The Princeton women's soccer team (4–2–0 overall, 0–0 Ivy League) faced the Georgetown Hoyas (4–1–3, 0–0 Big East Conference) in another out-of-conference match up on Sunday. Coming on the heels of back-to-back wins over William & Mary and Drexel, the Princeton women's soccer looked to build upon a strong start-of-season record on Sunday.
Perhaps battling fatigue during the team's second game in four days, the Tigers fell to their opponents 1–0 with the lone goal coming late in the first half from the penalty spot. The Hoyas received eight votes in the latest national poll.
Last year, the Tigers welcomed Georgetown to the Garden State for a tall task. The Hoyas, ranked 10th in the nation at the time, were a formidable opponent enjoying one of their best stretches of play in recent memory. The Tiger women shocked the soccer world in dramatic fashion, pulling off a 3–2 upset over the Hoyas aided by two own goals on the other end. Once again playing host to the D.C.-based visitors, the Tigers were hoping to make magic happen once again.
The Tigers welcomed sophomore defender Zoe Markesini back to the starting-11 after she starred for Canada in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, junior forward Pietra Tordin is still starring on the world stage. Tordin is the top scorer at the World Cup for the U.S. U-20 national team, scoring a key goal against Mexico in the knockout stages after netting a hat trick in a group stage game against Paraguay in the past two weeks. Her World Cup journey will continue on Wednesday with a semifinal match against North Korea.
Emeri Adames 🤝 Pietra Tordin #U20WYNT
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 12, 2024
🎥 » @TelemundoSports
pic.twitter.com/nPQjvxMnQp
An early, cagey back-and-forth over the first twenty minutes suggested relative parity between the Tigers and their Big East foes. Each team struggled to advance through the final third of the field, with Princeton possessions fizzling out and Georgetown counterattacks stifled by the Tiger defense. The game progressed towards the half, and neither team could find their footing.
In the 35th minute, a nice stretch of play by Georgetown led to forward Jocelyn Lohmeyer being brought down in the box for a Hoya penalty kick. Georgetown’s Eliza Turner converted the spot-kick, smashing it past the outstretched hands of senior Tiger goalkeeper Tyler McCamey. The Hoyas made the first mark on the contest, jumping out to a 1–0 lead.
Just one minute later, Princeton created their best chance of the night on the other end. Sophomore midfielder Kayla Wong received a pass from first-year Brooke Dawahare on the right side of the box, cut to the outside, and rolled a well-placed shot through the Georgetown defense and past the keeper. The ball bounced off the left post and ricocheted back across the face of goal, where the keeper smothered it just before two incoming Tigers could redirect it into the net. Such promising chances don’t come about often, and Princeton was left searching for another opportunity for the rest of the night.
8' left, 1st half | Georgetown 1, Princeton 0
— Princeton WSoccer (@PrincetonWSoc) September 15, 2024
A takeaway for Brooke Dawahare, and Kayla Wong was that close!
💻: https://t.co/Km95WiVeR4 pic.twitter.com/peX8RCrhDH
After halftime, the Tigers confronted much of the same inertia. Wong’s shot was one of just two on target all game, as the Georgetown defense shut down a normally potent Princeton attack. Bright moments were few and far between, and the Hoyas left Roberts Stadium with a 1–0 win.
The Tigers, however, can find solace in the way their defense prevented Georgetown’s strong offense from scoring in open play. The Hoyas had averaged more than two goals per game over their last four contests, and though they ultimately prevailed, Princeton played them tough. McCamey — who has been named the Ivy League defensive player of the week twice this season — had seven saves in goal for the Tigers.
Coming up, Princeton will play one more game against a non-conference opponent before kicking off Ivy League play. The Tigers will be in Connecticut for a clash with the Fairfield Stags (6–1, 2–0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). The Stags are off to a rip-roaring start, touting a 6-1 record and scoring four or more goals in each of their last four games. Though they come from a smaller conference than the Tigers, they are not to be underestimated.
After Fairfield comes a ten-day hiatus before the Tigers open Ivy League play against Cornell (1–2–4, 0–0) in Ithaca. Tordin will almost certainly feature for the Tigers against the Big Red as the Orange and Black will look to start their league campaign with a road win.
Joseph Uglialoro is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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