Remember the name Lilia Calvert, because she just announced her arrival with a bang! This freshman sensation, who actually gave away a penalty that allowed Princeton back into the game in the first half, turned around and scored two goals in a furious four-minute span during the second half to seal a 4-2 win for Rutgers on Sunday at Yurcak Field. These weren’t just any goals; they were the first two of her entire college career, and get this: they came on the only two shots she took all night. Talk about efficiency!
Rutgers Needed This One Bad; Princeton Had Everything to Lose
Rutgers came into this match at 0-1-3, having played four matches with a shot profile that somehow looked better than their winless record. It’s been rough; they blew a two-goal lead against Providence with half an hour left just eight days prior, giving it back in just 69 seconds. Before that, two scoreless road draws and an opening loss at Tennessee. This was only their second home match of the fall, with their Boston College opener still unscheduled due to weather. Meanwhile, Princeton rolled in at 2-3-0, but with way more to lose. The Tigers were picked first in the Ivy League preseason poll after winning their second straight Ivy title in 2025, and they opened their season 3-0 over Loyola (Md.). They were also playing their second match in four days after a tough trip to face No. 8 Ohio State. Their coach, Sean Driscoll, had been platooning goalies Cecilia Cerone and Sydney Romano for two shutouts in nonconference play, but Cerone played all 90 on Sunday and gave up four. This game was a wild ride for both squads.
Calvert’s Midfield Magic and O’Neill’s Mad Scientist Subs
Calvert, listed as a forward on the official roster but logged as a midfielder in the box score, played it exactly that way, arriving late into the box for both of her clutch goals. Head Coach Mike O’Neill made three changes to the starting XI from the Providence game, shaking up the front line and moving Calvert into a midfield three. The back four stayed solid for a second straight match, with Olivia Bodmer in goal for the full 90. The bench was a revolving door, with O’Neill using ten substitutes on Sunday after using nine in each of the first four matches. Nine changes happened before halftime, with almost every outfield starter getting a break! Then, just like the previous game, ten of the eleven starters came back out after the break, with Bea Tinoco replacing Gabriela Gil, who didn’t return. Calvert herself was pulled off with three other starters in the 61st minute, only to be put right back on later. Twenty-one Rutgers players saw the field, a true team effort, but it was Calvert’s late heroics that stole the show.
This win is massive for Rutgers, finally getting into the win column after a tough start. It’s a statement game, especially for Calvert, who went from penalty giver to game-winner in the blink of an eye. For Princeton, this stings. Losing to a winless team after being picked first in the Ivy League? That’s gonna be a tough pill to swallow heading into their next matches. What a turnaround, and what a player to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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