Notre Dame blanks Princeton
LAWRENCE » Choosing a college often can be a difficult as putting the ball in the cage.
Fortunately, they both came easy for Notre Dame’s Maggie Blundi.
The talented Blundi will take her talents to the University of California next fall, but before heading to Berkeley she still has some business to take care of for the Irish.
Blundi scored a goal and assisted on two others as Notre Dame blanked Princeton, 3-0, on a rainy Tuesday in a Colonial Valley Conference divisional game played on the turf at Msgr. Nolan Field.
“After I was visiting there on Labor Day I knew it was where I wanted to go,” said Blundi, of her college choice. “I’m really excited about it. I knew it was all going to come together.”
It has all come together on the field for the Irish (5-1-1) this year, too.
“Finally,” said ND coach Barbara Major. “It’s been a long time since we beat them and it feels good.”
The last Irish win over the Little Tigers was in 2009 by a 1-0 score. Since then Princeton has won nine straight, including a pair in the Mercer County Tournament.
ND is a team that has come together and the young Tigers (1-3) are still finding their way as they look to develop some chemistry.
“We had our chances early and we just didn’t capitalize and they took advantage,” said Princeton coach Heather Serverson. “We are so young and we don’t have the experience yet. This is only the fourth varsity game for some of these kids and we are still working a lot of things out.”
Besides Blundi’s goal and two assists, the Irish got goals from Cate Buecker and Bridget Reilly. Ryan Besler added an assist.
Princeton got a tremendous job in the cage by Kate Rogers, who turned back 13 Irish attempts.
ND got a stellar game from the defense as they contained the Tigers and controlled the midfield. Reilly, Ava Scudillo, Alexis Staniec and Nicole Burney were some those anchoring the Irish defense.
“We keep talking on defense and we energy up as that is what works for us,” said Reilly, who scored her second career goal off a penalty corner. “We really played good. We are really connected and we are much more confident as a group. We all trust each other, too.”
Blundi connected on the first goal with 17:57 left in the first half off a corner insert from Besler. The Irish made it 2-0 with 12:27 left on the first half when Blundi sent a rocket on the cage that Buecker was able to deflect into the cage.
The final score came off a corner when Erin Carroll inserted the ball to Blundi, who sent a pass to Reilly and she caged it.
“This year has been a lot of fun,” said Blundi. “I’m really enjoying it.”
Princeton (1-3) Notre Dame (5-1-1) 0 0—0 2 1—
Blundi, Buecker, Reilly (ND). Blundi 2, Besler (ND).
2 (P). 16 (ND). Rogers 13 (P). Dill 2 (ND).
3