Nov. 15, 2008
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The No. 11 Penn State field hockey season had its season come to a close Saturday as No. 9 Princeton shut out the Nittany Lions, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA Field Hockey Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.. Penn State was plagued by inclement weather and an unrelenting Tiger defense, prohibiting it from producing a substantial scoring attack for the entirety of the contest.
Katie Reinprecht captured both goals, and Princeton moves on to the quarterfinal round, in which it will play a Syracuse team that squeaked past Massachusetts, 3-2.
Jen Beaumont (Chalfont, Pa.) made 11 saves in her final start in goal for the Nittany Lions.
Princeton controlled the pace early in the game but was unable to get past Beaumont or Laura Cahill (Virginia Beach, Va.), who made a key defensive save on a well-executed penalty corner by the Tigers.
Reinprecht sent the Ivy League champions ahead in the 21st minute. Her shot was blocked by Amy Bonenberger (Palmyra, Pa.) but took a Tiger bounce off her stick into the far post of the net.
After more pressure from the steadfast Princeton offense, Beaumont kept the Nittany Lions in arm's reach of the Tigers, despite holding an 11-5 edge in shots and an 8-3 advantage in penalty-corner opportunities at the half. Penn State came out of the halftime with intensity not found in the first half, closing the shot margin to 11-10.
Ten minutes into the second half, Reinprecht gave the Tigers an insurmountable lead. Reinprecht tipped a free hit by Holly McGarvie from just outside the circle over Beaumont's shoulder and into the net.
Princeton held the Nittany Lions at play, prohibiting their chances after it insured itself a two-goal cushion. The Tigers completed the game with a 24-11 shot edge and a 14-7 edge in corners.