PRINCETON, N.J. – Falling just short at the end of an outstanding, historic season, the Princeton men’s soccer team fell 2-1 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament to Duke on Sunday night in Roberts Stadium.
Despite the Tigers taking the lead with captain Jack Hunt’s first career goal in the first half, Duke equalized and was able to find a second goal late after a red card on Daniel Ittycheria.
How It Happened
The Tigers bombarded Duke with shots in the first half, registering three shots on target in just the first four minutes, but the Blue Devil keeper Eryk Dymora saved each one.
At the 30-minute mark, Ittycheria made a run deep into Duke’s end, sending a curling shot towards the upper left 90 of the goal, but it hit the woodwork.
On the resulting corner, Jack Jasinski sent service in towards the back post, where Hunt headed it in to put Princeton up 1-0.
Princeton continued to press, with another just-wide shot coming from the foot of Jackson Martin, but the Tigers would take their one goal lead into the half.
Coming out of the break, it was Duke who had the momentum as it searched for an equalizer. After 25 minutes of pressure, the Blue Devils would find it as Kenan Hot caught a momentarily out-of-shape Princeton and tied the game at 1 apiece.
Immediately upping the intensity to re-take the lead, a collision with Dymora would result in a second yellow for Ittycheria, sending him off the pitch.
Fighting to hold on, Princeton was able to defend Duke while playing down a man and seeking another goal at the same. But, with four minutes left, Duke broke through as they added a second goal.
Jasinski and Dash Papez took shots late in the game as they tried to save the season, but they could not find an equalizer and Duke took the win, 2-1.
Of Note
Hunt’s goal was the first of his career.
Samuels made three saves in the contest, including one on a Duke free kick.