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Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Hosts No. 24 Yale In Ivy Women's Soccer Opener
September 22, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2005
The Ivy League women's soccer season opens in a big way this weekend as Princeton, the defending champion, hosts Yale, winner of six straight and ranked 24th nationally.
A year ago, the Tigers used three second half goals in New Haven for a 3-0 win and a springboard to a perfect league record. This time, it is Yale who comes in ranked nationally and on a roll, having outscored its opponents 13-1 during its current streak.
Princeton, on the other hand, is 1-0-2 after an 0-3 start. Princeton tied games last weekend at UConn and Boston University.
History lesson
Princeton and Yale meet for the 26th time, and Princeton enters the game with a 17-6-2 lead in the series. The teams have met once a year, every year, since 1980, the first year of varsity women's soccer at Princeton.
Coach speak
The Princeton-Yale game matches two of the six NSCAA 2004 regional Coaches of the Year (Princeton's Julie Shackford, Yale's Rudy Meredith). Shackford was named the NSCAA Division I national Coach of the Year as well.
Strength of schedule
Yale will be Princeton's fourth ranked opponent in its first seven games.
November madness
Princeton is one of 17 teams in Division I to have appeared in the NCAA tournament each of the last six years.
More madness
Princeton a year ago became the first Ivy League school to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament.
Streaking, and streaking, sort of
Yale enters the game having won six straight games while outscoring its opponents 13-1. Princeton enters the game unbeaten in its last three (1-0-2).
Polling place
Yale is ranked 24th in this week's NSCAA poll.
All tied up
Princeton enters this weekend after back-to-back ties against Connecticut and Boston University last weekend.
More tied
The back-to-back ties last weekend marked the third time in program history and first time since 1985 that Princeton has played consecutive tie games. Princeton has never played three straight tie games.
A league of their own
Princeton went 7-0-0 in the Ivy League a year ago for its first-ever perfect league season.
More league
Princeton has won four Ivy League championships in the last five years.
Money in the Behncke
Emily Behncke has either scored or assisted on every Princeton goal this season.
More Behncke
Emily Behncke is third all-time in goals scored at Princeton with 29 and points scored at Princeton with 70. She trails only Esmeralda Negron '05 (47G/112P) and Linda DeBoer '86 (41G/94P).
D-light
Diana Matheson missed the first two games of the season while competing with the Canadian national team. Princeton's numbers, with Matheson and without:
With Without
Games 4 2
Goals Scored 6 0
Record 1-1-2 0-2
Net results
Princeton has used three different starting goalkeepers in its first six games (Madeleine Jackson, Emily Vogelzang, Maren Dale).
Fresh face
Yale freshman Crysti Howser leads the team in scoring with four goals and two assists.
Taylor made
Taylor Numann has started every game of her freshman season and is the only current Princeton player to have started every game of her career.
More on Maura
Maura Gallagher is fourth all-time in assists at Princeton with 15; the all-time record is 20, held by Kathleen Kobler '91.
Get to the point
Sarah Peteraf had her first career point with an assist against Boston University last weekend.
For starters
Romy Trigg-Smith and Emily Behncke are the only two Princeton players to have started every game since the start of the 2003 season.
Okay, smart guys
Romy Trigg-Smith is a two-time Academic All-Ivy League selection and was a 2004 District II Academic All-America. Maija Garnaas was a 2003 and 2004 District II Academic All-America.
Around the league
The Ivy League women's soccer season opens with four games this weekend, beginning last night with Columbia at Cornell and continuing today with Penn at Harvard and Dartmouth at Brown in addition to the Yale-Princeton game.