Yale Has 11-10 Win Over Tigers

NEW HAVEN, CONN. – The Yale Bulldogs and Princeton Tigers are used to one-goal games. Their past six regular season meetings had been one-goal games, and Saturday's meeting was no different. The Elis, however, were able to stave off a Princeton comeback and hold on to an 11-10 victory that improved their record to 7-0.

The Yale offense scored on its first possession, something it has only done one other time this season. Freshman Brendan Mackie received a pass from classmate Jack Tigh to the left of the point position. Mackie stepped up, made a spin move around his defender, and bounced a shot past Princeton goalie Tyler Blaisdell to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.

The next offensive possession for the Elis ended in a shot that went wide of the net, but Princeton was not given space to clear the ball comfortably. In the midfield area, a Princeton defender was swarmed by three Bulldog players, and a check lodged the ball free. Freshman Robert Mooney scooped up the groundball and finished into the open net. A seemingly harmless possession turned into a 2-0 advantage for the Bulldogs.

The Elis then scored again on a similar play just four minutes later, except Blaisdell himself was swarmed by two Bulldog attackmen. Ben Reeves put on a big stick check that poked the ball free from the Princeton goalie, and it bounced 20 yards into an open net. After two goals immediately off of turnovers, Yale built an early 3-0 lead.

The Tigers got one back, but a goal by freshman Joseph Sessa made it 4-1. Sessa, who had not scored since his hat-trick performance against Bryant, received a pass from Reeves, quickly turned and fired a shot over the stick of Blaisdell to build the lead back up to three. Princeton midfielder Austin Sims notched his first of four on the day at the end of the first, but the Bulldogs held a 4-2 lead after one quarter of play.

In the second quarter, the Elis had uncharacteristic turnovers, and were no longer picking up all of the loose groundballs. Princeton notched two goals to tie the game at four, and it was looking to take its first lead on the ensuing face-off. After a scramble for the loose groundball, with four players from each team clustered together, both teams briefly exchanged possession for less than a second. A massive check by Mark Glicini hammered Tiger midfielder Zach Currier to the ground, shifting momentum back in the Bulldogs' favor as they collected the loose ball. Jason Alessi then notched his third goal in the past two games on the ensuing possession, and the Elis were back on top at the end of the first half, 5-4.

The third quarter was packed with action, as the teams combined for seven goals and two lead changes. Princeton scored two goals on its first two possessions to claim its first lead of the game, as Austin Sims completed a hat-trick for the Tigers with two early goals. Michael Bonacci then brought the Elis level within minutes, as he was given enough space to fire a low shot to tie the game at six. A rocket from the stick of Michael Keasey at the point position then reclaimed the lead for the Bulldogs.

The Tigers put the teams at level pegging for the third time in the third quarter after a goal by Gavin McBride. Reeves, who was held relatively quiet in the first half, then turned to his favorite move. He wrapped around the net after being left with one defender, found an angle, and launched a shot to the top right corner of the net, and the Elis reclaimed the lead. Michael Bonacci then scored in similar fashion on the next Yale possession, as his shot went through the legs of Blaisdell, and within two minutes the Bulldogs had built a two-goal lead to end the third quarter.

The teams continued to trade goals in the fourth quarter, but every time Princeton pulled within one, the Bulldogs were quick to add a brace to their lead. Reeves completed his hat-trick after McBride had brought the Tigers within striking distance. After some passes along the perimeter, Jack Tigh had an open look on net, but instead notched his second assist of the game, as he passed to an open Reeves, who finished top shelf. Sims then scored his fourth for Princeton, but Brendan Mackie responded with his second goal of the game that dribbled past Blaisdell, and the Elis regained the two goal lead.

Princeton added another goal midway through the fourth to bring themselves within one goal for the third time in the quarter. After a penalty was called against the Yale defense, Princeton had the extra-man opportunity to pull themselves level. Christopher Keating, who leads the team in both groundballs and caused turnovers, made a critical check that dislodged the ball from a Tiger attackman, and he then recovered the loose ball to secure possession for the Bulldogs and end the opportunity. The Elis then brought the ball into their offensive zone while clinging onto a one-goal lead.

The offensive unit did their job, holding on to possession and shooting enough times to avoid the stall warning. Eventually, the shot clock did turn on, and the Bulldogs ran out the clock to give possession pack to the Tigers with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Princeton struggled to clear the ball, as the Yale attackmen continued to apply pressure on the clearing attempt. The Tigers were called for offsides with ten seconds left, turning the ball over and ending all hopes of a comeback.

Both teams are used to seeing an 11-10 score when they play each other. Both of their meetings last year resulted in the same outcome, with the Tigers winning in the regular season, and the Bulldogs coming out on top in the Ivy League Championship game. It was, however, the closest game of the season for the Elis, and the most goals they have allowed in a game all season.

Regardless, the team continues their incredible start to the 2016 season. They are now 7-0 for the first time since 1990, and are undefeated in Ivy League play after two games. The Elis look to continue this impressive run next Saturday, when they host the surging Penn Quakers at Reese Stadium. 

filed by Andrew Del Vecchio '19 (andrew.delvecchio@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity