
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Despite holding a 39-6 shot advantage, No. 9 Princeton needed a Michelle Cesan overtime goal to earn a 2-1 victory against Rider on Sunday afternoon to conclude the home half of the 2013 schedule.
After a scoreless first half, Rider got its first two shots of the match, both of which were stopped by Tiger goalkeeper Christina Maida, but Princeton sent the ball right back into the Bronc circle and was awarded a penalty corner.
Freshman Cat Caro picked up Teresa Benvenutiâs deflected shot off Prettymanâs pads to send in the go-ahead goal and extend her scoring streak to five consecutive games.
With time winding down, Rider took possession of the ball in the Tiger circle and employed its first real offensive swing. The Broncs capitalized on their third consecutive penalty corner with 14 seconds left in regulation to end Princetonâs chance of shutting out its weekend opponents.
On a day honoring the graduating senior class, it fittingly was a senior captain to send the class of 2014 off the home turf on a winning note. In only their second overtime game of the year, the Tigers took possession and this time never relinquished it. At 75:23 Cesan inserted Princetonâs 12th penalty corner, connecting with classmate Amanda Bird. Bird then dribbled the ball to the left side and passed it back to Cesan on the near post to tap in the game-winner.
Maida (4-1) concluded the day with two saves to Prettymanâs 17, as Princeton held a 19-3 on-goal shot advantage.
No. 8 Connecticut 3, Yale 0
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Freshman midfielder Anna Middendorf scored the first goal of her career and sophomore defender Roisin Upton netted two scores as Connecticut defeated Yale 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. With the win, UConn rounds out the regular season with a 15-4 overall record while the Bulldogs slip to 7-9 on the year.
UConn has now won at least 15 games 26 times in its 35 years of existence and has reached the 15-win mark in 12 consecutive seasons. The Huskies have now posted at least 15 wins for the 18th time in the past 20 years.
Connecticut also improved to 31-0 all-time versus Yale in a series that started in 1975.
The Huskies will now prepare to host the Big East tournament at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. UConn clinched a share of the Big East regular-season title for the 13th time in its history on Saturday and earned the No. 1 seed in next weekâs tournament due to a goal differential tiebreaker. The Huskies will square-off against No. 4 seed Temple on Nov. 8 for the right to play for the championship on Nov. 10.
Middendorfâs first career goal came at the 8:58 mark after she took a feed from Anne Jeute and Chrissy Davidson on a penalty corner opportunity. Middendorf was able to convert on the game winner with a strike from the top of the circle.
Sophomore back Roisin Upton gave the Huskies some insurance when she was awarded a penalty stroke at the 29:18 mark and converted on the chance. Upton is now a perfect 2-2 on penalty strokes this year and she netted her 11th goal of the season with 4:44 remaining in regulation thanks to Davidsonâs 11th assist of the year.