BALL CONTROL: Princeton University field hockey player Maddie Copeland controls the ball in recent action. Junior striker Copeland, a former standout at Stuart Country Day School and Peddie, scored two goals against No. 13 Syracuse but it wasn’t enough as Princeton fell 4-3 in double overtime. The Tigers, now 3-7 overall and 2-1 Ivy League, host Delaware on October 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The weekend started off on a shocking note for the Princeton University field hockey team.

Heading north to upper Manhattan on Friday evening, the Tigers fell 3-2 at Columbia, their first-ever loss to the Lions and their first setback in Ivy League play since 2011, snapping a 22-game winning streak in conference play.

As Maddie Copeland and her Tiger teammates hosted No. 13 Syracuse two days later, they were hungry to show that they could still play at an elite level.

“Syracuse is always a huge game for us and we knew that we had a lot to prove in this game,” said junior striker Copeland, a former standout at Stuart Country Day School and Peddie.

Showing fight as it battled back from a 2-0 deficit, the Tigers ended up losing 4-3 in double overtime.

While Princeton fell short of pulling off a shocker in dropping to 3-7 overall, it proved something to itself.

“We have a lot to be proud of from that game,” said Copeland. “It stinks that we didn’t get the win but we worked really hard. I think it just shows that we can keep up with anybody.”

Although falling behind the high-powered Orange was tough, the Tigers kept plugging away. “It is hard being down at first,” said Copeland.

“We had a really, really great warm-up. We were scoring a ton in warm-up and all of us knew we could get the ball in the goal. We were keeping up with them even though we were down 2-0. We just had to finish and we did.”

The Tigers ended the first half with a goal as Cassidy Arner tallied on a penalty corner that was played out after the clock hit zero.

“It was really, really important,” said Copeland, reflecting on Arner’s tally. “Every goal is important. It changed everything for the team. It showed that we can finish and get the ball in the goal.”

Copeland then displayed her finishing touch, scoring two goals in the first 4:40 of the second half as Princeton forged ahead 3-2.

“It was a great passing pattern, it started off right outside the circle,” said Copeland, reflecting on her first tally.

“We have been working so hard on getting to spots and being in the right spot in the circle. I was right there to put the ball in. They gave me a great pass so it is a tap-in goal. It was kind of the same thing on the second goal, another spot on the far post. Ryan [McCarthy] gave me a nice ball and I put it in.”

For Copeland, her scoring prowess comes from being in the right place at the right time.

“I am always looking for tips and touches right in front of the goal,” said Copeland, who is tied with senior Sydney for the team-high in goals with five.

“Luckily we have a lot of great players who can get you the ball there and you just have to finish.”

Princeton head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn liked the way her team moved the ball against Syracuse.

“At Albany we had a similar type of effort in terms of mindset, level of intensity and focus across the entire game but what I liked here was the connection between the our mids and the strikers,” said Holmes-Winn.

“They were connected. They were dangerous and were really threatening. That was a positive and something we can take away for sure.”

Copeland’s finishing has been a positive for the Tigers. “Maddie just has a nose for the goal; she gets in really good spots,” said Holmes-Winn. “She receives some phenomenal passes; she got set up which was great.”

Princeton got a great effort from junior goalie Anya Gersoff, who stood on her head for the most of the afternoon, making 12 saves with six coming in overtime.

“We know she is one of the very best goalkeepers in the country and that’s from the national team to all levels,” said Holmes-Winn. “I think she is absolutely sensational and that was on display today.”

The Tigers’ depth was also on display against Syracuse. “Honestly the entire team and the bench did well, every single player,” said Holmes-Winn, whose team hosts Delaware on October 10.

“They went in and just played hard. I was happy with everyone. I wish we could have found a way to finish; we had some really good looks.”

Copeland, for her part, believes the performance against Syracuse portends some good things to come for Princeton. “It just shows that we can keep up with pretty much anyone,” said Copeland.

“We just have to finish beating Ivy League teams. That is the most important thing right now for us, to win the Ivy League and hopefully make it to the NCAA tournament.”