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Princeton University
Delaware
Players Mentioned
No. 20 Princeton Field Hockey Edged Out By No. 18 Delaware, 4-3
September 13, 2015 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
NEWARK, Del. – The 20th-ranked Princeton University field hockey team fell to 1-3 on the season with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to No. 18 Delaware at Fred P. Rullo Stadium.
Erasing an early 2-0 deficit, the Tigers netted three unanswered goals before conceding consecutive scores less than 10 minutes apart, including the game winner at 58:05. With the win, Delaware improved to 5-0 on the season and 13-12-3 all-time against the Orange and Black.
Wasting little time getting on the board, Meghan Winesett put the Blue Hens on top, corralling a loose ball in front before turning it into the Princeton cage just 52 seconds after the opening whistle. Holding the ball on the left side of the circle in the fifth minute, Michaela Patzner centered a pass to Winesett, who slapped a hard shot past Princeton goalie Anya Gersoff to double the Blue Hens' margin.
Looking to break through in the 21st minute, the Tigers earned their first penalty corner of the afternoon. Stopping a Sophia Tornetta insert, Elise Wong set up a Teresa Benvenuti shot from the top of the circle that was blocked down by the Delaware defense. Putting a shot on target, Wong forced sophomore goalkeeper Emmeline Oltmans to make a kick save. Corralling the rebound to the left of the Blue Hens' cage, Ryan McCarthy pushed a shot past Oltmans at 21:29 to put Princeton on the board.
Continuing to push forward, the Tigers earned another penalty corner in the 25th minute. Once again stopping Tornetta's insert, Wong set up Benvenuti, who powered a shot toward the Delaware cage. Getting a stick on the try, Caro tipped it past Oltmans to pull Princeton even at 24:56.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, the Tigers came up with the go-ahead goal. Tracking down the ball on the right side of the circle, Benvenuti fired a quick shot past Oltmans at the far post. Just over five minutes later, Delaware answered as Patzner set a low shot from the top of the circle following a penalty corner into the left side of the Princeton cage.
With Delaware again threatening in the 56th minute, Hailey Reeves made a defensive save on a Greta Nauck shot to momentarily keep the Blue Hens' attack at bay. Earning a penalty corner in the 59th minute, Patzner picked up her second goal of the day, slipping a shot past Gersoff at 58:05.
Inside of the five-minute mark, Delaware nearly added to its tally when Maura Zarkoski rattled a shot off the post. Drawing a foul moments later, Patzner looked to seal the Delaware win, but Gersoff made a diving save on the ensuing penalty stroke to keep Princeton within striking distance.
Still looking for the equalizer in the waning moments of regulation, the Tigers earned a penalty corner. Playing the insert to the top of the circle, Tornetta made a move toward the backpost. Swatting down a rebound, Tornetta sent the ball toward an empty Delaware net, but Krissy Mikelson made a defensive save at the goal line to keep Princeton off the board.
The Tigers finished with a 13-9 shot advantage and a 6-3 edge in penalty corners. Gersoff made two saves in the loss, while Oltmans recorded four stops.
Princeton returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 13 against American.