Thompson's Return, Sykes' Game-Winner With 34 Seconds Left Give Princeton Thrilling 3-2 Win Over No. 5 Maryland

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Robyn Thompson left Princeton's last game in an ambulance. She left Princeton's game at No. 5 Maryland Thursday afternoon in her teammates' arms.

It was a much better ride.

Thompson, Princeton's senior goalie, came back after an injury scare four days earlier to make nine saves, including an amazing stop with 2:20 to go when she got her stick on a high drive by, of all people, Princeton alum Sammy Popper to keep the score tied. Less than two minutes later, freshman Ottilie Sykes drilled in the game-winner off a penalty corner with 34 seconds to go, and Princeton had itself a huge 3-2 win.

It was the eighth-straight one-goal game between Princeton and Maryland.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Princeton jumped out on Maryland 2-0 in the second quarter, first when Sykes dribbled the length of the field and got taken down in the circle, which led to a penalty stroke that Sam Davidson converted, and then when a Sykes' drive off a corner was saved by tipped in by another freshman, Merle Broex, for her first career goal.

Maryland's Maci Bradford tipped one in in the final minute of the first half, making it a 2-1 game at the break. She then scored four minutes into the third quarter, tying it at 2-2. Maryland almost took the lead early in the fourth, but Aimee Jungfer just knocked a ball off the goal line that looked like it was going to squirt in.

Thompson, who was sharp all day, made the ridiculous save on Popper's blast, which seemed certain to reach the top of the cage. Princeton then possessed down the field and eventually drew a corner, which Broex inserted, Davidson stopped and Sykes ripped into the bottom left of the cage.

WHAT THE BOX SCORE DOESN'T TELL YOU
There are quite a few things that you won't get from the box score. Here are a few:

* Princeton and Maryland had played five straight overtime games, including a 4-3 Tiger win a year ago in Princeton, in addition to the seven straight one-goal games. Princeton had also played three straight overtime games this season, and all five of Princeton's games this year have now been one-goal games.

* The time between the 2-0 lead and the Maryland goal was 7:38. That's the only time all season that Princeton has been in a game that wasn't tied or a one-goal game.

* Davidson is now 10 for 10 in her career on penalty strokes.

* Thompson's nine saves were one off a career high

PLAYER OF THE GAME
This was Helene Große's best game as a Princeton defender. Broex is growing in confidence each game, and that's something that's visible as she plays. Ella Cashman controlled the middle of the field against the relentless Terps. Sykes had her goal to win it and end-to-end rush to set up the penalty stroke, not to mention her tireless defense.

The Player of the Game, though, was Thompson. She was injured in the third quarter of Princeton's game against Rutgers Sunday and had to leave on a stretcher. At the time, who knew how long she might be out? Instead, all of her tests came back okay, and, though a bit sore, she was able to return to the cage for the Maryland game.

Princeton was outshot 23-11, but Thompson made save after save to keep the Terps off the board. She would have been a strong candidate for the Player of the Game even without the last save, but that was as good a save as you'll see in a pressure situation.

NEXT UP
Princeton hosts UConn Sunday at noon.

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