The No. 10 Princeton field hockey team dropped their final match of the inaugural Tiger Invitational on Sunday to No. 2 North Carolina in a close 2-3 contest. The Tigers split their opening weekend, going 1-1, with a 2-1 victory over the Old Dominion University (ODU) Monarchs.
All of the tallies from the match were the result of penalty corners on both ends of the field. Princeton secured an early lead in the top-ranked match. Olympian Beth Yeager scored off a penalty corner to open the game’s scoring. It was only the fifth contest under UNC Head Coach Erin Matson that the Heels allowed an opponent to draw first blood.
Goalkeeper Olivia Caponiti made her first career start between the posts. Caponiti made three crucial saves in an onslaught of defensive corners in the final two minutes of the half, before a UNC redirect evened the match going into halftime.
The Tar Heels’ possession to end the half and transition into the third quarter would benefit them greatly, as international rookie Isabel Boer would score back-to-back in offensive corners. The Netherlands native would net two goals within about a minute of competition, putting Carolina ahead, 3-1.
Sophomore Molly Nye would restart the momentum for the Tigers, initiating several key turnovers on the press to eventually cause a penalty corner in Princeton’s favor. Captain and NFHCA Watchlist Ella Cashman would redirect a fed shot into the net from Yeager to cut the deficit.
Even with a newfound spark, Princeton was unable to equal the contest, despite taking seven of the final eight shots of the match. The Tigers held firm defense in the final quarter of action, allowing the offense four looks onto the cage. The Tar Heels outpaced the Tigers in shots 15-9 and corners 12-7.
Princeton will continue their competitive 2025 campaign, taking on a pair of ranked opponents. The Tigers will defend Bedford Field at home against No. 11 Syracuse and travel to Rutgers take on their in-state rivals.
