LA JOLLA/WHITTIER, Calif. — The No. 13-ranked Princeton University Tigers secured a split during the first two games of the program’s California Trip, dropping a 8-6 decision to the No. 10 University of California-San Diego Tritons, but securing an 15-12 win over the Division III No. 4 Whittier College Poets.
Facing UC-San Diego, Princeton registered two goals in the first eight minutes with tallies from Matt Payne and Miles Cole. The Tritons finally got on the scoreboard at the 6:32 mark of the second frame, but Princeton countered with a goal from Alec Mendelsohn 26 seconds later. After a timeout, Ryan Wilson rifled a shot in the back of the net to make it 4-1 with 3:15 remaining. The home squad snagged the last goal of the first half, setting the score at 4-2 Princeton at the break.
The two top-15 squads exchanged tallies as the second half got started before a goal from Connor Turnbow-Lindenstadt got the Tritons within one, 5-4, as the clock ticked under five minutes. Keller Maloney gave the Tigers a two-goal advantage, 6-4, but UC-San Diego posted consecutive tallies to tie the game at 6-all after three quarters.
Turnbow-Lindenstadt gave the home squad its first lead of the game with 5:22 left. The Tigers could not find the equalizer in the final stanza as the Tritons held them scoreless to secure the close victory.
Against Whittier, it was a fast paced first quarter that saw each team score four times. Neither team led by more than two goals until a tally by Matt Payne put the Tigers ahead, 6-4, with 5:41 to go in the first half. Princeton threw in the last two goals of the second stanza, taking a 9-6 advantage into halftime.
In front by three (10-7), Princeton gained more separation with back-to-back goals as the clock read 2:30 to go in the third frame. The Tigers maintained a comfortable lead (13-8) as the fourth quarter got underway. Princeton was never really threatened in the final eight minutes, leading by as many as six before Whittier scored the last two goals in the final 1:25 of action.
Payne’s seven goals match his career high and are tied for the fifth most in a single-game in program history.
Release courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
