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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Boston University
Players Mentioned
Miller Scores Late Game Winner in Men's Soccer Home Opener
September 19, 2015 | Men's Soccer
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. (9/19/15) - Senior defender Josh Miller scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to lift Princeton to a 2-1 win over Boston University in the home opener on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Miller's second career goal and second of the season came off of a Nico Hurtado corner kick. The ball was played perfectly into the 18 and Miller was able to get a right right leg on it and popped it past the defense and goalie Matt Gilbert.
"I think I'm a little sharper, a little fitter and more healthy," Miller said about his success in goal scoring this season. "The team needs someone to score at the end of games, and I was happy it was able to be me today. I just try to stay hungry on every play and hope I can get a goal."
"It's great to be back home and get a tough Florida trip out of our system, but fromhere on out its a game at a time, Miller said. "We really can't afford to lose any games or drop any points. It's one game, but the next game we're going to approach it the same way - that we need to win it to keep moving on."
Princeton (2-2) took a 1-0 lead on senior Brendan McSherry's first goal of the season in the 11th minute. Again it was Hurtado that assisted, his first multiple-assist game of this career, and senior Thomas Sanner earning the secondary. Sanner beat his defender to the ball about 20 yards out and with the pressure he found Hurtado closed to the touchline. McSherry was open at the top of the 18 and called for the ball and sent a left-footed shot in for the goal.The Tigers controlled the tempo of the game and had 19 shots to the Terriers nine.
A misplayed ball in the 27th minute however, knotted the game at 1-1. Senior Ben Hummel came out of the restraining area to play the ball but it got lose and he couldn't control it before Mark Wadid got a foot on it and put it into the open net.
Princeton continued to try to get back up on top in the second half. McSherry picked up a long ball on the right side and found Sanner at the top of the six but Gilbert made his best of five saves on the afternoon. The BU (3-2) defense was also credited with a team save on a shot by sophomore Nicholas Badalamenti in the final seconds of the first half. He got the rebound and but his follow up shot went over the goal as the buzzer sounded the end of the first 45 minutes.
"It was a frustrating game in a lot of ways for us because started so well and had nothing to show for it at halftime," head coach Jim Barlow, coaching in his 20th season, said. We were really disappointed to give up a goal and let them back in the game and not get a second goal in the first half. In the second half I thought we lacked the sharpness in the attacking half of the field to create enough really chances and when we did to put them away. It wasn't our sharpest passing day but you have to give BU credit for finding a way to get themselves right back into the game to the point where it was anyone's game right at the end. But we grinded it out, the back four did a really good job. And our two defensive midfielders I thought put out a lot of fires, plugging holes and taking away some of their counters but we gave away too many counters."
Princeton has one week to work on its game play before its next game, on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Binghamton.