Princeton University Athletics
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Field Hockey Team Opens 2010 on Sunday Against Bucknell
September 03, 2010 | Field Hockey
GAMETIME: Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
2010 RECORDS: Princeton (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); Bucknell (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League)
SERIES RECORD: Princeton leads 1-0, winning at home
LAST MEETING: Princeton won 1-0 on Oct. 1, 1989 at home
STREAK: Princeton won the lone meeting
LINKS: Live Video | Livestats
PRINCETON (9/3/10) - Two weeks after beginning the preseason and a week after most teams started their schedules; the fourth-ranked Princeton field hockey team will open its 2010 season this Sunday when Bucknell visits Class of '52 Stadium.
Princeton received the fourth ranking in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Preseason Poll released a week ago. The ranking also represents where Princeton was in the final poll of the 2009 season as the Tigers advanced to the program's first Final Four since the 2001 season.
The 2009 Tigers were 16-3 and played in the NCAA semifinals for the fifth time in program history. Princeton's 16 wins tied for fifth in program history for wins in a season and were just two behind the program high of 18 in 1996. The Tigers also won their fifth consecutive Ivy League title and the team's 15th in the past 16 seasons.
Princeton returns 17 players from its 2009 roster, including nine starters. Seven of the nine were All-Ivy selections last season and four received All-America honors. Included in the group is two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and Honda Award Finalist Katie Reinprecht, 2008 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and first-team All-America Kathleen Sharkey, 2009 Ivy Rookie of the Year and second-team All-America Julia Reinprecht and first-team All-Ivy and third-team All-America Michelle Cesan. The cast of returnees also features returning All-Ivy players Alyssa Pyros, Jennifer King and Alexandra Douwes. In addition to its 17 returning players, the Tigers welcome a class of five talented freshmen to its roster.
Princeton's first practice came on August 20 and the Tigers scrimmaged Preseason No. 11 Drexel on August 24, topping the Dragons 5-3 at home. Since then it has been practices and intrasquad scrimmaging as the Tigers prepare for the season to get underway. A video from the team's Competition Day can be seen below.
The Tigers kick off the 2010 campaign on Sunday afternoon against Bucknell in the first of 10 home games this season. Princeton has won its last two season openers and played five straight one-goal games to open the season. Last year Princeton opened the season with a 5-4 overtime win over Ohio State.
On Sunday Princeton will face Bucknell for the second time in program history as the teams met in 1989 in Princeton in a game won by the Tigers 1-0. Princeton is 16-6 all-time against Patriot Leagues team and has won its last four against Patriot League teams, topping American and Lehigh twice apiece in that span.
Bucknell opened its season last weekend and came up short in losses at Temple and Saint Joseph's. The Bison dropped the opener 4-2 to Temple and then fell 7-3 to St. Joe's. Christine Weiss leads the Bison with two goals scored this season. The Bison will host Albany on Saturday prior to Sunday meeting with the Tigers.
Princeton plays just once during its opening weekend. The Tigers play their first two-game weekend next weekend when they visit Richmond on Friday and host Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday.