PRINCETON, N.J.— The Cornell field hockey team took #16 Princeton to overtime in front of a national audience on ESPNU Friday, but the Big Red's efforts were not enough in the 3-2 loss to the Ivy League perennial powerhouse.
Two key players spent time out of the game due to injury Friday.
Aerin Park left the game at the end of the first quarter during an unusually warm 82 degree day, only to be replaced by
Laura Kubit for the remainder of the game and
Isabella Palde took a stick to the head in the second quarter, but would later return.
The Big Red managed seven shots (five on target) against a Princeton defense who's holding opponents to just 8.8 shots per game.
Laura Kubit recorded a season-high 47 minutes in net and rose to the occasion on several instances to make crucial saves allowing Cornell to stay in the game against a team leading the Ivy League in scoring average (3.00).
Princeton netted its first goal of the day in the second quarter when Ali McCarthy found a pass from Peggy Winterborn to put the Tigers up 1-0 before scoring her second a frame later, this one off an assist from Claire Donovan during a scramble in front of the Big Red goal.
Cornell's fist goal of the day came with five minutes to play in the second quarter as
Caroline Ramsey connected with
Bridget Mahoney and
Kate MacGillis for her 14th goal of the season during the Big Red's first of two penalty corners.
Just under three minutes into the third quarter,
Elizabeth Friedberg made a hard drive along the end line towards the Princeton net where she was toppled by the Princeton keeper. After an official review, the Big Red was awarded a penalty stroke and
Julia Darmo connected on her third goal of the year and third by means of penalty stroke.
The Big Red played the Tigers hard for the remainder of regulation, holding the team to just one penalty corner in the third quarter as
Laura Kubit recorded two impressive saves late in the fourth.
Just under over two minutes into the first overtime period, the Tigers found their golden opportunity as
Laura Kubit was pulled out of position while Ivy League scoring leader and freshman Beth Yeager was able to seal the deal for Princeton.
The game marks the third occasion this season where games against ranked opponents have been decided by just one goal.
The Big Red will look to bounce back against another ranked opponent when it faces #22 American on Sunday.
