Princeton University Athletics
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Field Hockey's McCarthy Clinches Outright Ivy Title With Overtime Winner
November 07, 2015 | Field Hockey
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PRINCETON, N.J. – Ryan McCarthy netted the game winner just 2:35 into the first overtime to give the 18th-ranked Princeton University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Penn on the final day of the regular season.
Edging out Penn by a goal for the second time in as many years, the Tigers improved to 10-6 (7-0 Ivy) on the season. Entering the game having already assured itself at least a share of the conference title, Princeton claimed the Ivy crown outright, and with it the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers' will learn of their first round opponent when the full championship bracket is announced on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 10 p.m.
Going on the offensive early, Princeton earned a pair of penalty corners in the game's first five minutes. Stopping a Sophia Tornetta insert, Elise Wong set up a Teresa Benvenuti shot from the top of the circle. Carving out space in front, Maddie Copeland redirected it toward the Penn cage, forcing a Liz Mata save.
Continuing to push forward in the seventh minute, the Tigers broke through. Holding the ball on the left side, Benvenuti played a centering pass to Copeland, who tipped it past Mata at 6:54 for her 16th goal of the season. Hoping to pad the cushion in the 14th minute, Benvenuti put a hard shot on target following a Princeton penalty corner that found Mata's pads.
Generating several Penn scoring chances, Selena Garzio pushed a pair of shots wide of the left post. In the waning moments of the first half, Garzio found herself alone on the backpost and batted a ball out of the air that veered just wide of the Princeton cage.
With neither team able to maintain possession in the final third for much of the second half, each side managed just one shot through the period's first 20-plus minutes. In the 60th minute, Penn earned its first penalty corner of the period, but Elizabeth Hitti's insert hopped over Claire Kneizys stick, as the Quakers were unable to put a shot on goal.
Still trailing inside of the four-minute mark, Rachel Huang put a quick shot on target that forced an Anya Gersoff save. Earning a penalty corner following a scramble in front, Penn came up with the equalizer. Getting the play started, Hitti sent the insert to Garzio at the top of the circle. Looking to goal, the freshman powered a hard shot past Gersoff and into the Princeton cage at 66:55 to pull the home team even.
Switching fields, the Tigers earned a penalty corner of their own inside of the final minute of play. Receiving the Tornetta insert at the top of the circle, Benvenuti set a shot toward the cage that was blocked down and cleared by the Quakers.
With Princeton controlling possession early in the first OT, Tornetta nearly linked up with Cat Caro, sending a long hit from the right side just over the junior's stick in front. Moments later, Tornetta set up the game winning play. Carrying it up the left side, the freshman striker played a ball across the face of the goal before reaching the endline. Making a run toward the cage, McCarthy deflected the pass into the Penn net with 12:25 on the clock.
Princeton finished with an 8-7 shot advantage with a 7-5 edge in penalty corners. Gersoff made one save in the win, while Mata had three stops.