Bears Fall to #4 Princeton, 5-1

PROVIDENCE, RI - Princeton scored five first-half goals and the Bears could never recover, as th fourth-ranked Tigers (11-3, 4-0) earned a 5-1 victory over the Brown field hockey team (4-8, 0-4) on Saturday afternoon on Warner Roof. Freshman Kelley Harrison (Houston, TX) scored her first career goal for the Bears, while sophomore Caroline Washburn (Pittsburgh, PA) recorded 13 saves.

The Tigers dominated the game, outshooting Brown, 31-2, and earning a commanding, 18-1, advantage in penalty corners. Just 5:17 into the game, Katie Reinprecht struck for her 8th goal of the year to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Michelle Cesan would increase the lead to 2-0 less than two minutes later, at 7:07, scoring what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

After Reinprect's second of the day, off a direct shot on a Princeton penalty corner at 12:37, the Bears settled in and held the Tigers off the scoreboard for the next 20 minutes. However, back-to-back goals by Carrie Diamond in the final four minutes of the half gave Princeton a 5-0 lead at the break.

The Tigers continued to dominate the second half, outshooting Brown, 13-1. However, Washburn stopped all nine shots she saw during the frame, including several from point-blank range, to keep Princeton at bay.

Brown's only goal came with 4:21 remaining on a play started by sophomore Leslie Springmeyer (New Vernon, NJ) at midfield. Springmeyer dribbled the ball down the left wing and passed the ball up to senior Whitney Knowlton (Columbus, OH). Knowlton pulled Princeton goalie Cynthia Wray, who replaced starter Jennifer King at the half, out of the cage and sent a perfect cross to Harrison on the right side. Harrison took one step and fired a shot to the near corner, beating a diving Wray for her first career goal.

The Bears return to action on Tuesday, October 20, when they travel across town to face Providence College in a 7:00 p.m. game.