Princeton Rallies to End Harvard's Winning Streak

Princeton wide receiver Roman Wilson catches a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap a 29-point rally to beat Harvard. (Beverly Schaefer)

Princeton was all but written off in Saturday's game against Harvard, who came in on a nation-leading 14-game win streak. With 13:02 left in the fourth quarter, Harvard's senior quarterback Colton Chapple threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Cameron Brate. The score put the Crimson up 34-10. The Tigers had no realistic shot being down by so much with so little time left.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in not giving up," said legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda. The Princeton football team did not give up in Saturday's game.

The Tigers took their first step forward when sophomore quarterback Conner Michelsen found freshman running back Dre Nelson for a seven-yard score with 11:19 left in the game. The subsequent two-point conversion was successful as Michelsen completed a pass to senior wide receiver Tom Moak.

Less than four minutes later, Princeton cut into the Harvard lead again when Michelsen connected with sophomore wide receiver Matt Costello. A successful two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Quinn Epperly to senior wide receiver Shane Wilkinson made the Crimson lead only 34-26.

With less than three minutes left in the game, the Tigers got the big play they were looking for when Michelsen hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Seth DeValve in the endzone for the 20-yard score. A successful two-conversion would tie the score, but the Crimson defense came up with the huge stop to hold on to their 34-32 lead.

It seemed as though the Princeton's comeback would come up just short. But their defense got them the ball back for one last shot. However, it appeared to be over again when Michelsen was knocked out of the game following a Harvard sack. With the pressure on, it seemed impossible that Epperly could complete the incredible comeback.

With thirteen seconds left, Epperly decided to air it out deep to the endzone for junior wide receiver Roman Wilson, who leaped in the air and pulled in the grab. The Tigers had pulled off the seemingly impossible. They did by playing as a team and never giving up. It took everything from heroics from a backup quarterback, a wide receiver catching his first collegiate touchdown, and a defense that had given up 34 points coming up with a number of crucial stops down the stretch. Princeton's football team showed the impossible does indeed become possible when you never give up.

Bobcats Too Much for Struggling "Ivy League" Princeton

They walked to classes this morning in their preppy sweater vests and ties, carrying briefcases and portfolios that would make any public university student jealous. But when the time came to hit the ice, everyone remembers why students go to Princeton for academics and not hockey.

Despite back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009, the Princeton Tigers, at only three games into the season, would very much like to start over and better their frustrating 0-2-1 record. The frustration for the Tigers only continued tonight against # 19 Quinnipiac University (7-2-0), as the Tigers suffered a 5-2 loss to the Bobcats.

Being down 1-0 in the first isn't the most demoralizing thing in the world. But when Quinnipiac's Russell Goodman was thrown out of the game with a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, you can't go the entire powerplay without scoring. And you certainly can't give up a shorthanded goal.

Apparently, Princeton can. Scott Zurevinski scored a shorthanded goal with just over 3 minutes left in the period to put Quinnipiac up 2-0. 

The demise continued for the Tigers when the Bobcats made it a chilling 3-0 in the second period. A bit of life flickered for a moment, however, when Princeton's Will MacDonald scored late in the period to cut the lead to 3-1. Princeton would try in vain to get the crucial next goal, but QU went up 4-1 in the third thanks to a timely goal by Bryce Van Brabant. The Tigers continued to show a glimpse of life by cutting the lead back down to two, when Eric Meland scored for Princeton.

It wasn't enough to spark a comeback. Quinnipiac buried an empty net goal, and sealed the game at 5-2.

The Bobcats of Quinnipiac have had a nice start to the season, coming in this week at #19 in the country. The schedule, though, has been only mediocre. We will see how the Bobcats perform as the schedule lets them face off against #9 Yale and #13 Union later on in the season.

And for Princeton? Looks like it's back to the books to find out how to solve a struggling season.