Ranked Foe Goes Down: Princeton Tops No. 20 N.C. State

Saturday, September 2

Raleigh, N.C.

1:00 PM

Princeton University

3-0-0

North Carolina State

3-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Princeton	1	1	2
NC State	0	0	0

Mimi Asom had the first goal in Princeton's 2-0 win at No. 20 N.C. State.

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Ranked Foe Goes Down: Princeton Tops No. 20 N.C. State

September 02, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

For the first time in five years, the Princeton women's soccer team defeated a top-20 opponent, and for the first time ever, the Tigers took down an Atlantic Coast Conference team on its home field.

Junior Mimi Asom scored in the first half and senior Mikaela Symanovich doubled the lead in the second as the Tigers beat No. 20 North Carolina State 2-0 Saturday in Raleigh to remain perfect on the season and deal the Wolfpack their first loss of the 2017 campaign.

"Our back line, our defending overall as a team, was fantastic. We didn't miss a beat when we made our rotations," Princeton head coach Sean Driscoll said of a defense that included rookie Lucy Rickerson making her first career start along with Katie Pratt-Thompson, Symanovich and Olivia Sheppard. "(Keeper Natalie Grossi) was tremendous. That was her best game, I think, think she's been here."

Asom's goal came in the 21st minute after Grossi booted it forward, Abby Givens kept it going with a head and Asom charged onward, slicing her try across the goal mouth and inside the left post. Symanovich's came in the 55th as rookie Eve Hewins sent a cross through the box and the senior put it inside the right post. The Asom goal ended a shutout streak of 223:33 for the Wolfpack, who made it to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament last season.

"It gave our team a lot of confidence," Symanovich said of her goal to put Princeton up 2-0. "We knew going into this game that we had what it takes, but having a second goal in that second half meant that we had control over the general feel of the game at that point."

The win came despite N.C. State outshooting Princeton 15-7 overall and 6-4 on goal. Sophomore Grossi made six saves to protect the shutout, giving Princeton three straight clean sheets to start the season for the first time since 2013.

"Everyone has played soccer games where the shot count doesn't necessarily reflect the score," Symanovich said. "I think going forward we're just incredibly excited that we're finishing the chances that we're getting."

Princeton's last win over at top-20 team came in the second round of the 2012 NCAA tournament when Princeton won at No. 16 West Virginia. The Tigers had been 0-7-1 all-time on the road against ACC teams at the time of the game with the last such match coming at Miami (Fla.) in 2005. And the Tigers needed to play tough all 90 minutes to finish it off.

"They were pressing at the end of the game to get a goal and we saved a ball off the line," Driscoll said. "It never felt really comfortable until the last two minutes. That's a testament to their quality."

The Tigers' Labor Day weekend trip will get no easier as Princeton heads to No. 18 Wake Forest for a noon match Monday. The Demon Deacons are 5-0 after a 4-0 win Friday at George Mason.

"I thought (this trip) was a really good barometer to kind of get a gauge as to just how good we are," Driscoll said. "We were definitely optimistic coming down in terms of it being a really good learning experience no matter what happens, and I think we still feel that way."