Princeton University Athletics
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Field Hockey Clinches Ivy Title With 4-3 Win Over Penn
November 08, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University field hockey team clinched its 10th-consecutive Ivy League championship with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the University of Pennsylvania on Bedford Field.
Breaking a 3-3 deadlock in the 62nd minute, Maddie Copeland netted her team-high eighth goal of the season to help the Orange and Black claim its 23rd conference crown. Winning the league title outright thanks to a Columbia loss to Harvard, Princeton (7-10, 6-1 Ivy) earned the Ivy's automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Laying claim to a 20th conference championship in 21 seasons, the Tigers will learn their opponent when the full championship field is announced on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. as part of the Division I Field Hockey Selection Show on NCAA.com.
Jumping out to an early lead, Princeton netted the game's first tally just 9:36 after the opening whistle. Getting the play started, Hailey Reeves inserted the ball to the top of the circle. Passing up a shot, Sydney Kirby dumped a feed back down to Reeves on the left post, who tucked it into the right side of the cage.
Coming right back, Penn needed just 1:55 to record the equalizer. Taking advantage of a penalty corner of its own, Emily Corcoran inserted it to Mary Rose Croddick. Lining up a shot from the edge of the circle, Alex Iqbal ripped a low tracer into the left corner at 11:31.
Still tied in the 30th minute, Corcoran created a turnover in the Tigers' defensive zone. After taking a quick touch, the senior slid a pass to Elizabeth Hitti on the right side. Looking to goal, Hitti fired another low shot into the Princeton cage to suddenly put the visitors up 2-1. With seconds left in the half, the Tigers rallied. Receiving an insert at the top of the circle, Kirby again played the ball to her left, this time to Teresa Benvenuti. Putting a shot on target, the junior recorded her fourth of the year to pull the Orange and Black even with just seven ticks on the clock.
Hoping to build on the momentum, Princeton notched a goal early in the second half. Making her way to the front of the net, Allison Evans got a stick on a Benvenuti shot off of a penalty corner, redirecting it past Penn goalkeeper Allison Weisenfels at 38:59. With the score, Evans upped her career point total to 97 and now stands only three points shy of becoming just the ninth player in program history to reach to 100-point plateau.
Catching Princeton in transition, the Quakers quickly moved into the attacking third in the 55th minute. Taking advantage of a Tiger foul on a breakaway opportunity inside of the circle, Alexa Hoover successfully converted a penalty stroke at 54:54 to knot the score at 3-3. With just over 11 minutes to play, Hitti looked to have the game winner in hand with a tricky shot from the right endline, but Cassidy Arner alertly cleared the ball off the line to keep Princeton level.
Breaking out of their defensive zone after a Penn penalty corner in the 61st minute, the Tigers notched the game winner. Holding the ball on the right side, Cat Caro sent a clearance to Stephanie Goldberg near midfield. Playing a long ball across the pitch, the senior found Copeland alone on the left side of the circle. Controlling the pass, the striker backhanded a rising shot past Weisenfels at 61:04 to put Princeton back on top.
Pushing forward, Penn generated one final scoring chance with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Carving out space in front of the Princeton cage, Hoover tested goalie Julia Boyle with a quick shot from point-blank range, but the senior netminder made a pad save to seal the Tiger win.
Princeton finished with a slim 10-9 shot advantage and an 8-4 edge in penalty corners. Boyle and Weisenfels each registered four saves.
Prior to the start of the game, Kirby, Goldberg, Arner, Evans, Boyle, Colleen Boyce and Annie McLaughlin were honored as part of the Tigers' Senior Day festivities. Together, the Class of 2015 has amassed a 52-24 (26-2 Ivy) record, while helping to lead Princeton to four conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.