No. 17 Tribe Drops First Contest of Season at Princeton

The College saw its 277:27 minute shutout streak snapped by a late goal.

09/10/06 5:15PM

Princeton, N.J. - The No. 17 William and Mary field hockey team dropped its first contest of the season, 1-0, on a late goal to Princeton on Sept. 10 at Class of 1952 Stadium. The Tribe could not overcome a Tiger goal with less than three minutes remaining. W&M fell to 5-1 on the year, while Princeton, who received votes in the STX/NFHCA poll, evened its mark at 2-2.

“It was a well played game for us,” head coach Peel Hawthorne said. “I wouldn’t really change anything aside from the outcome. We dominated play for most of the game, but couldn’t punch it in. We had a few near misses and some unlucky plays. Once the game restarted after Princeton’s goal, we were on the attack the whole time and even generated some corners. The effort was there, we just came up short.”

Off a penalty corner in the 67th minute, Princeton’s Paige Schmidt carried the ball into the circle before ripping a shot past W&M goalkeeper Gwen Hunter. The score snapped the Tribe’s 277:26 minute shutout streak. The College had shutouts its last three opponents before allowing the late Tiger goal.

W&M pushed for the equalizer in the waning moments of the game, but were unsuccessful. W&M drew a pair of penalty corners, but the lone shot from senior forward Gina Cimarelli went wide of the mark with two seconds remaining.

The College had the first attempt on cage in the game. In the fourth minute, Princeton goalkeeper Allison Nemeth denied Cimarelli’s shot to keep W&M off the board.

The Tribe survived an early scare from Princeton midway through the opening half. At the 14:50 mark, Hunter stopped Katie Kinzer’s intitial attempt on cage, but the Tigers were awarded a penalty stroke on the play. Sarah Reinprecht took the stroke for the Tigers, but her shot hit the post.

W&M’s best chance of the first half came with eight minutes remaining. Off a penalty corner from junior forward Kim Hedley, junior back Laura Kastelic saw her blast stoned on a sliding save by Nemeth. The Tigers responded with a chance of their own on goal two minutes later, but Hunter was again was up to the task. In the opening 35 minutes, Princeton had four attempts on goal, but Hunter denied every opportunity.

Hunter denied a pair of chances from Princeton in the 49th and 51st minutes. Off a penalty corner from Micaela Vie Brock, Hunter stopped Kraftin Schreyer’s shot with a kick save, before pulling the trick two minutes later on a chance from Kaitlin Donovan.

The Tribe had a pair of opportunities in the 54th minute, but could not find the back of the cage. Sophomore Katie Broaddus had her attempt stopped by the pads of Nemeth. Junior midfielder Jessica Kacerek corralled the rebound, but her shot was blocked by the Tiger defense.

W&M could not cash in on another penalty corner in the 63rd minute. Hedley took the corner, and Kastelic’s third shot of the contest was stopped by Nemeth.

The Tribe was outshot for the first time in 2006. Princeton held a 14-12 advantage on shots, a 7-6 cushion in both haves. Kastelic and Cimarelli led W&M with three shots apiece, while Hunter finished with seven saves. The College held a 9-8 advantage in penalty corners.

W&M returns home for a Saturday, Sept. 16, matchup with No. 19 Richmond. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. at Busch Field as the Tribe faces its first ranked foe of the season.

Box Score