No. 8 TCU Strikes Late to Hold Off Princeton's Sweet 16 Bid

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Women's Soccer

September 27, 1PM

at Harvard

Cambridge, Mass.

Women's Soccer

October 4, 7PM

vs Yale

Princeton, N.J.

Women's Soccer

October 11, 1PM

vs Cornell

Princeton, N.J.

Women's Soccer

October 18, 3PM

at Dartmouth

Hanover, N.H.

Women's Soccer

October 21, 8PM

vs Lehigh

Princeton, N.J.

A goal in each half, first from Lily Bryant and then from Jen Estes, put Princeton up twice on eighth-ranked TCU in Friday's second round of the NCAA tournament, but TCU's Messiah Bright answered each time and had the game-winning goal in double overtime as well, giving the Horned Frogs the 3-2 win and advancing to Sunday's round of 16.

"Today's game was a treat for any spectator," Princeton coach Sean Driscoll said. "Two teams fighting for 100-plus minutes to keep their season alive. The only disappointment I feel is the fact that we did not advance and this team, as it stands, will not be the same again. This group was nothing short of special. A collection of talented and selfless women who fought tirelessly for one another. I could not be more grateful for the past few months we spent together."

Princeton ended its season with 15 wins, third-most in program history, and advanced in the NCAA tournament for the second time in four competitive seasons. TCU was the third top-10 opponent Princeton faced this season, along with then-No. 8 Georgetown and then-No. 9 Rutgers, going 1-1-1 against the trio with the lone loss, to TCU, coming in double OT.

Bryant's goal came after a takeaway by Aria Nagai, who found Bryant for the finish as the first half wound toward its end.

Here's the goal from Lily Bryant that put Princeton up with 9:05 to go before the half! pic.twitter.com/Cgz9raZjZ6
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) November 19, 2021

That's where it stayed until there were 20 minutes left in the game, and Bright, the team's leading goal scorer on the season with 14 coming into the game, tied it up, though briefly. The goal ended Princeton's shutout streak at 647:43, its longest shutout streak in 13 years.

Just 2:22 after Bright's first goal, Caroline Noonan had a throw-in that Gabi Juarez sent forward to Jen Estes, who finished the chance for the go-ahead goal with less than 18 minutes to play.

Here's the Jen Estes goal that put the Tigers up 2-1 with 17 minutes to play! pic.twitter.com/F0KfQKoTgN
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) November 19, 2021

Princeton's lead lasted until there were two minutes to play, when Bright struck again to tie it, and though Princeton held firm through 15 minutes of OT play, Bright had her first hat trick of the season to deliver TCU the win.

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