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Kirby Nets Two Goals to Help Lead Princeton Field Hockey Past Yale, 4-1
September 27, 2014 | Field Hockey
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sydney Kirby matched a career-high with two goals to help lead the Princeton University field hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Yale University on Johnson Field.
Buoyed by a strong second half, the Tigers improved to 3-4 on the season and 2-0 in Ivy League play. Extending its win streak over the Bulldogs (1-6, 0-2 Ivy) to 30 games, Princeton held a decisive 17-10 shot advantage, which included a 11-5 second-half margin. Also finishing with a 10-2 edge in penalty corners, the Tigers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 28 at No. 12 Albany.
Generating the game's first good scoring opportunity, Yale recorded the contest's first shot in the opening minute. Making a run toward the left post, Lily Smith received a centering pass in front, but the freshman pushed the try just wide. Holding possession in the attacking third in the sixth minute, Jessie Accurso corralled a loose ball in the middle of the circle before lifting a shot over the cage.
Pushing forward in the ninth minute, Princeton's Allison Evans played a ball toward the left post. Looking to redirect it around Yale goalie Heather Schlesier, Maddie Copeland got a stick on the pass, but the attempt veered wide. Winning a penalty corner in the 19th minute, the Tigers broke through. Getting the play started, Hailey Reeves inserted it to Kate Ferrara at the top of the circle. Stopping it for Kirby, Ferrara helped set up the senior tri-captain's third goal of the season.
Stemming the Princeton tide, Yale came up with an equalizer just 3:52 later. Dribbling up the right side, Carol Middough lifted a high shot into the Tiger cage just before reaching the endline. With just over seven and a half minutes to go before the intermission, the Bulldogs nearly added to their tally, but Smith pulled an open look from the left side wide of the near post.
Seizing the momentum early in the second half, Princeton notched the go-ahead goal just 39 seconds into the period. Catching up to a through-ball on the left side of the circle, Evans played a ball across the face of the goal. Making a run toward the back post, Cassidy Arner settled the pass before tapping it in past Schesier at 35:39.
Continuing to apply pressure, Cat Caro tested Schlesier with a shot at 45:37. Minutes later, Caro once again carved out space in front of the cage, but the Yale goalkeeper came up with another pad save to momentarily keep the Tigers off the board. Earning its eighth penalty corner of the game in the 48th minute, Reeves inserted it to Kirby at the top of the circle, who ripped a low tracer into the Yale net to notch the fourth multi-goal game of her career. With just under 11 minutes to play, Ryan McCarthy capped off the scoring by knocking in a rebound at the left post at 58:44.
Taking over for Anya Gersoff for the final 22:16 of the second half, Julia Boyle made four saves. Schlesier made seven stops.