Friday TigerBlog - Off To The Races
September 05, 2025 | Tiger Blog
The annual event known as the "Welcome Back Athletic Staff Meeting" was held yesterday morning in the First Campus Center.
This was not TigerBlog's first such meeting, so he didn't have to stand up in front of the department to introduce himself, like all of the newbies in the department. Once again, TB tried to think of how it looked through their eyes.
They came from very different backgrounds and do very different jobs now that they're at Princeton. There were coaches. There were athletic trainers. There were people in Campus Rec.
And how did TB think it looked through those new eyes?
He supposes it looked very welcoming, a place with very high standards of excellence and at the same time a place where it's a lot of fun to work. They had to be thinking "yes, I made a good decision to come here."
Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack certainly values both sides, the competitive excellence and the fun. Need proof? There was a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" tournament that preceded the meeting.
It may sound a bit corny, but it wasn't. It was an exercise as much about getting all of the people in the room to become a little more acquainted with everyone else, especially those outside their daily orbit.
To that end, it definitely succeeded.
And with that, yesterday turns into today, with a very, very busy weekend ahead.
Prior to today, there have been six Princeton Athletic events involving two teams for 2025-26.
The breakdown is five women's soccer games and one women's rugby game. All of that is about to grow exponentially.
The women's soccer team, by the way, got a big 2-2 tie at Miami last night, falling behind 2-0 and then rallying with two in the second half.
Between today and Sunday, there will be 17 more events, with seven teams who will be competing. After that, it's off to the races for the new year.
This weekend marks the start of the seasons for the women's volleyball team, the field hockey team, the men's soccer team, the men's and women's cross country teams, the men's water polo team and the men's golf team.
Where to start?
The men's soccer team was last seen powering through the Ivy League tournament and into the NCAA tournament via the automatic bid. The Tigers open their season tonight at 7 at home against Rutgers, who comes in with a record of 3-0-1 (a tie with Seton Hall and wins over Providence, James Madison and William & Mary).
Princeton definitely has some star power. Consider this: Key returners Daniel Ittycheria, Jack Jasinski and Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch begin their senior season in the Orange & Black after playing pivotal roles in the Tigers' 2024 success. All three seniors were named United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch in their respective positions.
You can read more about the game HERE. Admission is free.
The field hockey team is hosting what used to be the ACC/Ivy Crossover Challenge, only Louisville has been replaced with Old Dominion, rendering it "The Tiger Invitational." It starts today at 3:30 with Penn and North Carolina, followed by Princeton and ODU.
The Ivy teams switch opponents Sunday, with Penn and ODU at 11 and Princeton and UNC at 1:30.
Here's a fun note: Penn will also be at Princeton for the Ivy opener on Sept. 19, which means the Quakers will play three games at Princeton before playing one on their home field. For more fun notes, you can click HERE.
The men's water polo team will play six games in three days at the Princeton Invitational, beginning this morning at 10 against Mount St. Mary's. Princeton's schedule includes Pro Recco, tomorrow at 5. Who is Pro Recco? That would be the the champion of the 2025 European Aquatics Euro Cup.
That should be exciting.
You can clock HERE for more on the weekend at DeNunzio, including the schedule for all of the teams involved.
The women's volleyball season opens in Harrisonburg, Va., with the LD&B Insurance Invitational at James Madison. The Tigers will play Lehigh, Bellarmine and the host team.
Princeton won the program's 20th Ivy title a year ago. No other Ivy team has more than 14.
HERE is more on the tournament in Virginia.
And speaking of "off to the races," the cross country teams will host the Jersey Jam at the Meadows Course today. The men's race goes off at 6 tonight, with the women to follow at 6:30.
You can learn more HERE and HERE.
There is also men's golf on the schedule, at a fall tournament at Duke.
