OPENING SALVO: Princeton University women’s soccer star Tyler Lussi, left, goes after the ball last Friday evening as Princeton hosted Fordham in its season opener. Senior star Lussi scored two goals and added an assist as the Tigers prevailed 3-1. Two days later, Princeton edged Villanova with a goal by Mimi Asom to improve to 2-0. The Tigers play at Delaware on September 2 and at Howard on September 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Tyler Lussi has established herself as one of the top scorers in the history of Princeton University women’s soccer.

Coming into the 2016 campaign, the senior striker had 43 career goals, just four behind the program record of 47 held by Esmeralda Negron ’05. The Lutherville, Md. native was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

But with Princeton opening its season by hosting Fordham last Friday evening, Lussi’s first outstanding play of the year came at the defensive end. With Fordham curling a corner kick into the box four minutes into the contest and the teams locked in a scoreless tie, Lussi leaped up and cleared the ball away with her head to keep the Rams off the board.

“I am usually not on the back post; I had to do what I had to do,” said Lussi, reflecting on her moment of defensive brilliance.

“I got just enough on it to get it out. I like to defend as well as play offense. I think it helps everybody when we are all connecting and defending. Defense wins games.”

Lussi, though, has won plenty of games for Princeton with her finishing touch around the goal and Friday proved to be no exception. Moments after her defensive gem, Lussi exploded for two goals in the span of 1:48 as the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the way to a 3-1 victory.

“That was a great ball over the top from Samantha McDonough,” said Lussi, in describing her first tally.

“They were playing a high line where we were playing through balls and it was working in the first half and they kind of started to figure it out but we still got the balls through and we were connecting.”

The second goal was the product of the potent one-two punch of Lussi and sophomore star Mimi Asom.

“Mimi and I have such a great connection, we know where to run, how to run, and what type of balls that we like play to each other,” said Lussi of Asom, who scored a late goal two nights later as Princeton edged Villanova 1-0 and improved to 2-0.

“We are always talking, we are always moving on each other so it is a great partnership that we have.”

In the second half against Fordham, Princeton moved ahead 3-0 as Lussi assisted on a tally by Asom and the Tigers then held off a late rally by the Rams.

“We told each other that we need a goal right when we came out and that is what we did and I think that settled us down,” said Lussi.

“Towards the middle of the second half, it got a little dicey but I don’t think we stopped defending or stopped fighting. This team prides itself on how hard we work and I think that pays off. Obviously with the result that we got, that is what we wanted.”

With Princeton having won the Ivy League title and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament last fall, Lussi is looking for some more good results in her final campaign.

“I am trying to lead this team as best I can, trying to organize everybody and taking one good last run at it,” said Lussi.

Getting to train and compete with the U.S. U-23 program earlier this year helped sharpen Lussi’s game.

“That was an unbelievable experience, playing at the highest level is what I have always wanted to do,” said Lussi, who helped the U.S. go 2-0-1 at the Istria Cup in Croatia this March.

“I wouldn’t be able to get there without this team and without what they have helped me accomplish. It has definitely helped playing at the highest level, what type of balls I need to play. What I have learned from there, I bring it back here with this team, how to organize them and how to attack each game.”

In reflecting on her rise up the Princeton scoring chart, Lussi sees her goals as a group effort.

“My entire team is working so hard at getting me the ball, they are doing the hard work and my job is to simply put the ball in the back of the net,” said Lussi.

Princeton head coach Sean Driscoll was not surprised to see Lussi find the back of the net twice in the win over Fordham.

“Tyler gives us leadership, that is what she is there for,” said Driscoll. She sets the standard in terms of work rate and attitude and hunger to win. She showed that tonight at both sides of the ball.”

While Driscoll believes that Lussi has benefitted from her time with the U.S. national program, he sees her competitiveness as innate.

“She has always played at such a high rate and a high level, with intensity, fitness, and focus,” added Driscoll. “I think playing with the U.S. team helped but she just has it in her DNA, it is part of who she is.”

The combination of Lussi and Asom gives Princeton some high level scoring punch.

“Goal scorers score goals, it gives them confidence, they feed off confidence,” said Driscoll.

“I was happy for Mimi, I was happy for Tyler and the team in general, of course. When you get your two star strikers going, that is great.”

On defense, the Tigers held the fort after senior center back Katie Pratt-Thompson left the game with a leg injury as junior Natalie Larkin, senior Jess McDonough, junior Mikaela Symanovich, and freshmen Emily Hilliard put the clamps on the Rams.

“Natalie is a great player, Jesse is a great player, they are both very versatile, they did a good job,” said Driscoll.

“In general, the back line did a very good job. I thought Mikaela Symanovich was very good. Emily Hilliard came in as a freshman and played really composed. We have a lot of depth, that is the thing about this team.”

Although the Tigers had to work through some opening night glitches, Driscoll had no qualms with the effort he got from his players.

“The good news is that they remain really hungry, the fire still burns bright,” said Driscoll, whose team will look to keep on the winning track as it plays at Delaware on September 2 and at Howard on September 4.

“They have that competitive edge, which is nice. They didn’t rest on their laurels from last year. They came out and had a real bite to their game. They didn’t play as well as they could but it is the first game and we are going to make a lot of mistakes, which we did. But we didn’t make any mistakes in our work rate, we didn’t make any mistakes in our overall hunger to win the game. The execution and passing was a little bit off here and there but our mentality was great.”

Lussi, for her part, said the Tigers were chomping at the bit to get the 2016 campaign underway.

“I think everybody had a lot of energy coming out; in the first 15-20 minutes, we were explosive,” said Lussi.

“We were putting a lot of shots on goal, we got some opportunities. We were working out the kinks and getting organized. Playing at home is always great; having our fans here is great support. We are really excited to get this going.”