Syracuse University
No. 7 Princeton University
Befort Scores Twice Against Princeton
9/6/2009 4:50:28 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE – Syracuse University field hockey junior back Maggie Befort tallied both goals in SU's 3-2 overtime loss to No. 7 Princeton on Sunday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. Trailing 1-0 with 23 minutes remaining Befort and the third-ranked Orange scored twice off the same penalty corner play to take a 2-1 advantage with 17 minutes left. The Tigers however, found the back of the cage with less than seven minutes remaining and then again in overtime to walk away with the 3-2 win. The Orange moves to 3-1 on the young season, while the Tigers improve to 2-0.
“Scoring two goals was great, but overall we did not get the result we wanted,” Befort said. “Scoring off a penalty corner is a credit to the entire team, from earning the corner to Amy's (Kee) assist, it is an entire team effort.”
Princeton's first goal at 7:40 was also off a penalty corner. Katie Reinprecht found the back of the cage after a push by Alexandra Douwes and a stop by Michelle Cesan.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Syracuse responded with two goals of its own. Befort provided the push to freshman back Amy Kee who then fed the back to Befort on the left post for the goal at 47:45. The Orange used the same exact play to take a 2-1 lead at 53:09.
The Tigers rallied and Cesan scored at 63:48 off a rebound from a Kathleen Sharkey shot.
A very similar play in the overtime period produced the winning goal for Princeton. Sharkey's shot was saved by freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver, but Rachel Neufeld was on the doorstep and found the back of the cage at 78:06.
Graduate student goalkeeper Ashleigh McGowan and Stiver combined to make seven saves, while Jennifer King made 11, including four in the extra session, for the Tigers.
Syracuse outshot Princeton, 20-19, including 8-1 in overtime. Both teams had eight penalty corners, with SU having three and Princeton zero in the extra session.
The Orange remains home next weekend for a pair of games. SU hosts Old Dominion on Friday, September 11, at 3 p.m. and Michigan State on Sunday 13, at 1 p.m.
