Penn holds on to defeat a surging Princeton 29-25

Princeton, NJ - In the most hotly contested match of Round 7, the University of Pennsylvania withstood a late Tiger rally to defeat Princeton 29-25. With 15 minutes remaining and Princeton down 29-13, the Tigers almost pulled back, scoring two tries (one converted) but left their fight-back too late and the game ended in a 29-25Penn victory. Penn was paced by the three tries of Andrew Martin.

The first half was relatively quiet, with Penn going into intermission with a 12 -8 lead.

Princeton opened the scoring in the second minute with a try by wing Colin Sylvester, but Penn’s Felipe Rigeadeau-Lopez answered with a try of his own a minute later, 5-5.

A penalty goal by fullback Adam Nassr gave Princeton an 8-5 lead in the 7th minute but Andrew Martin’s first try in the 20th minute and Jonny Chia’s conversion gave Penn a 12-8 lead that held up until the break

Second Half
Martin second try, converted by Chia, increased Penn’s lead to 19-8 two minutes after the restart but a try three minutes later by Princeton #8 Zak Deschaine reduced Penn’s margin to 19-13.

Andrew Martin’s third try and another by Henry Tai in the 13th minute increased Penn’s lead to 29-13.

Princeton, however, refused to submit. Zak Deschaine’s second try in the 23rd minute that Nassr converted (29-20) and another by center Ross Powell in the 33rd brought the final score to 29-25.

Postscript
Commenting after the game, Princeton Coach Richard Lopacki said: “Congratulations to Coach Eli Storch and Penn, especially their scrumhalf and flyhalf. The Quaker halfback pairing won Penn the game in an all around display of running, passing and disruptive play.”

Penn 29
Tries: Martin 3, Rigeadeau-Lopez, Tai
Convs: Chia 2

Princeton 25
Tries: Sylvester, Deschaine 2, Powell
Convs: Nassr
Pens: Nassr

Penn Tweets

Princeton scores to make it 5-0
Penn scores to tie it up 5-5
Princeton gets a penalty kick to make it 8-5
Penn scores again to make it 12-8 Penn
Andy takes it in to make it 19-8 Penn
Princeton makes it 19-13, Penn
Andy scores again to make it 24-13
Hentai takes it in to make it 29-13, Penn
Princeton scores to make it 29-20
Princeton scores 29-25
Final whistle...Penn wins 29-25