try to cut off the forward's angle, Ruesterholz took a quick touch and dribbled to her right before finding the back of the visitors' cage just 1:43 after the opening whistle. Recording their first goal against the Tigers since the 2011 season, the Lions snapped a 141:43 minute scoreless streak against their league rivals.
Earning a penalty corner just over a minute later, Kirby registered Princeton's first shot, pushing a try just wide of the right post. Maintaining possession in the attacking third, Maddie Copeland generated a quality scoring chance in the 13th minute, but a defensive save by Columbia senior back Lauren Skudalski kept the Tigers off the board.
After Stephanie Goldberg and Cat Caro tested Lions' goalie Kimberly Pianucci with consecutive shots in 14th minute, Columbia regained possession. Capitalizing on a costly Princeton foul, Zoe Blake suddenly doubled the Lion margin by successfully converting a penalty stroke at 16:46.
Wasting little time creating Princeton's first scoring opportunity of the second half, Copeland slapped a try toward the cage that rattled off the right post just 42 seconds into the period. Continuing to apply pressure, the Tigers finally broke through at 37:00 with Evans notching her second goal of the season. With two goals and an assist on the year, Evans is now just 11 points shy of becoming the ninth player on program history to reach the 100-point plateau.
Hoping to regain the momentum, Columbia earned a penalty corner just over two minutes later. Looking to take advantage, Blake appeared to notch the game's third tally, but the would be goal was waved off. Quickly coming forward after a Princeton turnover in the 47th minute, Kyle Marsh found open space on the left side of the circle, but Gersoff made a big stop to keep the Orange and Black within one.
Still down 2-1 with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation, Princeton won its fourth penalty corner of the contest. Once again looking to Kirby, Annabeth Donovan inserted it to the top of the circle. Dribbling to her right, Kirby lined up a hard shot that bounced into the Lions' netting. Recording her fifth score off of a penalty corner this season, the senior tri-captain currently leads the Tigers with 11 points (5G, 1A).
Trying to stem the Princeton tide with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Columbia's Christina Freibott tracked down a loose ball in front before lifting a shot over an empty Tiger cage. Continuing to press forward in the contest's waning moments, Ruesterholz put away her second of the game, tucking a shot inside the left post with just 1:15 on the clock.
Princeton finished with a 14-10 shot advantage with both teams earning four penalty corners. Gersoff and Pianucci each made four saves.
The Tigers will host No. 13 Syracuse on Bedford Field on Sunday, Oct. 5.