Men's Soccer Edged By Saint Joseph's, 3-2

Tuesday, September 21

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

2-3-0, 0-0-0

Saint Joseph's

3-5-0, 1-0-0

Saint Joseph's

Princeton

Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC

September 21, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

There was no shortage of entertainment at Sherrerd Field as Princeton and Saint Joseph's battled in men's soccer, but in the end a back-and-forth affair fell in the Hawks' favor, 3-2.

Each team scored twice in the opening half, including a goal aside in a span of 0:43 late in the opening stanza. Unfortunately for the Tigers, it was Saint Joseph's who found the winner in the 70th minute to secure the win.

The Tigers were under the gun quick after conceding the opening goal in the 7th minute. Blake Driehuis got to space and stepped into a cross from the left flank by James Fletcher, sending a ball up under the bar and by Sam Morton for an early Hawks lead.

Princeton rallied with the next two goals, taking what turned out to be a brief lead. First, it was James Wangsness who scored his first career goal in the 27th minute. A pretty passing sequence on a second-chance ball from a throw-in found the feet of Kevin O'Toole who slipped a pass to Wangsness who was wide open in space, needing just a quick touch to bang a ball off the post and in.

In the 35th minute, Kazu Shigenobu also scored his first career goal, again finishing a run started off a Princeton throw. Daniel Diaz-Bonilla knocked down the throw from the far right side, dropping a pass to a charging Shigenobu who stepped right into his shot and made the score 2-1.

The lead lasted just under three-quarters of a minute as the Hawks countered quickly with a goal from Fletcher. A long through ball found Matias Mancini who sent a shot off the post that was very close to crossing the line before a Princeton defender cleared the ball. Unfortunately, the clear found the only player in the vicinity -- Fletcher -- who quickly tapped it home to tie the game heading into halftime.

In the final frame, the Hawks scored in the 70th minute to net the eventual game-winner. It was Mancini who finished this time, capping a two-on-one break with his second goal of the season.

Princeton outshot Saint Joseph's, 18-11, in the match and held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Luis Luciano made six saves in the match for the Hawks -- five coming in the second half as the Tigers hunted an equalizer.

The Tigers are back in action on September 25, hosting Penn State. Kickoff from Sherrerd Field is set for 4 p.m.