No. 9 Princeton Takes Control Of Ivy Race With 3-2 Takedown Of No. 14 Harvard

Saturday, October 26

Cambridge, Mass.

12:00 PM

Princeton University

(11-4, 5-0Ivy)

#14 Harvard

(10-4, 4-1Ivy)

Princeton

HARV

Photo by: Michael Reeves

No. 9 Princeton Takes Control Of Ivy Race With 3-2 Takedown Of No. 14 Harvard

October 26, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 9 Princeton Tigers registered three tallies off of corners as it took down the No. 14 Harvard Crimson, 3-2, to remain on top of the Ivy League standings on Saturday afternoon.

The game-winner started when Sammy Popper dribbled to her right and sent a hard shot towards the cage. MaryKate Neff knocked it in to put the Tigers in front with 13 minutes to go.

PRINCETON GOAL!

MK knocks in Sammy's shot as the Tigers take the lead!

Watch: https://t.co/nBv1pzaRSr pic.twitter.com/Th3EB0LnIy
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) October 26, 2019

Harvard's best chance to tie the contest came as the clock ticked near five minutes. The home squad picked up a corner, but Margaret Lynch blocked Bente van Vlijmen's shot. Harvard did not get another attempt.

With the victory, Princeton improves to 11-4 overall and 5-0 in the Ivy League. Harvard fell to 10-5 this season and 4-1 in the conference. The rest of the league has at least two losses.

Hannah Davey looked to get the Tigers on the board early as she forced the Crimson's goalie Ellie Shahbo to make stop in the fourth minute. Her rebound shot was also blocked. Princeton did not allow shot in the first quarter while producing five attempts.

Casey Allen, who registered the home unit's first shot, whipped an impressive backhand ball into the cage to Harvard up 1-0 at the 23:11 mark of the second frame.

Princeton collected a corner with 49 seconds remaining in the first half. Davey scored as her ball trickled through Shahbo.

Princeton 1, Harvard 1 | HALFTIME

Tigers even up the contest right before the end of the half! Hannah sends one on the corner that trickles through!

Watch: https://t.co/nBv1pzaRSr pic.twitter.com/B4l9gaaiO3
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) October 26, 2019

Harvard went back in front early in the second half as Maddie Earle posted her fourth goal of the year on a reverse stick shot. The Crimson had an opportunity to add on with two consecutive corners, but had both attempts denied.

Popper retied the contest as she dribbled to her right and sent a shot that got through at the 40:53 point of the matchup.

PRINCETON GOAL!

Sammy buries it on the corner to tie the game again!

Watch: https://t.co/nBv1pzaRSr pic.twitter.com/dNX5dF69FR
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) October 26, 2019

Neff's game-winner came just 2:10 into the final quarter. It was her second goal of the season. 10 of the Tigers' 15 games this year have been one-goal decisions.

Princeton will host Cornell next Sunday (Nov. 3, 12 p.m.) for Senior Day. The Class of 2020 has registered 50 wins, three NCAA appearances, two Final Fours and an Ivy League title. It's the final home game of the 2019 season for the Tigers.