Princeton University Athletics
Field Hockey To Host U.S. National Team
August 28, 2002 | Field Hockey
Aug. 28, 2002
PRINCETON, NJ - The Princeton field hockey team traditionally boasts one of the toughest schedules in the nation. This year is no exception, as the Tigers have raised it up a notch and will open the 2002 season by hosting the U.S. national team in an exhibition game on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
The game is the final contest in the national team's four-game Collegiate Challenge. Fresh off a qualifying berth to this year's World Cup, the national team is opening the college season with games against Michigan, Maryland, Wake Forest and Princeton, each of last year's NCAA semifinalists. They handed Michigan, the 2001 NCAA champion, a 1-0 defeat on Aug. 23 to open the tour, and followed that with a 10-0 win over Maryland on Aug. 25.
"Playing the national team is a win-win situation for us," says Princeton head coach Beth Bozman. "We will quickly see where out weakness and out strengths are. And hopefully, we will do this in front of a large crowd. Field hockey is extremely popular in the area, and it's a great opportunity for hockey fans to see a great game." Princeton is returning every starter from the team that posted a 17-3 record in 2001. The Tigers rode a 10-game winning streak all the way to the Final Four, where they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Wolverines in the first semifinal game. Along the way Princeton won its eighth-straight Ivy League title and had three of its players earn first-team All-America honors.
The game against the national team will feature former Tiger Melanie Meerschwam '01. Meerschwam was a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection, and earned first-team All-America honors in 2000.
The Tigers will kick off their regular season when the host Ohio University at Class of 1952 Stadium on Sept. 13. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets for the national team game will be $6 for adults and $4 for children. Admission for students is free. For ticket information call the Princeton University Ticket Office at 609.258.3538.