Big Second Half Delivers Tigers an Ivy-Opening Win over Yale

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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.

The first goal came for the Princeton women's soccer team from Gabi Juarez in the 60th minute on Saturday night, and that goal didn't stand alone for long.

Opening Ivy League play, the Tigers ended up with a 4-0 win over Yale, with Jen Estes, Alexis Hiltunen and Ella Midura adding to Juarez's lid-lifter.

"I thought Yale did a very good job negating our offense in the first half," Princeton coach Sean Driscoll said. "They also moved the ball well and were composed in the middle third of the field. That's usually an area of the field where we have good success, but not so much in the first half, which is a credit to them. In the second half, we found an extra gear and had some terrific individual performances that changed the complexion of the game. We were much better at keeping the ball in their half of the field and creating dangerous moments. The team's mentality has been to never stop working and that continued tonight until the final whistle.

"Once again I also need to acknowledge an exceptional crowd that gave the team a huge boost throughout the game," Driscoll said.

Juarez's goal came when Jen Estes sent a pass toward goal that found Juarez's head for a trip inside the left post.

30' left, 2nd | Princeton 1, Yale 0
Gabi Juarez with the header! Tigers go in front!
Watch the game here: https://t.co/ZpYfT3QmCI pic.twitter.com/IhaxveGlRR
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) September 26, 2021

Estes and Juarez combined again three minutes later, with Estes initially sending a ball forward to Juarez, who held off a Yale defender and sent it forward still to Estes, who won the ball back on the doorstep of the goal and sent it in.

27' left, 2nd | Princeton 2, Yale 0
After helping on the first goal, Jen Estes gets the finish to put the Tigers up two!
Watch the game here: https://t.co/ZpYfT3QmCI pic.twitter.com/6yOFxsqAAv
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) September 26, 2021

The Tigers' final two goals of the night came in the last 10 minutes. Alexis Hiltunen had the first of those, with Ryann Brown and then Amy Paternoster working the ball up-field before Hiltunen won a one-on-one battle with her Yale defender and threaded a shot inside the right post.

8' left, 2nd | Princeton 3, Yale 0
A takeaway by Ryann Brown, Amy Paternoster with the connection, and Alexis Hiltunen with the finish!
Watch the game here: https://t.co/ZpYfT3QmCI pic.twitter.com/mbcoYy5aRA
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) September 26, 2021

Rookie Ella Midura had her first career goal with the final one of the night when Paternoster sent a pass across the goal for Midura to redirect in.

1' left, 2nd | Princeton 4, Yale 0
One more, from Ella Midura! First career goal! pic.twitter.com/7dM5pkzlTt
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) September 26, 2021

Midura became Princeton's 13th goal scorer of the year, the most the program has had in a season since 2011, when that Tiger team also had 13.

Keeper Grace Barbara had her first solo shutout of the season, making five saves.

Princeton will have its penultimate non-conference game of the regular season on Tuesday when Bucknell visits for a 5 p.m. start.

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