No. 5 Cards Edge No. 13 Princeton in Overtime

Sunday, September 5

Princeton, NJ

1:30 PM

University of Louisville

(4-0)

Princeton

(0-2)

Louisville

Princeton

Mattie Tabor takes the ball down the field in the Cardinals 2020 alumnae game

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

September 05, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

PRINCETON, N.J. - Mattie Tabor's goal in overtime lifted the fifth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team to a 3-2 win over No. 13 Princeton Sunday afternoon at Princeton's Bedford Field.

"What a game and a gritty performance by our team," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "Princeton is a great team and very well-coached. We were put on the back foot at the beginning and took too long to play our game. With that being said, we had a 'never give up' attitude with a fantastic work rate by our strikers defensively and we were able to capitalize at the most critical moment. Very proud of our team for our first road weekend."

Tabor's game-winning goal in the fifth minute of overtime, capped a contest which saw equalizing goals by each team in the final 30 seconds of the first and second quarters followed by scoreless second half.

Midway through the 7v7, sudden-victory overtime period, Louisville earned a penalty corner. Tabor got the play started with a feed to Julie Kouijzer who passed to Aimee Plumb for the initial shot. Mia Duchars deflected the ball to Tabor who sent it into the cage to give the Cardinals their fourth straight win with her second goal of the season.

In the game, Princeton outshot Louisville 17-11 with a 9-5 edge in shots on goal while the Cardinals owned a 9-5 advantage in penalty corners. Goalkeeper Mila de Kuijer posted a career-high seven saves to help the Cardinals stay undefeated on the season.

The Tigers (0-2) went on attack in the opening minutes of the contest, firing off four shots with de Kuijer registering two saves. They broke through when Beth Yeager put her team on the scoreboard when she converted on a penalty stroke at the 6:02 mark in the first quarter.

The Cardinals regrouped and capitalized on their first corner of the contest which came with under a minute remaining in the first quarter. Alli Bitting got the corner started and Camryn Pichea provided the stop for Kouijzer who tied the game with 30 seconds remaining in the frame.

Louisville's offense continued in the first minute of the second quarter. Charlie van Oirschot intercepted a Princeton pass near the 50-yardline and dished to Katie Schneider who made her way to the top of the circle and found Erica Cooper. After her initial shot was stopped by Princeton goalkeeper Robyn Thompson, Cooper sent the rebound into the cage to put the Cardinals on top 2-1.

The Tigers answered after drawing a corner in the closing minute of the second quarter when Yeager notched her second goal of the game with assists from Sam Davidson and Ali McCarthy to even the score at 2-2.

The teams entered halftime tied a 2-2 with Princeton owning advantages in shots (7-5) and corners (3-2).

The game remained knotted at 2-2 through the second half as Princeton delivered four shots on goal with de Kuijer turning back all of them. Louisville held a 5-2 edge in second half penalty corners, but could not capitalize on the opportunities. With the score still tied at the end of regulation, the teams went on to their first overtime of the season.

Louisville returns to action next weekend when the Cardinal play host to Indiana on Friday at 6 p.m. and No. 10 Liberty Sunday at 1 p.m. at Trager Stadium. Admission is free.

NOTES:
• Princeton's opening goal in the first quarter marked the first time the Cardinals have trailed this season.
• Erica Cooper is now tied with Katie Schneider for the team lead with three goals, extending her career total to 16.
• Louisville has outscored its first four opponents 15-3.
• This marks the third straight year that Louisville has started the season with a 4-0 record.
• Head coach Justine Sowry now has 199 all-time wins, needing one more to reach 200 in her career.