Princeton's double overtime win against La Salle on Sunday was, without a doubt, exciting. It was intense. It was emotional. But what will it do to the team?
There are two options — it could either give the Tigers confidence for its next game, or it could leave them flat after such an emotional win.
This question will be answered today when the Tigers face Rider.
The importance of this game for Princeton's season, however, is debatable. Aside from determining what path the Tigers will take from their nailbiting win over La Salle, the game will determine who comes out on top in the New Jersey rivalry.
With Rider situated in nearby Lawrenceville, only about seven miles separate the two schools and the two teams.
Despite these factors, the Tigers (1-1-2) are more focused on their Ivy League opener against Dartmouth on Saturday than on claiming backyard supremacy.
Show off
What Princeton can gain from a win over Rider, however, is the chance to exhibit that it is a better team than its record shows. A win will also help the Tigers maintain the momentum from Sunday's exciting game.
Princeton has not played badly so far this season, but the team has not yet proven that it has the same winning mentality as last year's team. While the Tigers tied their first two games of the season — a 2-2 decision against Fairleigh Dickinson and 1-1 against Seton Hall — the Tigers gave up too many goals against Drexel on Friday, losing 3-2.
Sunday's game against La Salle proved that the Tigers are not a team content with a tie, and freshman Darren Spicer's game-winning goal with four seconds remaining in the second overtime shows that this team has the courage to win another Ivy League championship.
But one game is hardly a season, especially after the first three games of the year left Princeton winless.
Proof of life
This afternoon's game against Rider will be Princeton's chance to prove to the university, to itself and to the rest of the Ivy League that Sunday's last minute win was not a fluke. Coaches in every sport discuss the need for momentum. Not only can a recent win give the team confidence, it can also serve to intimidate the opponent. A win today against Rider will give the Tigers momentum going into Saturday's game against Dartmouth, the Ivy League opener, during which they may need it most.
Though it is still early in the season, several of the Tigers have already demonstrated their capacity to dominate on the field. And the highly touted freshman class is already making a difference. In the past two games, two of Princeton's three goals were scored by freshman. The La Salle victory came off the foot of Spicer, earning him the honor of Ivy League Rookie of the Week, and Sean Paylor scored the first goal for Princeton in the 3-2 loss to Drexel.
Back in White
Sunday's game also marked a turning point in that it was the first shut out the Tigers were able to earn this season. After graduating the Tigers' best defensive player last year, a lot of pressure has been put on standout goalie Jason White. Allowing six goals in three games was a shock for anyone that has seen White play, and Sunday's shutout exhibited a return to form for White that the Tigers desperately need.
While Rider is not a nationally ranked team, the Mercer County college should provide Princeton with a competitive game.
The Broncs are led by senior Sean O'Hare, who was just named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week. O'Hare scored two goals in Rider's 3-0 victory against the University of Delaware.
The Tigers are still in the warm-up period of the season. The time for working out the knicks in a team that is operating without two of its top stars from last year, however, is coming to an end.
The Rider game offers Princeton one more opportunity to fine tune its attack before launching into Ivy League play Saturday against Dartmouth.
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