Box Score
In another offensive dominating performance by the No. 2 Princeton field hockey team, the Tigers earned their fourth consecutive Ivy shutout behind a 7-0 win versus Harvard Saturday at Bedford Field. With the victory, Princeton improves to 12-1, 5-0 Ivy, while dropping the Crimson to 3-10, 1-4 Ivy.
Goals came quickly and consistently for the Tigers, as the squad held advantages in shots (31-4), shots on goal (22-3) and penalty corners (11-1). The only statistical category Harvard led in was saves, 15-3.
Senior Katie Reinprecht opened things up for the Tigers at 6:06, picking up a deflection in front of the cage and firing in what would be the eventual game-winner.
Michelle Cesan followed suit with consecutive goals, both unassisted. She notched her first of the day in the 28th minute, dribbling into the circle and shooting in her seventh goal of the year. Four minutes later, the junior midfielder grabbed a loose ball outside the circle and drove it towards the right side, making it a 3-0 game.
Twenty-seven seconds before halftime, freshman Maddie Copeland received a pass from sophomore Stephanie Goldberg on the left side. She was able to find an opening on frame to send Princeton into the locker room leading 4-0.
Similar to the first half, the Tigers saw consecutive goals from a solo scorer. This time it was freshman Teresa Benvenuti finding the back of the net twice. At 54:40, Julia Reinprecht sent in a penalty corner to her sister Katie, who made a perfect stop on it for Benvenuti. Benevenuti was there to slice it in goal past several Crimson defenders.
A persistent Benvenuti was there to finish on a second goal in the 66th minute. Harvard goalie Cynthia Tassopoulos stopped an Allegra Mango shot, but was unable to possess the ball. Kelsey Byrne swiftly grabbed the deflected ball and dished it to an open Benvenuti to improve Princeton's lead to 6-0.
The Tigers wrapped up their scoring efforts with an Amanda Bird put back. Bird grabbed a Molly Goodman deflected shot to send in her fourth goal of the year at 68:49.
Defensively, the Tigers held a sturdy line throughout the 75-minute contest. Princeton employed a pair of goalkeepers in the game, with sophomore Julia Boyle managing the cage in the first half. The second half saw a little more pressure in the circle for Princeton and freshman keeper Anya Gersoff, who recorded all three Tiger saves.
Princeton has now shutout its last three opponents and won its last five games. The Tigers will next face their fourth top-five opponent in No. 4 UConn tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. at Bedford Field.
