McCarthy's Double-OT Goal Sends No. 11 Princeton To NCAA Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 11

Charlottesville, Va.

2:00 PM

Princeton University

(12-6)

Virginia

(15-5)

Team	1	2	OT 3	OT 4	Final F
Princeton	1	1	0	1	3
Virginia	2	0	0	0	2

Photo by: Michael Wong

McCarthy's Double-OT Goal Sends No. 11 Princeton To NCAA Quarterfinals

November 11, 2017 | Field Hockey

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Ryan McCarthy's double-overtime goal capped a thrilling 3-2 victory for the No. 11 Princeton Tigers (12-6) over the No. 5 Virginia Cavaliers (15-5) at Turf Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Tigers move on to the NCAA Quarterfinals against the No. 4 North Carolina Tarheels Sunday (2 p.m.) Princeton has advanced the NCAA quarterfinals 16 times including a current stretch of three-straight seasons.

It didn't take very long for Princeton to create pressure as Julianna Tornetta found open space, dribbled towards the cage and created a penalty corner. On the corner, MaryKate Neff deflected McCarthy's shot, but Elise Wong touched it last, sending the ball into the cage. The Tigers held an early 1-0 lead just 2:14 into the contest.

The Tigers had the next scoring chance as Neff intercepted a pass, dribbled along the baseline and ripped a shot on Virginia's goalie Lucas Carrera, but it was denied.

Grace Baylis kept the Tigers on top by a goal as Pien Dicke, along the far side of the field, riffled the ball that the Tigers' keeper came up with.

The Cavaliers got on the board as Ell Greta knocked in a high attempt with 18:45 to go in the first half. About seven minutes later, Dicke dribbled along the right side of the field and sent a shot towards the cage which was touched in by Tara Vittese, giving the home team a 2-1 advantage.

McCarthy had two excellent scoring chances with under 10 minutes remaining as she deflected a ball from Julianna Tornetta just wide of the cage and then had another attempt off the mark off a corner.

The Tigers' defense stepped up in the second half as the Cavaliers peppered Princeton with six shots over a two-minute span, but couldn't not get another tally. Baylis made two more saves during that span.

The sophomore goalie followed that up with two additional stops five minutes later. McCarthy tried to tie the meeting in the 51st minute, but her attempt was flung away. However, the senior captain created a turnover in front of the Cavaliers' cage and drew a penalty stroke with 12:18 to go.

The 2017 Ivy League Player of the Year, came through, sending a blast left of the goalie into the cage.

Neither team recorded a shot on goal in the final 12 minutes of game action, sending the NCAA battle into overtime.

Vittese had the best chance for Virginia in the first extra session, but her attempt went wide. With eight minutes remaining, the Tigers thought they had the game-winner as Sophia Tornetta's shot off a corner got through, but it was waved off for being too high.

Eight minutes into the second overtime, Sophia Tornetta knocked the ball to the stick of McCarthy, who sent the Tigers into the NCAA Quarterfinals on a sensational backhanded shot.

For McCarthy, it's the sixth time this season she has posted a multi-goal game, giving her nine in the last seven contests. Baylis made a career-high 10 saves in the win.

Princeton is 3-8 all-time against North Carolina including a 2-0 loss to open the 2017 season. The Tigers' last win over the Tar Heels came in the 2012 National Championship game.