In a closely-watched game, No. 13 field hockey (13–5 overall, 7–0 Ivy League) fell 2–1 to No. 11 Harvard (15–3, 6–1) in a high drama matchup. Princeton entered the Ivy League Tournament as the No. 1 seed while Harvard was No. 2. Both teams won their respective semifinals on Friday in order to earn the right to play in the final — Princeton defeated Columbia 4–0 and Harvard beat Brown 1–0.
The Tigers previously faced the Crimson on Oct. 19, emerging victorious in a close overtime contest. The game was instrumental in leading the Tigers to a perfect Ivy League regular season and the regular season title.
The first period of the final was as tight as expected, both sides trading periods of offensive pressure without breaking through the other’s defense. Junior Beth Yeager created problems for the Harvard defense within the first two minutes, as the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year charged into the Harvard circle a few times in the period, but the Crimson defense held strong and disrupted Princeton’s passing.
The first major chance of the game came the Crimson’s way before senior goalie Robyn Thompson made a save to deny Harvard forward Sage Piekarski the first goal of the game. During the breakaway, Thompson anticipated Piekarski’s movement and smothered the shot to the right of the goal.
“Had they scored that, I think we would have been looking at a very different game in terms of momentum, so I’m glad that I was able to keep us even,” Thompson told The Daily Princetonian.
The second period turned into a battle of the defenses as both teams struggled to break each other’s back line down. Through the period, Princeton received two green cards while Harvard received one and at one point both teams played 10-on-10, highlighting the defensive intensity between the teams. Though Harvard was able to find a period of pressure, first-year midfielder Clem Houlden was able to rescue the ball while surrounded by Harvard players. At halftime, Princeton had two shots and a corner compared to Harvard’s one shot and no corners.
The Tigers were the stronger team in the third period, but they failed to capitalize on their opportunities. In the middle of the period, the Tigers had a wave of sustained pressure with three consecutive shots, two of which were saved by Harvard goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo. Although Harvard’s defense made it quite difficult, head coach Carla Tagliente explained after the game that she wished that her team “collectively played with a bit more intention like that sooner in the game.”
The fourth period was ultimately the most dramatic period in regulation. Harvard had the better of the opening ten minutes and the Crimson won a penalty stroke with eleven minutes remaining, serving as their best opportunity to score. However, Thompson stood tall and made a dramatic save to keep the game score, much to the applause of the Princeton faithful.
“Once I was in the goal, it was just a case of using the knowledge I had about her tendencies and reading her body language to ensure I dove the right way, and luckily it paid off,” Thompson said.
It wasn’t until the last three minutes of the period that the Crimson earned their first corner of the entire game. From the ensuing corner, Harvard midfielder Kitty Chapple scored for Harvard with a low shot redirected to the goal, leaving the Tigers with less than three minutes to equalize.
Putting an extra attacking player on the pitch and taking Thompson off, the Tigers had little time to equalize and earned two corners in quick fashion. With senior forward Grace Schulze sending in a corner, sophomore midfielder Ella Cashman equalized in dramatic fashion with a low shot off an assist from Yeager with less than a minute left.
“I think the most important thing was, when they scored, we believed and we knew we could come back like, obviously, there was only three minutes left, but I think there was a belief in us that’s [how] we progressed through this season,” Cashman told the ‘Prince.’
“I just knew I had to get to my space. I knew Beth would give me a good ball. And she did, and I got a touch and it went in. We were obviously very happy,” Cashman continued.
At the beginning of overtime, Princeton had the chance to win the game off a penalty corner through Yeager’s shot. The ball rebounded off the Harvard goalie and tricked past the goal, but no one could knock it in. Two minutes later, Crimson midfielder Martha le Huray raced down the field in a breakaway opportunity and scored, making Harvard the Ivy League Tournament champions.
“The opportunity was there in overtime, [we] got the corner, it was set up wide open, and we just didn’t finish,” Tagliente said. “So they came down and I think we just didn’t have any legs at that point, and we didn't put the tackle on and paid for it.”
Despite the loss, the Tigers season is not over. On Field Hockey Selection Sunday, the NCAA announced via live broadcast the teams that would be participating in the national tournament. Before the announcement was made, the team had assembled altogether watching the broadcast, and once the announcement was made, pure excitement filled the room.
Due to their national record, rankings, and results, Princeton earned one of the eight at-large bids and will face off against No. 8 Boston College this Friday at 2:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Regarding their upcoming national tournament, Thompson said, “There are a lot of positives to take with us as we move forward into the NCAA first round this weekend. I know that we will continue to grow in the areas that we need to, and am looking forward to making a good run in the tournament.”
Keyan Vojdani is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Trump selects Pete Hegseth ’03 for Secretary of Defense
Hayk YengibaryanOn Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth ’03 as the Secretary of Defense. Hegseth graduated with an A.B, in politics and led Princeton’s conservative publication — The Princeton Tory — as publisher.
On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth ’03 as the Secretary of Defense. Hegseth graduated with an A.B, in politics and led Princeton’s conservative publication — The Princeton Tory — as publisher.
Princeton College Democrats reflect on election loss, canvassing efforts
Ethan CaldwellFollowing Kamala Harris’s loss in the 2024 presidential election, the Princeton College Democrats told the ‘Prince’ about their canvassing efforts, their thoughts on the Harris campaign, and how the Democratic Party needs to change.
Following Kamala Harris’s loss in the 2024 presidential election, the Princeton College Democrats told the ‘Prince’ about their canvassing efforts, their thoughts on the Harris campaign, and how the Democratic Party needs to change.
SPIA to end Georgetown ‘Making an Exoneree’ partnership, offer new course on restorative justice
Elisabeth StewartWhile SPIA will not offer “Making an Exoneree” this spring, Professor Maya Dimant will offer a new course in which students will immerse themselves in New Jersey’s criminal legal system while learning the skills to advocate for the freedom of a person who is incarcerated.
While SPIA will not offer “Making an Exoneree” this spring, Professor Maya Dimant will offer a new course in which students will immerse themselves in New Jersey’s criminal legal system while learning the skills to advocate for the freedom of a person who is incarcerated.
