Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Field Hockey to Open Season With a Pair of Home Games at Bedford Field
August 31, 2015 | Field Hockey
PRINCETON, N.J. - Ranked 15th in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll, the Princeton University field hockey team opens its 2015 campaign on Friday, Sept. 4 against No. 2 North Carolina at 4 p.m. on Bedford Field. The Tigers will then host No. 9 Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.
Finishing 2014 with an 8-11 overall mark and 6-1 record in Ivy League play, the Tigers captured their 10th-consecutive conference crown en route to the program's 20th NCAA tournament appearance. Securing a 4-3 victory over instate rival Monmouth in the NCAA play-in game, Princeton fell to the University of Maryland in first round action, 5-1.
Entering her 13th season on the sidelines, head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn has amassed a 153-73 (0.677) overall record. The Orange and Black are 7-5 on opening day under Holmes-Winn. Last season, Duke snapped a six-game opening day win streak by the Tigers with a hard-fought 1-0 decision in Durham, N.C.
Below is a quick look at Princeton's returnees and newcomers. Check back on www.GoPrincetonTigers.com throughout the week for an inside look at preseason/video preview with Holmes-Winn, as well as game notes on opening weekend.
SENIORS
Six seniors return to the squad in 2015 in Teresa Benvenuti, Maddie Copeland, Saskia de Quant, Kate Ferrara, Anya Gersoff, and Debi-Michelle Jantzen.
A second-team NFHCA All-Region honoree, Benvenuti started all 13 of her appearances. Finishing tied for second on the squad in assists (4), she was tied for third on the team in points (16) and goals (6). After missing six games to injury, she recorded 12 points in her final five contests (5G, 2A). In three seasons in Orange and Black, Benvenuti has racked up 21 goals and 19 assists.
Appearing in 18 games, Copeland was second on the team in goals a year ago (8) and third in points (16). Returning for the field for the first time since 2012, de Quant saw action in 10 games, while Jantzen logged a pair of appearances.
A vital cog in the Tigers' defensive efforts, Ferrara played in all 19 of the team's games last year. A first-team NFHCA All-Region honoree and second-team All-Ivy selection, Ferrara also picked up a pair of assists. Seeing the majority of time in net, Gersoff logged 1209:08 minutes in 17 appearances. Going 6-11 on the year, she posted two shutouts with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .678 save percentage.
JUNIORS
Cat Caro headlines the Tigers' junior class as the team's lone captain. A second-team All-Ivy honoree, Caro started all 19 of her appearances in 2014 and was one of six Princeton players to record double-digit points. Registering four goals and three assists during her sophomore campaign, she upped her career totals to 13 and seven, respectively.
Ellen Dobrijevic saw action in 12 games last season, making one start. Hailey Reeves started 17 of her 19 games, collecting eight points on two goals and four assists.
SOPHOMORES
Making an immediate impact in their rookie seasons, Danielle Duseau, Ryan McCarthy, and Lexi Quirk each saw significant time in 2014. An honorable mention All-Ivy honoree, McCarthy started 18 of her 19 appearances, amassing five goals and two assists. Duseau started 12 of the 17 games she played in last season, while Quirk dished out a pair of assists in 18 appearances. Rachel Park saw time in nine games, while Sarah Brennan will vie for a bigger role after not seeing action last season.
FRESHMEN
Princeton will welcome nine freshmen to the fold in 2015. Grace Baylis and Lauren Johnston should give the Tigers depth at the goalkeeping position, with Sophia Tornetta, Elise Wong, Jane Donio-Enscoe, Nicole Catalino, Sarah Holland, Casey Swezey, and Elizabeth George looking to compete for time in the field.