Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Maryland
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Field Hockey Closes Out Season With NCAA First Round Loss to Maryland
November 15, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Princeton University field hockey team closed out its 2014 season with a 5-1 NCAA first round loss to No. 2 University of Maryland at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
Finishing the year with an 8-11 (6-1 Ivy) record, the Tigers fell to 7-20-1 all-time against the Terps. Eliminated by Maryland (19-3) for the second consecutive season, the Orange and Black dropped to 2-4 all-time against the Terrapins in NCAA Tournament play.
Taking advantage of a failed Maryland clearance just over three minutes after the opening whistle, Teresa Benvenuti slapped a shot toward the cage. Making a run to the backpost, Ryan McCarthy narrowly missed an opportunity to redirect the attempt as the try trickled just wide of the left post. Switching fields, Maryland's Moira Putsch held the ball on the right side of the shooting circle in the sixth minute before ripping a low shot that forced an Anya Gersoff save.
Continuing to push forward, the Terps broke through in the 13th minute. Carrying the ball into the circle, Welma Luus quickly looked to goal, backhanding a shot past Gersoff at 12:06. Also netting the first goal in the teams' regular season meeting on Oct. 15, the score was Luus' third against the Tigers this season.
Looking to add to its tally, Maryland earned three consecutive penalty corners with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half. Turning away a Sarah Sprink shot following the first insert, Gersoff later recorded back-to-back saves on Sprink and Carrie Hanks to momentarily keep Princeton level.
Moving into the attacking third in the 30th minute, Putsch found open space to the left of the Tiger cage. Maneuvering around Gersoff, the freshman slotted a shot into the right corner at 29:47. Earning a penalty corner as the first half horn sounded, Maryland tacked on another goal as Sprink notched her 16th of the season to extend the margin to 3-0.
Earning a penalty corner early in the second half, Princeton pushed the insert to Sydney Kirby. Moving to her right, the senior put just the Tigers' second shot on target, prompting a Brooke Cabrera save. Winning a penalty corner of its own in the 48th minute, Maryland padded its cushion. Getting the play started, Putsch inserted to Katie Gerzabek. Lining up a hard shot from the top of the circle, Steffi Schneid hammered the Terps fourth tally into the bottom left corner. Schneid struck again at 59:02 with another goal off of a penalty corner.
With just three seconds remaining, the Tigers' spoiled Maryland's shutout bid, as Allison Evans put away her team-high ninth goal of the season. Upping her career point total to 103, she finishes her decorated career ranked eighth in program history. Evans' combined 60 goals and assists are tied for eighth all-time, while her 43 goals rank sixth.
Maryland finished with a 17-14 shot advantage with a slim 9-8 edge in penalty corners. Gersoff made nine saves to close out the year with a 6-11 record. Cabrera had five stops.
The game marked the last for Princeton's Class of 2015. Together, Kirby, Evans, Cassidy Arner, Colleen Boyce, Julia Boyle and Stephanie Goldberg helped guide the Tigers to a 53-25 overall record with a 26-2 mark against Ivy League opponents. Helping to guide the Tigers to four consecutive conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, Princeton's seniors played an integral role in the program's first-ever national championship in 2012.