Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast
Softball Team Lands Atop Ivy Preseason Poll
February 06, 2025 | Softball
If the Ivy League preseason poll is accurate, the Princeton softball team is about to accomplish something not seen in decades.
Already a three-time defending Ivy League champion, the Tigers finished atop the Ivy's poll of media and athletic communications contacts, and if the season finishes that way, the four consecutive Ivy League titles would be a first for the program since winning seven in a row from 1983-89.
Princeton finished with 122 poll points and 10 of the 16 first-place votes while Harvard was second with 111 points and four first-place votes and Yale had 92 points and two first-place votes. Dartmouth (84), Columbia (57), Brown (51), Cornell (35) and Penn (24) round out the poll.
Last year, Princeton won the Ivy League title, followed it up with the Ivy League Tournament title, and then won the program's first NCAA tournament game since 2005.Â
For 2025, Princeton returns each of its top three arms by inning pitched from last season, including sophomore Cassidy Shaw (12-7 W-L, 4.06 ERA), senior Meghan Harrington (9-6, 4.04), and junior Brielle Wright (6-4, 2.65), who set the Princeton and Ivy League single-season and career saves records last season with 10 saves in 2024 and 11 over her first two seasons with the team.
All five All-Ivy League honorees from last season are back as well and are led by reigning Ivy League Coach of the Year Lisa Van Ackeren and staff, which adds Ashley McDonald '23, who helped Princeton to the first two of the current three-year run of Ivy titles, alongside returning staff members Alyssa Davis and Nicole Arias. Sophomore third baseman Sonia Zhang (.388 BA/.494 OB/.627 SLG), senior outfielder Lauren Sablone (.363/.436/.575), and junior utility player Julia Dumais (.308/.436/.511)Â were first-team All-Ivy Leaguers last season, while senior first baseman Sophia Marsalo (.283/.357/.374) was a second-teamer and senior outfielder Allison Ha (.268/.318/.428) was an honorable mention.Â
The Tigers will open the season Feb. 14 at North Carolina's tournament, facing Drexel and George Mason that day. The Ivy League season will open March 22 when Princeton opens Cynthia Lynn Paul '94 Field against Harvard.
Already a three-time defending Ivy League champion, the Tigers finished atop the Ivy's poll of media and athletic communications contacts, and if the season finishes that way, the four consecutive Ivy League titles would be a first for the program since winning seven in a row from 1983-89.
Princeton finished with 122 poll points and 10 of the 16 first-place votes while Harvard was second with 111 points and four first-place votes and Yale had 92 points and two first-place votes. Dartmouth (84), Columbia (57), Brown (51), Cornell (35) and Penn (24) round out the poll.
Last year, Princeton won the Ivy League title, followed it up with the Ivy League Tournament title, and then won the program's first NCAA tournament game since 2005.Â
For 2025, Princeton returns each of its top three arms by inning pitched from last season, including sophomore Cassidy Shaw (12-7 W-L, 4.06 ERA), senior Meghan Harrington (9-6, 4.04), and junior Brielle Wright (6-4, 2.65), who set the Princeton and Ivy League single-season and career saves records last season with 10 saves in 2024 and 11 over her first two seasons with the team.
All five All-Ivy League honorees from last season are back as well and are led by reigning Ivy League Coach of the Year Lisa Van Ackeren and staff, which adds Ashley McDonald '23, who helped Princeton to the first two of the current three-year run of Ivy titles, alongside returning staff members Alyssa Davis and Nicole Arias. Sophomore third baseman Sonia Zhang (.388 BA/.494 OB/.627 SLG), senior outfielder Lauren Sablone (.363/.436/.575), and junior utility player Julia Dumais (.308/.436/.511)Â were first-team All-Ivy Leaguers last season, while senior first baseman Sophia Marsalo (.283/.357/.374) was a second-teamer and senior outfielder Allison Ha (.268/.318/.428) was an honorable mention.Â
The Tigers will open the season Feb. 14 at North Carolina's tournament, facing Drexel and George Mason that day. The Ivy League season will open March 22 when Princeton opens Cynthia Lynn Paul '94 Field against Harvard.
Players Mentioned
IF/C
/ Softball
IF/OF
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IF/UT
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OF
/ Softball
P/UT
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P
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IF
/ SoftballPrinceton Athletics Career Networking Breakfast (Fall 2025)
Wednesday, September 24
Reflections from the Princeton Athletics Class of 2025
Tuesday, May 27
Softball Highlights vs. Columbia & Brown, Ivy League Tournament, 5-10-25
Saturday, May 10
Softball Highlights vs. Harvard, Ivy League Tournament, 5-9-25
Friday, May 09