Raphino Powers Women's Soccer to Victory Over #13/15 Princeton

Saturday, September 30

Providence, R.I.

4 p.m.

Brown University

6-1-2, 2-0-0

Princeton

6-2-2, 1-1-0

Princeton

Brown

Photo by: Tamar Kreitman

Raphino Powers Women's Soccer to Victory Over #13/15 Princeton

9/30/2023 7:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

PRINCETON, R.I. – A pair of goals from Brittany Raphino lifted the Brown women's soccer team over No. 13/15 Princeton 2-1 Saturday evening at Stevenson-Pincince Field.

Brown moves to 6-1-2 on the year and 2-0-0 in Ivy play as Princeton falls to 6-2-2 and 1-1-0. With the win, the Bears become one of just two remaining undefeated Ivy teams in conference action, with Dartmouth being the other.

The strikes, which were Raphino's fourth and fifth of the season, came less than three minutes apart as the Bears opened the second half with a bang.

"I'm proud of the team for grinding out a result today," head coach Kia McNeill said. "Princeton is obviously highly touted and was ranked in the Top 25 in the country, so beating them says a lot about our team and how talented we are. I thought Evelyn came in and did a great job settling down the game, and also giving a spark to our attack. She played a tremendous ball to Brittany for the first goal and Brittany is the type of player that doesn't need many chances to get it done. It's great to be 2-0 at this point, and we want to keep it going Wednesday against Yale."

In the 48^th minute, Evelyn Calhoon won a ball in the midfield and completed the perfect give and go with Joy Okonye before sending a long ball over the top of the defense. Raphino took one touch, was able to beat the charging goalie, and get a shot off from just outside the 18 that managed to tuck itself into the bottom right corner for the 1-0 lead.

Barely two minutes later, it was Calhoon and Okonye in the midfield again. This time, it was Okonye who sent the long ball ahead to Raphino. An outstretched leg of a Princeton defender just missed the would-be deflection and Brown's two-time All-American made them pay. This time, she didn't even need a touch as she ran onto the ball in the 18 and sent a hard, right-footed shot screaming into the left side netting.

Princeton would try to answer, getting one back in the 73^rd minute off a long ball of their own, but it was all the Tigers would be able to manage. Lexi Hiltunen scored for Princeton with Lily Bryant providing the assist.

Ava Seelenfreund almost gave the Bears a third goal in the 75^th minute when her header off a corner looked destined for the top left corner, but Princeton's Tyler McCamey made an impressive diving save to keep the game at 2-1.

Brown's defense stood strong down the stretch to preserve the victory. Two of Clare Gagne's four saves on the day came with less than five minutes remaining, as the senior picked up her fourth win of the season in goal for the Bears.

The win improved Brown's Ivy unbeaten streak to 23 games, which dates back to 2018, with a 21-0-2 mark during that span.

The first half was a bit of a feeling out process for both teams. Brown's best chance of the first 45 came in the 13^th minute when Seeelnfreund sent a cross into the box from left to right where Kira Maguire was the first to it. She found Okonye at the top of the 18 whose shot went just high.

For the Tigers, their best look in the first half came in the 27^th minute when Princeton's Lily Bryant sent a header from the middle of the box on goal, but Gagne was there for the stop.

The Bears will look to continue their stretch of strong play this Wednesday, Oct. 4 when they travel to Yale for a midweek matchup starting at 5:30 p.m.

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