In their Ivy League opener, the Princeton women’s soccer team faced a challenging match against Harvard, ultimately suffering a 4-3 defeat. Despite adverse weather conditions marked by wind and rain, the Tigers showcased resilience and skill, managing to equalize before halftime but falling short in the second half.
The decision to move the match time three hours earlier due to inclement weather did not dampen the spirits of the Princeton players. “Honestly, we were anticipating [weather conditions] to be worse,” said first-year forward Stella Monberg, who contributed significantly by scoring two goals during the match.
Harvard started the game strongly, dominating possession and netting the first two goals. However, Princeton quickly responded, leveling the score with a goal from sophomore midfielder Maddie Recupero, who capitalized on an assist from sophomore forward Nina Cantor.
Monberg equalized shortly thereafter in the 37th minute, demonstrating the Tigers’ ability to withstand early pressure and adapt to the game’s pace. Princeton’s senior goalkeeper, Cecilia Cerone, made two pivotal saves in the first half before being replaced by junior Sydney Romano at halftime to ensure equal playtime for both keepers.
As the second half unfolded, Princeton boasted a more aggressive approach, tallying 18 total shots, 10 of which were on target, compared to Harvard’s six shots on goal. However, the Crimson managed to score four times, creating a two-goal deficit for the Tigers in the 75th minute. Not to be discouraged, Princeton quickly rallied, and within minutes, Monberg found the net with a header from another assist by Cantor, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
Reflecting on their performance, Monberg noted, “We’ve been working on this, so we’re finishing a lot in practice. So it was really nice to have that payoff.” Despite the effort and increased momentum, the Tigers couldn’t secure the fourth goal in the closing minutes, even as Recupero and senior defender Zoe Markesini came close with shots that narrowly missed the mark.
“There were times when we were doing exactly what we wanted to do with the ball,” remarked sophomore defender Anna Chau. She played a crucial role in disrupting Harvard’s offensive maneuvers and facilitating Princeton’s attacking strategy through effective passing and strong defensive play.
While first-year forward Gianna Camporeale delivered several promising crosses, she faced challenges in connecting with teammates in the box. “I think we definitely did better at getting the ball into the box and finishing crosses,” stated Recupero, emphasizing the focus on positioning and teamwork during the match.
Looking ahead, the Tigers aim to improve their Ivy Conference standing in their next matchup against Yale on October 3rd in New Haven, Connecticut. Recupero concluded, “Our ability to play together and our communication has improved over the course of the season, and we’re definitely continuing to build on that.”
Brooklyn Fraser is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince’. Please send any corrections to corrections@dailyprincetonian.com.
