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Friday, November 3
Harvard University
Noon
Princeton University
(8-8)
1
vs
0
Cornell
(12-5)
1
2
3
4
F
Princeton
0
0
1
0
1
Cornell
0
0
0
0
0
Princeton Corners Cornell In Ivy Tournament Win
November 03, 2023 | Field Hockey
On a day when the only goal came on a Princeton penalty corner, the game was actually won on Cornell penalty corners. Lots of them. Oh, and three of them came after all zeroes were on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
Yes, the first Ivy League tournament game ever was pure craziness at the end.
Ottilie Sykes scored off a Princeton corner in the third quarter and the Princeton defensive penalty corner unit forced Cornell into an 0-for-10 day as the Tigers won the first semifinal game 1-0.
Princeton advances to Sunday's final, where it will face top-seeded Harvard. The winner of Sunday's game gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Cornell came into the game as the No. 1 scoring offense team in Division I field hockey with the No. 1 scorer in Division I, Caroline Ramsey, who does pretty much all of her damage on penalty corners. The Big Red had not been shut out at all this season.
All that changed against Princeton, who had also beaten the Big Red 3-2 earlier in the season in a penalty shootout. Somehow the drama of the rematch managed to beat that.
Princeton need 51 seconds of overtime last weekend against Yale to get into the tournament in the first place. In another win-or-go-home game, Princeton needed about 10 more minutes past the end of regulation, even if the game did not go into overtime.
It almost did. But it didn't.
Cornell had four penalty corners early in the first quarter and came up empty and then two more before the half. Sykes cashed in her chance 1:51 into the third quarter, and Princeton's defense — led by the best game senior Gracie McGowan has played as a Tiger — made it stand up from there.
The Big Red pulled the goalie with four minutes left but still could not manage a shot. Princeton held on for dear life, and it looked like the game was over as the Tigers had possession in the final 10 seconds.
Cornell, though, forced a turnover and drew a corner with 4.8 seconds to play. Would this be the one that finally broke through? Nope. The buzzer sounded during the play, which ended when the ball went out of bounds.
Game over? Also nope. A video review followed, and Cornell was given another penalty corner, this time with no time on the clock. Was that one going to break Princeton's hearts? Again, nope, but a penalty corner was called once more. After another review, the call stood.
Now it was the third chance, the second with no time left. Again, Cornell couldn't score. Ah, but again, a review. And again a corner.
So once again they all lined up, for the fourth time. Robyn Thompson in goal. Her defensive penalty corner unit of Sykes, Ella Hampson, Helena Große and Ella Cashman — who had been great all day — lined up in the cage again.
What happened? Another stop. Game over? Noooooo. Another review. While the officials checked the video, Cornell coach Andy Smith wandered over to the Princeton sideline, where he and Princeton coach Carla Tagliente hugged. Why not? There was nothing either could do at the time.
Finally the official blew his whistle and pointed to midfield. Game over. For real, this time.
After each of these corners there had been a celebration. The last one counted.
The season goes on.
Yes, the first Ivy League tournament game ever was pure craziness at the end.
Ottilie Sykes scored off a Princeton corner in the third quarter and the Princeton defensive penalty corner unit forced Cornell into an 0-for-10 day as the Tigers won the first semifinal game 1-0.
Princeton advances to Sunday's final, where it will face top-seeded Harvard. The winner of Sunday's game gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Cornell came into the game as the No. 1 scoring offense team in Division I field hockey with the No. 1 scorer in Division I, Caroline Ramsey, who does pretty much all of her damage on penalty corners. The Big Red had not been shut out at all this season.
All that changed against Princeton, who had also beaten the Big Red 3-2 earlier in the season in a penalty shootout. Somehow the drama of the rematch managed to beat that.
Princeton need 51 seconds of overtime last weekend against Yale to get into the tournament in the first place. In another win-or-go-home game, Princeton needed about 10 more minutes past the end of regulation, even if the game did not go into overtime.
It almost did. But it didn't.
Cornell had four penalty corners early in the first quarter and came up empty and then two more before the half. Sykes cashed in her chance 1:51 into the third quarter, and Princeton's defense — led by the best game senior Gracie McGowan has played as a Tiger — made it stand up from there.
The Big Red pulled the goalie with four minutes left but still could not manage a shot. Princeton held on for dear life, and it looked like the game was over as the Tigers had possession in the final 10 seconds.
Cornell, though, forced a turnover and drew a corner with 4.8 seconds to play. Would this be the one that finally broke through? Nope. The buzzer sounded during the play, which ended when the ball went out of bounds.
Game over? Also nope. A video review followed, and Cornell was given another penalty corner, this time with no time on the clock. Was that one going to break Princeton's hearts? Again, nope, but a penalty corner was called once more. After another review, the call stood.
Now it was the third chance, the second with no time left. Again, Cornell couldn't score. Ah, but again, a review. And again a corner.
So once again they all lined up, for the fourth time. Robyn Thompson in goal. Her defensive penalty corner unit of Sykes, Ella Hampson, Helena Große and Ella Cashman — who had been great all day — lined up in the cage again.
What happened? Another stop. Game over? Noooooo. Another review. While the officials checked the video, Cornell coach Andy Smith wandered over to the Princeton sideline, where he and Princeton coach Carla Tagliente hugged. Why not? There was nothing either could do at the time.
Finally the official blew his whistle and pointed to midfield. Game over. For real, this time.
After each of these corners there had been a celebration. The last one counted.
The season goes on.
Team Stats
PRIN
COR
Goals
1
0
Shots
6
10
Shots on Goal
2
1
Saves
1
1
Corners
7
10
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
17
33
Scoring Plays
Sykes, Ottilie (4)
Assisted By: Davidson, Sam , Broex, Merle
GOAL by PRIN Sykes, Ottilie (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Davidson, Sam and Broex, Merle, goal number 4 for season.
31:51
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Midfield/Defense
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