Tough schedule has prepared Princeton to push forward
Opening the season with six nationally ranked teams, including five in the top 10, might not have helped the Princeton field hockey team’s record, but it was definitely a positive experience.
“We have played better hockey game by game,” said coach Carla Tagliente. “I think we are far better with the small details that win or lose games. Tactically, I see our players making better decisions on both sides of the ball. I think we have built up some resilience and grit and are better for having this stretch of games.”
Ranked No. 17, the Tigers are 2-4 and are coming off a win over No 10 Maryland, 2-1, on Tuesday night in College Park.
Princeton is on the road this weekend, opening the Ivy League season Saturday at Dartmouth and then in non-league action on Sunday at No. 24 Boston University.
Against Maryland, the Tigers got an lead early and did a good job limiting the Terrapins’ number of penalty corners. Princeton also amped up its aggressiveness on corner chances.
“We have been a second half team this season so far and that has put us in a position of chasing games,” said Tagliente. “Getting a strong start and getting on the board early was important.”
Ryan McCarthy, who leads the Tigers with four goals and nine points, and Clara Roth scored first-half goals for Princeton and Grace Baylis recorded a season-best seven saves against the Terps.
The Tigers didn’t win the Ivy last year, and Tagliente believes it was a factor in their run to the Final Four.
“It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” said Tagliente. “Not winning the Ivies last year was the best thing to happen to this program. We are excited to start Ivy play again and look forward to each match up.”
Big Ten Time for Scarlet Knights
It’s Big Ten time for No. 23 Rutgers (5-3), who hosts Indiana (5-3) on Friday at 3 p.m. and then No. 19 Iowa (4-5, 0-1 Big Ten) on Sunday at noon.
Rutgers and Iowa are two of the six Big Ten teams that are nationally ranked. The others are No. 3 Penn State, No. 9 Michigan, No. 10 Maryland and No. 14 Northwestern.
“Indiana and Iowa are two good games for us to start off conference play,” said Rutgers coach Meredith Civico. “We are really happy to be home, being comfortable and playing in front of our home crowd. It’s also alumni weekend so we’ll have a lot of alumni coming back that will be at the game supporting us.”
The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 at home this season and would like to keep the streak going.
They are led by Daphne Groothius with six goals and 15 points, Linda van Schaik chips in with five goals and four assists.
“We’re pretty confident in what we need to do to prepare,” said Civico. “If we can execute our game plan we’ll be in good shape.”
Rider Looks to Rebound
It’s been a tough stretch for the Broncs (3-4) having dropped four of the last five and they will be hoping to turn things around against a familiar rival as they head to St. Francis (Pa.).
St. Francis is an old Northeast Conference opponent and brings a 4-3 record to the meeting.
Rider has plenty of young players and it really bodes well for the future as three have been honored as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week in the first month of the season.
This week, Kaitlyn Flemming, from South Jersey’s Triton High, got the honor after scoring her first two collegiate goals in the Broncs’ home win over Towson.
Next week the conference schedule begins as the Broncs travel to Providence to face Bryant.
Salisbury Heads to TCNJ
It’s another Saturday Night Special for The College of New Jersey as No. 4 Salisbury (5-1) comes to Lions Stadium for a 6 p.m. game.
The third-ranked Lions dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 1 Messiah last Saturday. TCNJ rebounded this week with a 1-0 win over previously undefeated Gwynedd Mercy. Sidney Padilla scored the game winner off an assist from Allentown’s Kayla Peterson.
The Sea Gulls hold a 5-2 advantage over the Lions since 2010.