Nov. 11, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Princeton Tigers (12-6), the champs of the Ivy League, pulled off the first round upset in NCAA Field Hockey Tournament as they defeated third-ranked and third-seeded Old Dominion, 3-2, in overtime.
The first half produced a wild final 49 seconds with Old Dominion entering the half up 2-1. Neither team up to that point had managed to reach the back of the cage. Princeton had a shot to go up 1-0 midway through, but as a member of the Tiger offense got close to the ODU goal, her dribble went out of bounds. Before the official's whistle blew, the ball reached the back of the Lady Monarch cage in what looked to have been the first tally of the game, but was quickly waived off.
It would be Princeton who would strike first as Micaela Vie Brock deflected a Sarah Reinprecht pass into the goal. However, it would not take very long for Old Dominion to strike back.
Twenty-four seconds after the Tiger tally, the Lady Monarchs quickly raced down field and into the circle. In the middle of the circle, sophomore midfielder Denise Admiraal (Heillo, Holland) passed to the left side of the Princeton cage to leading scorer Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) to tie the game at 1-1 with 25 seconds remaining in the half.
As time wound down to halftime, the Lady Monarchs were awarded a penalty corner. With the clock reading 0:00, sophomore Nico van Nipsen (Bilthoven, Holland) passed to Sensenig, who once again was waiting at the left side of the Princeton net, to tap the ball in and give the Lady Monarchs a 2-1 edge at halftime. Sensenig's goal was her team-leading 20th of the season.
Princeton had a shot to tie the game about 10 minutes into the second half. The Tigers' Katie Kinzer had a break-away into the circle and managed to draw out ODU keeper Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.), but CAA Player and Defensive Player of the Year Caroline Nichols (Va. Beach, Va.) flew in behind Driscoll for the defensive save.
The Tigers did manage to the game up though with 18:12 remaining in regulation. Princeton's Paige Schmidt sent the ball into the circle waiting for Sarah Reinprecht to use a hard shot into the back on the ODU cage.
Over the final 18:12 of play, Princeton only got off two more shots on net while Old Dominion had several chances on the Tiger goal. Shots by Sensenig and van Nispen were saved by Princeton keeper Allison Nemeth. A Jo Ann van Aswegen shot caught Nemeth off guard by was saved by field player Kraftin Schreyer. Another van Nispen shot in the front of the net was deflected high. A Pinchbeck shot also went wide of the Tiger cage.
In overtime, Old Dominion had several looks, but couldn't find its way into the Princeton goal. Nemeth picked up six saves in overtime as the Lady Monarchs had seven shot attempts and two corners. Princeton's lone corner of overtime resulted in a save for Driscoll.
With time widing down in the first overtime session, Princeton went on a 2-on-1 breakaway into the circle. Katie Kinzer entered the circle with Tina Bortz charing to the left side of the ODU cage. Driscoll came out of the goal and dove trying to stop the pass, but the ball went wide of her reach, resulting in an open net golden goal for Bortz with only 1:07 left in overtime.
The Tigers advance to the second round to face the winner of the first round match-up between Boston University and Connecticut.
The Lady Monarchs conclude the 2006 season 19-4 overall.