Thompson's Assist Gives Princeton A 1-0 Win Over Penn In Ivy Opener

Friday, September 19

Princeton, N.J.

5:00 PM

Princeton University

Penn

Thompson's Assist Gives Princeton A 1-0 Win Over Penn In Ivy Opener

September 19, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score

Beth Yeager had seen it before. Then again, she's an Olympian, so there isn't much she hasn't seen on a field hockey field.

The rest of those at Bedford Field Friday afternoon? They were still talking about what they'd witnessed well after the final whistle.

Yeager tapped in an incredible feed from Caitlin Thompson two minutes into the fourth quarter for the only score of the game, as ninth-ranked Princeton opened its Ivy League season with a 1-0 win over Penn. How incredible was it?

Talia Schenck kept alive a play near the top of the circle and fed it inside to Thompson, a freshman. That's when she did something she'd never before tried in a game. With her back to Yeager, Thompson stopped the ball and then fed it between her legs, without ever looking, past the startled Quaker defense and right onto Yeager's stick. Yeager had an open cage at that point, and she didnt miss, tucking in the 47th goal of her career.

So when have you seen a pass like this one? Beth the goal. Caitlin? Wow. And the Tigers break through.

ESPN+ https://t.co/07HNvWDLvw pic.twitter.com/EWiED85HX7
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) September 19, 2025

"I've never tried that in a game before," Thompson said afterwards. "But we worked on having composure in the circle, so I just tried to stay calm. I have done that in practice before."

The goal was all the Princeton defense would need. In fact, Princeton shut out an opponent for the 60 minutes of regulation for the third straight game and has not allowed a regulation goal since the third quarter of its second game of the year, against North Carolina — a total of 207 minutes. The only goal Princeton has allowed in that time was on a penalty stroke in overtime against No. 4 Syracuse.

Princeton held Penn to seven shots, which is what the Tiger D has been averaging this year. Olivia Caponiti made three saves in cage, while defenders like Ella Cashman, Ottilie Sykes, Clem Houlden and Helena Große kept the ball from the circle.

Cash calmly turns aside the last Quaker chance, and Princeton wins the Ivy opener 1-0. pic.twitter.com/isZd4bZe1W
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) September 19, 2025