No. 4 Princeton Earns #NCAAFH Final Four Berth With 2-1 Comeback Win Over No. 6 Harvard

Sunday, November 11

Princeton, N.J.

1:00 P.M.

Princeton University

(15-4)

Harvard

(17-2)

Team	1	2	Final F
Harvard	0	1	1
Princeton	0	2	2

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

No. 4 Princeton Earns #NCAAFH Final Four Berth With 2-1 Comeback Win Over No. 6 Harvard

November 11, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – Maddie Bacskai's goal with 5:01 left proved to be the game-winner as the No. 4 Princeton Tigers earned a 2-1 victory over the No. 6 Harvard Crimson in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at Bedford Field.

With the win, the Tigers advance to the program's eighth Final Four (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001,
2009, 2012, 2016, 2018). It's the second Final Four in three years for head coach Carla Tagliente.

"Since I've come here, I've been surrounded by great people," said Tagliente. "It's not just my accomplishment. I feel very luck and privileged to work with the student-athletes that we have. I'm fortunate every day I'm here. We have a special group of players. I have the best job, just standing back and watching them achieve this."

The crowd certainly brought the energy as the game got started with back and forth chants between the Harvard and Princeton fan bases.

Early in the contest, Sophia Tornetta had a wonderful scoring chance as she got around the Harvard goalie and sent a shot towards the empty cage, but a defensive save from Olivia Allin kept the game scoreless.

As the clock ticked under 11 minutes to go in the first half, the Crimson's Casey Allen whipped a shot from outside the circle that made Grace Baylis come out and hit away from incoming player …

What a play by Grace to keep the score tied. That was Harvard's first shot of the game. Princeton 0, Harvard 0, 10:48 remaining in the first half. Watch - https://t.co/rNS4j6wBHT #TigerUp #NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/6ux7dRju0K
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 11, 2018

The Tigers had consecutive corners with about five minutes to go, but their best threat was a blocked attempt from Julianna Tornetta. Harvard also back-to-back corners right before the half finished, but couldn't generate a chance.

Harvard got on the scoreboard seven minutes into the second half as Maddie Earle tapped the ball to Kathleen Young, who whipped it by Grace Baylis.

Hannah Davey went right back to work as she sent in a pass to Ali McCarthy in the circle, but the shot was denied.

Princeton kept up the offensive pressure before Clara Roth generated a penalty stroke with 11:05 to left. Coming into the game, 4-for-4 in penalty strokes, Julianna Tornetta did what she's done so many times before …

And we're tied!!!! Julianna puts it through. 11:05 left in the contest. Watch - https://t.co/rNS4j6wBHT #TigerUp #NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/hdzYOZGc82
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 11, 2018

The Tigers hardly slowed down after tying the meeting, creating three more corner tries before a fourth one with five minutes remaining. Roth inserted to Elise Wong, who stopped it for Julianna Tornetta. The sophomore dribbled to her right and dropped it for Bacskai, who had the shot hit off of Harvard's goalie's pad and get through.

Relive the goal that sent us to the #NCAA Final Four! #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/q7wiOqekDF
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 11, 2018

Harvard produced some offensive pressure, but did not secure a shot after giving up the lead.

FINAL: No. 4 Princeton 2, No. 6 Harvard 1
We're going back to the #NCAAFH Final Four! #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/iKDnlvJ2uH
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 11, 2018

With the win, No. 4 Princeton will take on No. 2 Maryland in the second national semifinal at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 16. The game will get underway at 3:45 p.m. The Terrapins defeated No. 5 UConn in overtime in the quarterfinals to get to Louisville. Maryland earned a 5-4 double overtime victory over Princeton on Sept. 18 at Bedford Field.

The other semifinal features a matchup of the first two opponents of the 2018 season for Princeton in No. 1 North Carolina and No. 12 Wake Forest. That battle will start at 1 p.m. Princeton dropped a 1-0 decision to UNC and picked up a 4-0 victory over the Demon Deacons.

Sights and Sounds from today's victory over No. 6 Harvard ...

Check out the sights and sounds from today's 2-1 comeback victory over No. 6 Harvard! #TigerUp #NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/ti9OyBjDOQ
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 11, 2018

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