Men's Soccer Handles No. 22 Ranked Rider, 3-1

Tuesday, September 13

Princeton, NJ

7:00 PM

Princeton University

1-2

Rider

4-1

Rider

Princeton

Senior Josh Haberman

September 13, 2016 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Senior Greg Seifert scored his first two career goals to lead the Princeton men's soccer team to a 3-1 win over No. 22 ranked Rider on Tuesday night on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.

Primarily a defensive weapon, Seifert was moved to the forward position at halftime and it was a coaching decision that paid off in strides.

"We knew we were shorthanded up top with Jeremy [Colvin] not being able to play tonight, and at halftime we decided to put Greg Seifert there," Princeton head coach Jim Barlow said. We used him there in the past and he's done pretty well and it was a really good half from him up top. He caused them a lot of problems and kept looking to get behind them and go to goal, which stretched them out a little bit. Having said that, we were under it for a good part of the night - Rider is a really, really good team. We did well not to break when they tied it up and they were all over us for a little while. It was a much needed win for us and we got a couple breaks that we hadn't gotten in the first two games."

Senior Josh Haberman made four saves in net and the defense did a stellar job at constantly blocking shots away and allowing just 29 percent of the shots to make it on frame. Haberman had two incredible stops in the first half, the first a leaping save and outstretched glove, the second came off a free kick in the 33rd minute.

After a scoreless first half, freshman Benjamin Martin broke the stalemate in the 61st minute with help from junior Daniel Bowkett, who had two assists tonight. Junior Harry Heffernan crossed the ball to Bowkett who then knocked it forward to Martin who slipped it past the left foot of his defender and beat keeper Ryan Baird in a showdown.

Less than three minute later however, it was all knotted up with Clement Bourret receiving a great pass in the center of the box from Fernando Pena.

Seifert's two goals came back-to-back in the 79th and 83rd minutes and he nearly had another in between. The first came on a through ball from Bowkett from midfield, the second was a breakaway where Seifert danced with Baird a bit before deciding when to strike.

"It was good to get the win," Seifert said. They put me up top in the second half to give a little more energy and to get something going and I found myself behind the defense a few times and was able to put the ball away. It was good to just get the win for the team, we definitely needed it. We approach every game with the same importance. It doesn't concern to us if they are ranked No. 1 or whatever they are ranked, we need to go in and get the win and that was my mentality and the mentality of the team going into today."

The Broncs made the eight-mile drive with an undefeated record, having only allowed one goal in four game to date to earn the ranking in the NSCAA national poll. They are now 4-1 on the season.

Princeton now 1-2 hosts Boston University on Friday, September 16. The game will be televised live on ESPNU with a 5:30 p.m., start time.