Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Field Hockey Hosts Penn State Wednesday Night
September 22, 2009 | Field Hockey
GAMETIME: Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
2009 RECORDS: Princeton (5-1, 1-0 Ivy); Penn State (2-6, 0-0 Big 10)
RANKINGS: Princeton (Poll: 7, RPI: 8); Penn State (Poll RV: RPI: 22)
SERIES RECORD: Penn State leads 22-5, is 9-2 at Princeton
LAST MEETING: Princeton won 2-0 on Nov. 5, 2008 at Syracuse
STREAK: Princeton has won the last two meetings
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PRINCETON (9/22/09) - The seventh-ranked Princeton field hockey looks to rebound from its first loss of the season when it hosts Penn State on Wednesday night at Class of '52 Stadium.
Princeton ran its season-opening win streak to five games when it defeated Dartmouth 6-1 on Saturday in the Ivy League opener for both teams. A day later though, the Tigers saw their season-opening five-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Providence in a 2-1 loss.
The Tigers 6-1 win over Dartmouth on Saturday was its 11th straight Ivy League win. Princeton has only allowed one team in that span to score more than one goal and has blanked its opponent in six of those games. Sophomore Kathleen Sharkey scored three goals in the win, matching a career high, and freshman Julia Reinprecht scored the games first two goals for her first multiple-goal game. Senior Kaitlyn Perrelle also scored in the win for the third straight game.
A day later, the Tigers had their chances at Providence but just couldn't finish in a 2-1 loss to the Friars. Princeton scored to snap a scoreless tie with no time left on the clock in the opening half when freshman Michelle Cesan scored off of a corner, but that was all the scoring Princeton could muster as Providence goalkeeper Rachel Chamberlain made 12 saves for the win, while her offense provided two second-half goals. Princeton outshot Providence 22-7 and outcornered the Friars 19-5 but could not capitalize on its chances in the loss.
The loss dropped Princeton three spots in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll to seventh, while Princeton fell seven spots in the RPI to No. 8 after topping the RPI following Saturday's win.
With her three goals and an assist at Providence, Sharkey pulled away atop the Princeton scoring charts with seven goals and five assists for 19 points. Sophomore Katie Reinprecht (4G,3A) and Julia Reinprecht (4G,2A) give the Tigers three players with 10 or more points this season. A total of nine players have scored goals this season and 11 have at least one point.
Princeton hosts Penn State on Wednesday as the teams meet for the 28th overall time and the 11h year in a row. Last season the teams played twice with Princeton taking both meetings. The first meeting came in late September at Penn State and Princeton won the game 3-2 as both Katie Reinprecht and Sharkey scored for the Tigers and senior Cynthia Wray made five saves. The teams also met in early November in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Syracuse. The time Katie Reinprecht scored twice and junior Jennifer King made three saves in a 2-0 Princeton win.
Penn State is 2-6 overall entering Wednesday night's game. The Nittany Lions won their last game on Saturday against West Chester and also have a win over Lock Haven. Five of Penn State's six losses are to ranked teams, including one-goal losses to Old Dominion, Virginia and Connecticut. Penn State's Christine Dudek leads the team with seven points. She is one of five players with two goals scored. Princeton and Penn State have not played any common opponents.