Princeton University Athletics
Top 10 Opponents Up Next for Third-Ranked Field Hockey Team
October 07, 2010 | Field Hockey
GAMETIME: Friday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.
2010 RECORDS: Princeton (8-1, 3-0 Ivy); Virginia (10-1, 1-1 ACC)
RANKINGS: Princeton (Poll: 3, RPI: 2), Virginia (Poll: 4, RPI: 3)
SERIES RECORD: Series tied 2-2. Virginia is 2-0 at home.
LAST MEETING: Virginia won 2-1 on Oct. 10, 2004 at home
STREAK: Virginia won the last meeting
LINKS: Livestats
No. 8 Louisville at No. 3 Princeton
GAMETIME: Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
2010 RECORDS: Princeton (8-1, 3-0 Ivy); Louisville (8-1, 2-1 Big East)
RANKINGS: Princeton (Poll: 3, RPI: 2), Louisville (Poll: 8, RPI: 13)
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
LINKS: Live Video | Livestats
PRINCETON (10/7/10) - The third-ranked Princeton field hockey team faces a pair of Top 10 opponents this weekend with a trip to fourth-ranked Virginia and a home game with eighth-ranked Louisville.
The games end a 13-game span that will have seen the Tigers play four of five games against nationally ranked opponents. Princeton began the stretch two Tuesdays ago with a 4-2 win over then top-ranked Maryland and continued it with games over last weekend against Columbia and 14th-ranked American. Princeton topped the Lions but fell to the Eagles by a goal 3-2.
The American game was the exact midpoint of the regular season for the Tigers, which now have eight games remaining before the postseason begins. Princeton's remaining eight games feature four against Ivy League opponents and four against teams currently ranked in the national Top 20. Three of those four games against ranked teams take place on the road, including Friday night's game at Virginia.
Princeton climbed to third in this week's Kookaburra / NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, jumping ahead of Virginia in the rankings. The Tigers also rank second in the NCAAs RPI rankings, which were last updated on Monday of this week.
Like Princeton, Virginia was knocked from the unbeatens last weekend with an overtime loss on Friday night to Maryland. The Cavaliers are currently 10-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC and got back in the win column on Wednesday night against Longwood. Princeton and Virginia have faced two common opponents this season. Princeton defeated both Maryland and Syracuse, while Virginia has an overtime win over the Orange and fell in overtime to the Terps. Virginia is 5-1 against ranked opponents, while Princeton is 2-1.
Friday's game will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2004 season. Princeton and Virginia have split four games in the series history with each team winning twice at home. Both Princeton wins have come by two goals and both losses by a single goal.
On Sunday the Tigers return home to host Louisville. The Cardinals are 8-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big East and visit Rutgers on Saturday in league play before Sunday's game. All four of Louisville's losses have come in overtime. Louisville last played on Tuesday night in an overtime loss at Indiana, but had defeated Connecticut and Saint Louis the previous weekend. Louisville is 3-3 against ranked teams this season. Princeton and Louisville have face two common opponents. Louisville topped American and fell to Syracuse, while Princeton topped Syracuse and fell to American.
Princeton returns to league play next weekend a home game against Brown on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 12 noon. The Tigers visit fifth-ranked Connecticut the following afternoon.