Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Field Hockey Season Opens This Weekend Against Patriot Pair
September 01, 2011 | Field Hockey
GAMETIME: Friday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
RECORDS: Princeton (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); Bucknell (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League)
SERIES RECORD: Princeton leads 6-0, first meeting at Bucknell
LAST MEETING: Princeton won 7-0 on Sept. 5, 2010 at home
STREAK: Princeton won the last two meetings
LINKS: Livestats | Live Video (Bucknell Site)
#7 Princeton at #10 American
GAMETIME: Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m.
RECORDS: Princeton (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); American (0-1, 0-0 Patriot League)
SERIES RECORD: Princeton leads 9-3, leads 4-2 at American
LAST MEETING: American won 3-2 on Oct. 3, 2010 at Princeton
STREAK: American won the last meeting
LINKS: Live Video (American Site)
PRINCETON (9/1/11) - Two weeks after beginning the preseason and a week after most teams started their schedules; the seventh-ranked Princeton field hockey team will open its 2011 season this season on the road when it visits Bucknell and 10th-ranked American.
Princeton received the seventh ranking in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Preseason Poll released a week ago. Princeton spent much of the 2010 season ranked in the poll's top four and reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the third straight season and the fourth time in five years. The 2010 Tigers were 14-5 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Ivy League. The Tigers also won their sixth consecutive Ivy League title and the team's 16th in the past 17 seasons, while stretching their Ivy winning streak to 24 games.
Princeton returns 13 players from its 2010 roster, including six starters. Four All-Ivy players lead the group from last season as Amanda Bird, Amy Donovan, Erin Jennings and Alyssa Pyros all received honors from the league. The Tigers will be without their four All-America players from last season as Michelle Cesan, Julia Reinprecht, Katie Reinprecht and Kathleen Sharkey, are all training with the U.S. National Team this season in preparation for Olympic qualifying.
Princeton's leading returning goal scorer from last season is Molly Goodman. She and Rachel Neufeld each had 12 points a season ago. The Tigers return five goal scorers from last season. In addition to its 13 returning players, the Tigers welcome a class of seven talented freshmen to its roster.
The Tigers kick off the 2011 campaign this weekend on the road with games at Bucknell and American. Both teams play in the Patriot League, against which Princeton is 17-7 all-time. The Tigers split their two games against Patriot opponents last season, beating Bucknell and losing to American.
Princeton opens the season on Friday night at Bucknell in the first of nine games away from home this season. Princeton has won its last three season openers, including a 7-0 win over Bucknell at Class of '52 Stadium to open the 2010 season. Goodman scored two goals in that win and Christina Maida earned the shutout in goal.
Bucknell opened its season last weekend and came up short in losses to Temple and Boston University. Picked third in the Patriot League preseason poll, Bucknell lost 4-0 to Temple and 5-0 to BU. Rachel Risko's 14 points leads all returning Bucknell players.
The Tigers conclude the weekend on Sunday at American looking to avenge a loss from last season as the Eagles took a 3-2 win at Class of '52 Stadium. In the game, American jumped out to a 3-0 first half lead before the Tigers cut the lead to a single goal in the second half.
American opened its season last Sunday with a 4-1 loss to Old Dominion. A scheduled game on Friday against William & Mary was postponed. The Eagles take on Penn this Friday before Sunday's game with Princeton. American is the defending Patriot League Champion and was picked to finish first in the league's preseason poll.
Following this weekend's road trip, the Tigers open their home schedule on Thursday, Sept. 8 against eighth-ranked Penn State.