No. 5 field hockey to prove prominence against Maryland, Old Dominion

We live in a world obsessed with ratings, rankings, scores and statistics.

Thousands of people spend their days, sometimes their lives, entering even the most obscure sports results into computer programs so that players and fans can have a better understanding of where they and their teams stand.

A lot of people apparently feel that sports can be broken down like a science, that if they squeeze enough past performance into some magical formula they'll end up with the truth about a team or player. People believe a lot of stupid things.

If the rankings were representative of some unalterable truth, then the Princeton field hockey team, ranked No. 5 in the nation, might as well not even bother heading down to College Park this weekend to take on No. 1 Maryland. And they should also seriously consider hibernating on Sunday instead of showing up at 1952 Field to take on No. 3 Old Dominion.

But the rankings are not unalterable, and they are certainly not the truth. This early in the season, any ranking, no matter how magical the formula, is nothing better than a guess in fancy clothing.

Of course, this is not to say that there isn't any information relevant to this weekend's games. Nor is it to deny the significance of the past, which will certainly loom large for the Tigers as they try to avenge last year's season-ending loss to Maryland. Just don't be fooled by the rankings into thinking that these games are a mere formality, that the Tigers can be counted out.

Because if there is anything that this year's results demonstrate, it is that the Tiger's are not a team to be taken lightly. The Tigers have outscored their opponents 23-5 so far this year, led by the offensive onslaught of junior attack Ilvy Friebe, whose incredible performances have made hat tricks seem old hat. The defense has also been dominating, with midfielders like sophomore Claire Miller and freshman Natalie Matirosian consistently frustrating any attempts at penetration.

Numbers aside, the truth is that this weekend's games are going to be the first real tests of just how good the Tigers are. According to junior attack Emily Townsend, "the game against Maryland will be "like a litmus test for our team, a test of what we are made of."

Aware of the gravity of the situation, the Tigers are trying to use the rankings to their advantage, relishing the role of the underdog.

As junior goalkeeper Kelly Baril said, "we are going into this weekend thinking we have nothing to lose". But anyone who has watched the Tigers this season knows that the label underdog fits them about as well as a certain glove fit a certain former football player a few years ago.

In order for the Tigers to show what they know to be the truth, that they are at least on equal footing with Maryland and ODU, they will have to avoid the moments of occasional sloppiness that they have managed to get away with against their early-season opponents.

As Baril explains, "We have to make sure we are ready to play right away. The first fiveminutes will be key — we can't afford any early mistakes."

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As far as NCAA qualification is concerned, these games mean next to nothing. The Tigers could lose both, they could even be outscored twenty to one, and they could still qualify for the nationals at the end of the season by winning the Ivy League.

But qualification is far from the only thing on the Tigers' minds right now. Not only do they want to prove that they belong on the field with the nation's best, but they also would not mind the first round home field advantage in the NCAA's that a pair of wins this weekend would secure. And of course the Tigers are not above wanting a little sweet revenge.

"Last year both of these teams beat us, ODU in overtime. I would for sure love to avenge those losses," Townsend said.

Just thinking about this weekend has Baril nervous, hoping that "we can channel our nervous energy into our play, and not get ahead of ourselves."

If the Tigers manage to do that, and if luck, something no formula can predict, is on their side, the rankings might just be a little bit closer to the truth after this weekend is over.