Princeton Falls To No. 2 UNC 2-0, Splits ACC/Ivy Challenge

Sunday, September 8

Louisville, Ky.

10:30 AM

Princeton University

(1-1)

North Carolina

(4-0)

Princeton

North Carolina

Ottilie Sykes dribbles against North Carolina Sunday morning.

Photo by: Roscelle Griffin

Princeton Falls To No. 2 UNC 2-0, Splits ACC/Ivy Challenge

September 08, 2024 | Field Hockey

Box Score

As opening weekends go, the one that the Princeton field hockey team just finished wasn't exactly best-case. It was more like really good case.

Princeton fell to two-time defending NCAA champion and preseason No. 2 North Carolina 2-0 Sunday morning on the Trager Stadjium turf at the University of Louisville, finishing the ACC/Ivy Crossover Challenge at 1-1 after a 1-0 win over the host Cardinals Friday. Princeton was the preseason No. 15 team but figures to move up in this week's NFHCA rankings.

UNC is as tough an opponent as there is. The Tar Heels are now 4-0 and had outscored their first three opponents by a combined 12-2 heading into the game against Princeton. The Tigers once again went very deep down the roster and once again showcased the freshman class, with three who started and six who played a great deal.

Senior goalie Robyn Thompson made 10 saves, giving her 10 against UNC for the second straight year and double figures in saves for the third time in her career, after having a career-high 14 against Northwestern a year ago.

The game was scoreless at halftime before UNC broke through with third quarter goals off a penalty corner and then off of a deflected ball in the circle.

Princeton will play its home opener this coming Friday against Miami (Ohio) at 5.