Off Sides Wipes Out Bulldogs' Goal In Final 10
Seconds
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – All week long, Yale head coach Rudy
Meredith stressed to his team the importance of scoring first in
Saturday's Ivy opener against Princeton. Meredith proved
prophetic, but unfortunately it wasn't his club that got on
the board early. Jen Hoy's goal midway through the first half
was the only goal of the game as the Tigers earned an impressive
win on a hot afternoon at Reese Stadium.
"It always happens this way when we play Princeton.
Whoever scores first, wins," Meredith said.
The game-winning goal was one of the few high-quality scoring
chances Princeton had in the game. Caitlin Blosser sent a long ball
forward. Hoy outraced a Yale defender to it, took a few dribbles
and fired a shot into the top corner.
The Tigers (4-3, 1-0 Ivy) then held the Bulldogs without a shot
for more than 40 minutes.
Yale appeared to tie the game in the final seconds, but
Kristen Forster's goal was nullified by an
off sides call. That was one of a couple of good chances the
Bulldogs had in the final minutes. Princeton goalkeeper Kristin
Watson made a terrific diving save to rob Juliann Jeffrey with just over a minute left. A few minutes
earlier, Enma Mullo's free kick from 30
yards barely went over the cross bar.
"We pushed a few more attackers forward and had good
pressure at the end. We just couldn't finish a goal,"
Meredith said.
The Bulldogs also started strong, winning many of the balls in
the midfield. It almost led to a goal just eight minutes in.
Becky Brown dribbled into the box, made a nifty
spin move and fired a shot that banged off the left post.
Watson finished with three saves to post the shutout for
Princeton. Ayana Sumiyasu stopped six shots for
the Bulldogs (2-5-1, 0-1 Ivy).
The Tigers outshot Yale 11-9.
The road team has now won each of the last four games in the
series.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday when they host Marist
at 5:30 p.m. That game will be followed by the Yale men taking on
St. John's.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity
