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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Syracuse
Players Mentioned
Field Hockey Drops Double-Overtime Thriller to No. 13 Syracuse, 4-3
October 05, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PRINCETON, N.J. - Junior goalie Anya Gersoff matched a career-high with 12 saves, but the Princeton field hockey team fell to 3-7 on the season with a 4-3 double-overtime loss to No. 13 Syracuse University on Bedford Field.
Down 2-1 at the intermission, the Tigers' Maddie Copeland netted a pair of goals in the first 4:40 of the second period to pull the home team in front. Syracuse freshman Lieke Visser came up with the equalizer in the 48th minute to send the game into overtime where Emma Russell broke the deadlock with the game winner at 93:28.
Accounting for nine of the game's 14 penalty corners, Syracuse wasted little time getting on the board, notching the contest's first tally just 1:50 after the opening whistle. Visser got the play started with an insert to Jordan Page, who set up Annalena Ulbrich for a hard shot from the top of the circle. In the 29th minute, it was once again Visser inserting to Page, who helped line up Ulbrich's second score.
With time winding down in the first half, Princeton looked to get on the board. Playing out a penalty corner with 35:00 on the clock, Annabeth Donovan inserted it to Ryan McCarthy on the left side. Passing up a shot, McCarthy fed Sydney Kirby, who ripped it toward the Syracuse cage. Making her way to the back-post, Donovan got a stick on the shot, redirecting it across the face of the goal and into the path of Cassidy Arner, who tapped it in at the right post.
Building on the momentum early in the second half, Copeland posted a pair of goals just 4:09 apart. Coming right out of the break, the junior notched her fourth goal of the year just 31 seconds into the frame. In the 40th minute, Arner intercepted a pass in the midfield before finding McCarthy on the right side. Playing a cross into the circle, the freshman found Copeland at the left post, who knocked it in at 39:40 to suddenly put the Tigers in front, 3-2.
Still down a goal in the 48th minute, Syracuse earned a penalty corner. Once again playing the insert to the top of the circle, Visser ultimately made her way to the back-post. Pouncing on a rebound off a hard Ulbrich shot, Visser poked it into the Princeton net at 47:51 to pull the visitors even.
With neither team able to come up with the game winner in regulation, the game headed into overtime. Generating an early scoring opportunity, the Tigers' Allison Evans found space on the left side of the circle before firing a shot that trickled just wide of the right post at 70:32. Moments later, Kirby put another try on target, forcing a Jess Jecko save.
Regaining possession and moving into the attacking third in the 74th minute, Russell and Page recorded a pair of shots on goal that prompted a couple of Gersoff stops. Continuing to apply pressure, the Orange held a 4-1 shot advantage over the final 10-plus minutes of the first OT, but could not get one past the Tiger netminder.
With just under 13 minutes remaining in the second overtime, Syracuse looked to have a golden opportunity to put the game away. Slipping behind the Princeton defense, Kati Nearhouse was all alone with Gersoff, but the junior goalie came off her line, cutting off the striker's angle to head off the threat before it could threaten the Tiger cage.
Once again on the attack, the Orange finally solved Gersoff with 6:32 remaining in the period. Receiving a Visser pass to the left of the Princeton net, Russell turned to goal. Moving alongside the endline, the junior slapped the ball past a charging Gersoff while going to the ground to seal the Syracuse victory.
Extending its win streak over Princeton to four games, Syracuse (8-3) finished with a 24-13 shot advantage, which included an 11-5 edge in the two extra sessions. Matching a personal-best set in a 1-0 season-opening loss to Duke on Sept. 5, Gersoff collected 12 saves. Jecko made five stops.
Princeton returns to action on Friday, Oct. 10 against Delaware.