Princeton University Athletics
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Field Hockey Nets Four Second-Half Goals But Falls Short at Virginia, 6-4
September 07, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The seventh-ranked Princeton University field hockey team netted four goals in a furious second-half rally before ultimately dropping a 6-4 decision to No. 6 Virginia on University Hall Turf Field.
Shut out and managing just one shot on net against No. 4 Duke in the season opener, the Princeton offense roared to life after a slow start against the Cavaliers, netting four second-half goals in a span of 18-plus minutes. Dropping to 0-2 on the season, the Tigers are now 3-5 all-time against Virginia (2-2).
Sydney Kirby accounted for Princeton's first goals of the year with scores at 40:26 and 51:47, while senior Allison Evans and freshman Rachel Park came up with the Tigers' other two tallies. Facing a 4-0 deficit, Princeton twice battled to within a goal at 4-3 and 5-4.
Snuffing out an early Princeton penalty corner, Virginia broke out of its defensive zone in the third minute. Rushing forward on the counter, sophomore Riley Tata ripped a low shot from the right side into the far corner of the Princeton cage at 2:22.
With just over 28 minutes remaining in the half, fellow sophomore Caleigh Foust nearly added to the Cavalier margin. Finding free space on the left side the striker squared up and looked to goal, but Princeton junior goalkeeper Anya Gersoff came off her line to make a sliding pad save.
Generating the Tigers' first good scoring opportunity in the 11th minute, Kirby put a try on target from distance, finding the pad of senior goalie Jenny Johnstone. Pushing back into the attacking third, Princeton later worked the ball into freshman Ryan McCarthy, who carved out space in front of the Virginia goal, but Johnstone once again turned away the attempt to preserve the Cavalier lead.
Stopping a Kelsey LeBlanc insert with just over 15 minutes to go before the intermission, senior Jess Orrett slid a pass to Maddie DeCerbo, who tucked a shot inside the backpost at 19:14 to double the Virginia margin.
Looking to get the Tigers going, Annabeth Donovan carried it up the middle of the field before playing a ball into the circle. Junior Maddie Copeland prompted a Johnstone save with a quick shot before freshman Ryan McCarthy pushed a try just wide of the left post. Gaining possession in the midfield in the 27th minute, Virginia rushed forward with numbers. Receiving a Tata pass, Emilia Tapsall made it 3-0 by guiding her third of the season into the back left corner.
Picking up where they left off, the Cavaliers notched their fourth goal just 1:31 into the second half. Dribbling into the circle, Foust backhanded a try over a diving Gersoff to extend the Virginia lead. Getting one back, Princeton capitalized on a corner in the 41st minute. Ending up with the insert at the top of the circle, Kirby fired a hard shot that ricocheted off a Cavalier defender's stick and into the Virginia netting.
Princeton won another penalty corner in the 52nd minute. Once again looking to Kirby, the senior tri-captain delivered, putting in her second of the contest to make it 4-2. Just 2:07 later, Allison Evans found the back of the net, suddenly pulling the Tigers within one.
Momentarily staving off the visitor's comeback bid, Tara Vittese beat Gersoff with a shot off of a penalty corner at 56:22. Quickly switching fields minutes later with nicely played long ball, the Tigers snuck a pair of strikers behind the Virginia defense. Trying to get to a 50-50 ball at the top of the circle, Johnstone was caught out of position, as a trailing Park slotted a shot past a defender that trickled over the goal line.
With just under seven minutes to go, Virginia's Lucy Hyams capped off the scoring. Holding the ball on the right side of the circle, the sophomore slipped a shot past Gersoff at 63:27 to make it 6-4. Virginia finished with an 8-5 edge in penalty corners and a slim 19-18 shot advantage. Gersoff recorded nine saves for the Tigers, while Johnstone had seven stops.