PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 18 Rutgers field hockey was led by an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Emily Nicholls against No. 11 Princeton on Sunday afternoon. The redshirt freshman made a career-best 13 saves, the most for a RU goalkeeper since 2015, but ultimately the Tigers broke through with a goal in overtime for a 1-0 win in the team's Pride Game.  
 
Nicholls' 13 stops were the most for any Rutgers goalkeeper since Shevaun Hayes made 13 saves against Michigan State on October 2, 2015. Princeton had a large advantage in shots, outshooting the Scarlet Knights 19-5 on the game, including nine shots in the fourth quarter. Princeton also led in corners, 7-2,
 
After the first 15 minutes when shots were even at 3-3, the Tigers had 16 of the final 18 shots at cage. The Tigers continued to press for a tally, but Nicholls stood tall.
 
Nicholls' brilliance in the cage kept the game scoreless, including a save on a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter against US Olympian Beth Yeager. With just 3:30 to play in regulation, Yeager stepped to the spot for a stroke attempt, but a full extension dive from Nicholls denied it and sent the game into an extra session.
 
Princeton was awarded a penalty corner six minutes into the extra session and capitalized to score the only goal of the day. The corner was inserted for a stickstop at the top, Yeager took the initial shot, and Ella Cashman was positioned for a redirection in front for the only ball to find the back of the cage on the day.
 
With the result, RU falls to 3-3 overall on the season, having completed a 1-3 stretch against ranked opponents following a 2-0 start, the first time under head coach Meredith Civico that RU played four straight ranked teams in nonconference action. The Scarlet Knights remain home at Bauer for four straight games, with New Hampshire next on Friday, followed by No. 19 Monmouth on Sunday. No. 12 Ohio State and then Columbia visit the following weekend.