Givens Scores Twice as Princeton Shuts Out Monmouth in Season Opener

Friday, August 25

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

1-0-0

Monmouth

0-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Monmouth	0	0	0
Princeton	2	1	3

Natalie Larkin (left) had the first goal on the night for the Tigers.

Givens Scores Twice as Princeton Shuts Out Monmouth in Season Opener

August 25, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By the time 70 minutes were gone in Friday night's 3-0 season-opening win over Monmouth for the Princeton women's soccer team at Roberts Stadium, sophomore Abby Givens was already two-thirds of the way to her goal total from her freshman year.

Givens' goals in the 44th and 70th minutes followed the first of the season for senior Natalie Larkin, who assisted on Givens' second, in the 29th minute as sophomore Natalie Grossi picked up her fifth career shutout.

Princeton has now won its opener for the third time in as many seasons under head coach Sean Driscoll, giving the program its longest such streak since winning its openers annually from 2000 through 2004. The margin was Princeton's largest in a season opener since a 6-0 win over Howard in 2015.

Despite Princeton graduating its leading scorer from last season (12) and its all-time leading scorer in Tyler Lussi, the Tigers started an all-returner lineup with only sophomore forward Courtney O'Brien getting her first career start. It was also a veteran in Larkin who got the scoring started, netting her seventh career goal by weaving her way from the left side and through the box before firing from just inside the six and past the left post.

With just 1:15 before the half, Givens, who scored three goals as a rookie on the way to honorable mention All-Ivy League status, maneuvered her way through the 18 and recovered the ball before squaring up for a straight-on try that found the net. She added her second with just more than 20 minutes to go when Natalie Larkin, near the left post, found Givens standing just beyond the six-yard box and with a straight-on look at the goal.

Princeton outshot Monmouth 22-5 overall and 10-2 on goal. Monmouth just missed a chance to spoil the shutout with less than three minutes to go, but a penalty kick resulting from a foul on a Hawk streaking to the goal went wide to the right.

The Tigers will have a quick turnaround before heading to Villanova for a 1 p.m. game Sunday. The Wildcats are 1-1 after a 3-1 loss Thursday night at James Madison.