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Tornetta Nets Two as Field Hockey Downs Maryland in NCAA Action, 3-1
November 14, 2015 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTSSYRACUSE, N.Y. – Behind a pair of Sophia Tornetta goals and a stellar defensive effort, the 16th-ranked Princeton University field hockey team defeated No. 5 Maryland in NCAA first round action at Syracuse's JS Coyne Stadium, 3-1.
Snapping a five-game losing skid to the Terrapins, Princeton improves to 11-6 (7-0 Ivy) on the season and advances to face the second-ranked Orange (18-1), who defeated UMass in their first round match-up, 4-2. Game time for the Tigers' national quarterfinal against Syracuse on Sunday, Nov. 15 is set for 2 p.m.
Generating an early scoring opportunity, the Terps' Sarah Sprink put a shot-on-goal following a penalty corner, forcing an Anya Gersoff save. With Maryland earning three more penalty corners over the first 20 minutes of play, Princeton's backline held firm, blocking down all three Sprink shots to keep the Tigers level.
In the 22nd minute, Tornetta played Princeton's first penalty corner to the top of the circle. Corralling a loose ball after a Ryan McCarthy shot, Cat Caro broke the scoreless deadlock at 21:20 to stake the Tigers to 1-0 margin.
Tornetta doubled the lead in the 31st minute. Getting the play started, Tornetta once again sent the insert to the top circle. Making a run to the backpost, Tornetta picked a deflection of a Kate Ferrara shot out of the air before tapping it home at 30:08. Maryland nearly broke through in the waning moments of the first half, but Debi-Michelle Jantzen made a diving defensive save, clearing an Alyssa Parker shot off the line just before the buzzer.
Tested early in the second, Maryland goalkeeper Sarah Holliday made a pair of saves from point-blank range to keep the Tigers from tacking onto their lead. Moments later, Danielle Duseau nearly padded the cushion, forcing Holliday to go post-to-post with a quick shot following a centering pass that came across the face of the goal.
Looking to jumpstart the Terps' offense, Anna Dessoye played a long hit into the circle. Carving out space in front, Sprink looked to deflect it into the Princeton cage, but the officials disallowed the would-be goal. Faye Curran and Carrie Hanks followed with a pair of shots on target, but Gersoff turned away both tries to keep Maryland off the board.
Tornetta added an insurance tally with just over 10 minutes to play. Carrying it on the left side, Tornetta slipped a low shot past Holliday at 58:08 to make it 3-0. With time winding down, Julie Duncan spoiled the Tigers' shutout bid, netting the Terps' only goal with just 3:01 to play.
Avenging a 3-0 regular season loss to Maryland on Sept. 22, the Princeton defense put the clamps on a Terps attack that had won 17-straight and entered the game tied for ninth in the country in scoring average (3.24). Outshot 24-5 in the September meeting, the Tigers allowed just 13 shots in Saturday's upset victory. Gersoff finished with six saves.