Princeton University Athletics
Field Hockey Hosts Duke in NCAA First Round on Saturday
November 10, 2005 | Field Hockey
Princeton, N.J. - The Princeton field hockey team returns to NCAA Tournament play this Saturday morning when it meets fourth-ranked Duke at Class of 1952 Stadium at 11 a.m. The game will pit Princeton's past versus it's present as former Tiger coach Beth Bozman brings her Duke team north to face Kristen Holmes-Winn's Tigers.
The game is the first of three scheduled during the Princeton Regional of the 2005 NCAA Field Hockey Championship. Princeton will meet Duke on Saturday at 11 a.m., in the first game, while No. 10 Connecticut and No. 13 Boston College at 2 p.m. in the second game. The two winners meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. for a berth in the NCAA semifinals.
This Week's Storylines
Back in the Tournament
Princeton returns to the NCAA tournament in 2005 after missing it in 2004 for the first time since 1999. The Tigers will face Duke in the opening round.
The 10th Time
Princeton's NCAA tournament appearance is the 10th in school history. Princeton's first NCAA appearance came in 1994 and its last came in 2003. In the past 12 years, Princeton has only missed the tournament twice.
Tourney History
In its 10 visits to the tournament, Princeton is 12-9 overall. It has reached the semifinals four times and the championship game twice, in 1996 and 1998.
Hosting in the Tournament
Princeton is a perfect 6-0 when hosting in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers last hosted in 2001 when they defeated Northeastern and Old Dominion en route to their fourth semifinal appearance.
The Current Class
Princeton's senior class is 1-2 in NCAA games while at Princeton. The group has a first-round win over Michigan, and a first- and second-round defeat to Penn State.
Perfect Seven
Princeton defeated Penn 2-1 last Friday to cap a perfect 7-0 Ivy League season. The Tigers ran the table in league play for the 10th time since Ivy play began in 1979.
14th Title
Princeton's Ivy League championship was its 11th title in the last 12 years and its 14th overall. Princeton has won 14 of the 26 Ivy League championships awarded since 1979.
Player of the Year
Sophomore Paige Schmidt leads Princeton and the Ivy League in scoring. Her 11 goals, 29 points and 69 shots leads all three categories. On Thursday she became Princeton's 12th player to become the league's player of the year.
Rookie of the Year
Freshman Sarah Reinprecht was named the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year. She became 13th Princetonian to win the award. Princeton last swept the league awards in 2003.
All-Ivy
Princeton had five players receive All-Ivy recognition. Paige Schmidt and senior Maren Ford were first-team selections. Senior Hillary Schmidt and Sarah Reinprecht were second-team picks, and senior Lauren Ehrlichman was an honorable mention.
The North Side of .500
With its win last Friday at Penn, Princeton climbed above the .500 mark for the first time all season. Princeton is 9-8 thanks to its 7-0 conference record. The Tigers are 2-8 in non-conference games.
Not Ranked
While Princeton received votes in the most recent STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll, the Tigers did not receive enough votes to garner a top 20 ranking. That leaves Princeton as the only team of the 16 selected to the tournament that is not ranked in the top 20. Princeton's votes were the first votes it has received all season long.
Home Sweet Home
Princeton is 5-4 at home this season in games at Class of 1952 Stadium. Since the stadium opened in 1995, Princeton is 77-22 on the field.
Last Time Out
Princeton completed the regular season last Friday with a 2-1 win at Penn. Seniors Lauren Ehrlichman and Hillary Schmidt both scored as Princeton came back from a deficit to post the 2-1 win.
Player of the Week
Hillary Schmidt received Ivy League Player of the Week honors for her game-winning goal against Penn. She became Princeton's third Player of the Week award winner this season. Lauren Ehrlichman and Paige Schmidt have also received the honor.
Senior Class
Princeton's class of four seniors will play their final games at Class of 1952 Stadium during this weekend's regional. The members are Lauren Ehrlichman, Maren Ford, Liz Miller and Hillary Schmidt.
And the Rookies
Princeton entered the season with a class of 10 freshmen. Seven of them have played significant minutes and been an important part of the 2005 season. Sarah Reinprecht has played every minute of every game this season, and Katie Kinzer leads the class with three goals. Candi Arner scored one of the Tigers' most important goals all season, the overtime game winner at Harvard, and was the Ivy League Rookie of the Week recipient.
Outscoring the Ivies
Princeton outscored its Ivy competition 21-4 in 2005. The Tigers had three shutouts in league play and almost had a fourth, but Yale scored on a penalty stroke with no time left on the clock.
Senior All Star
Senior midfielder Maren Ford was named to the NFHCA North/South Senior All-Star game. She was one of only two Ivy League players named to play in the game that will take place as part of the NCAA Championship weekend in Louisville, Ky.
Tough Schedule
Princeton is 2-8 this season in non-conference games. Of the eight losses, all have come to teams that are either currently ranked in the nation's top 20 or in the receiving votes category.
Against the Field
Princeton is 0-5 against teams in the 2005 Field Hockey tournament, with losses to American, Boston University, Connecticut, Maryland and Penn State.
Against Duke
Princeton is 3-1 all-time against Duke and last faced the Blue Devils in 2000, winning 5-2 at home. Duke is coached by former Princeton coach Beth Bozman, who spent 15 years coaching the Tigers.
Against Connecticut
Princeton is 4-5 all-time against Connecticut with the Huskies taking the last three meetings including a 4-2 win earlier this season at Princeton. Princeton is 2-0 against Connecticut in NCAA tournament games.
Against Boston College
Princeton is 2-0 all-time against Boston College with both wins coming in NCAA Tournament action. The teams last played in the 1997 tournament at Princeton.
Atop the Ivies
Princeton is 78-3 in Ivy League games since the beginning of the 1994 season. Princeton won 35 straight Ivy games from 1994-99 and 32 straight league games from 1999-2004 before falling to Dartmouth in 2004. Princeton has won its last seven Ivy games.
Streaks
Princeton has the following active winning streaks against Ivy opponents: 13 straight wins over Cornell, nine straight wins over Columbia, 12 straight wins over Harvard, six straight wins over Brown and 21 straight wins over Yale.
Corner Control
Princeton had nearly double the penalty corner opportunities than its opponents in 2005. The Tigers had 163 chances, while giving up 84.