Michigan
7-7-4, 3-5-2
Princeton
10-5-3, 4-2-1
U-M Eliminated from NCAA Tournament by Princeton
11/10/2023 10:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Princeton's Lexi Hiltunen had the lone goal of the match in the 80th minute.
» Goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski made seven saves on the night, while each team hit the woodwork twice.
» The Wolverines conclude the season with a 7-7-4 overall record.
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team's season concluded with a 1-0 setback against the seventh-seeded Princeton Tigers in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament Friday (Nov. 10) at Princeton's Roberts Stadium.
Michigan (7-7-4) nearly took the lead only five minutes into the contest. Sophomore Kali Burrell played a low ball in from the left flank, finding classmate Jenna Lang at the top of the six. Her fight-footed attempt rattled off the right post, representing the best chance of the opening 20 minutes for either side.
The best chance of the opening half for the Tigers came in the 23rd minute, as Jen Estes had a chance from the top of the box that squeaked just wide right.
Ten minutes later, Princeton's (10-5-3) Pietra Todin rang one off the cross bar from 10 yards out as the Wolverine back line was under duress.
The two sides went into the break with the Tigers hitting two cross bars in the opening 45, while U-M's hit a post as well.
Coming out of the break, the Wolverines rattled another shot off the woodwork only four minutes into the second half. Freshman Lilley Bosley hit one off the right post that nearly resulted in a stunning marker, but the post was once again unkind to the Maize and Blue.
The Wolverines nearly got on the board again in the 60th, as freshman Gabrielle Prych was taken down on the touchline to result in a short corner set piece. The service was played in by senior Sarah Bridenstine, initially headed by junior Avery Peters at the top of the six and was redirected by sophomore Aniyah League but was pushed just high over the bar.
Princeton's best stretch came in the 66-68th minutes, with chances from Lexi Hiltunen being saved by Sparkowski and the latter pushed wide of the right post by Tordin at close range.
The valiant efforts of the Wolverine back line were compromised in the 80th minute, as Tiger forward Lexi Hiltunen collected a loose ball off a failed Wolverine clearance. Her initial shot was blocked, but her follow attempt was put home lower right for the lone goal of the match.
The final Wolverine chance came in the 86th minute off the right foot of senior Sammi Woods. The forward cut in on her right foot and sent a venomous shot that seemed destined for the top right corner of goal, but the attempt was punched out by Prineton goalkeeper Tyler McCamey.
The result concludes U-M's 2023 campaign with a 7-7-4 record. The Wolverines were a part of a Big Ten-record nine NCAA Tournament teams.
Tweet of the Match
FT: No. 7 Princeton 1, Michigan 0
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) November 11, 2023
SHOTS | 11-18
SOG | 6-8
SAVES | 7-6
CK | 5-5
FOULS | 8-12
? Princeton: 79' Hultanen (unassisted)#GoBlue?? | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/tZZNoZUQKA
Team Stats
Lexi Hiltunen (6)
GOAL by PRIN Hiltunen, Lexi.
79:02
