PRINCETON, N.J. — Alejandro Coury scored his first goal of the season, but the Raiders fell 3-1 at Princeton Tuesday evening. "We started incredibly flat, which was disappointing, but we found our footing, played our way back into the match, and were building some momentum. I could not have asked for a better response after we equalized. Going down a man made the game very difficult, and conceding the penalty was a mountain to climb," said head coach Erik Ronning. 

"Although I am happy with the team's effort, winning games at this level requires more. It requires discipline and toughness that we collectively did not display tonight. I believe in this team and trust we will grow and be better for it as we turn the page and prepare for a huge game against American."

Coury found the back of the net in the 50th minute, tying the game at 1-1. Wade Johnson played a through ball into the box, and the senior slotted a shot past the goalie into the bottom left corner.

Colgate played most of the second half down a man after Cooper Cardenas received a second yellow card and got sent off in the 52nd minute.

Less than a minute after the red card, the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick. Eric Widrick saved the PK attempt before Kevin Kelley buried the rebound. Princeton pushed its advantage to two with a goal from Daniel Ittycheria in the 57th minute.

The Raiders had an opportunity to get one back with a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the 87th minute. Charlie Yates took a shot, but a Princeton defender cleared it off the goal line.

Colgate also had a free kick from a similar spot in the 72nd minute that it could not convert.

Princeton took an initial lead of 1-0 in the 18th minute. A free kick into the box was headed by Dash Papez before Will Francis headed it into the back of the net.

The Tigers applied heavy pressure at the start of the game, earning seven corners in the opening 21 minutes. Widrick also got tested early, making two saves. In the eighth minute, he stopped a chance with a diving save, then made another big stop three minutes later. He finished the game with six saves.

The Raiders picked it up later in the first, finding some opportunities. Connor Hearn had a good look in the 29th minute after Colgate earned a free kick in a dangerous spot. Hearn chested the ball down before hitting a half volley that landed just wide of the goal.

Hearn had another chance in the 31st minute when a ball got played across the six-yard box that he could not get his foot on cleanly, deflecting off a defender and earning a corner.

Colgate also had two other free kicks from good field positions in the first that the Tigers' backline fended off.

UP NEXT
The Raiders return to Hamilton for homecoming weekend Saturday, hosting American at 4 p.m.