Field hockey dominates Brown to remain undefeated in Ivy League

On a gusty day at Class of 1952 Stadium, Princeton reaffirmed its position as the team to beat in Ivy League field hockey, and sent a message to their rivals up in Cambridge — get ready.

Princeton has looked vulnerable at times this season, and its 6-5 overall record heading into Saturday's contest against Brown was not what was expected of this team at the beginning of the season.

The Tigers eliminated any of those doubts with a dominating 9-1 victory over the Bears to give the Tigers a perfect league record.

Princeton (7-5 overall, 4-0 Ivy League) outshot Brown (4-7, 1-3) 29-3 and earned 22 penalty corners to Brown's one — not to mention the difference in goals.

"Today we showed how we can really play," sophomore attack Natalie Martirosian said. "We showed confidence and aggression, and played like a team."

The Tigers kept play in Brown's end for most of the game, as Brown did not even attempt a shot until there were only five minutes left in the first half. Princeton scored four first-half goals, with senior attack Ilvy Friebe opening the scoring for Princeton, as she has done five times this season.

While Friebe was credited with the goal, senior attack Rachael Becker set up the play.

She stole the ball near the endline to the left of the goal. She then threaded a pass between two defenders straight to the stick of Friebe. She was able to gain control of the ball and hammer it underneath Brown goalkeeper Kathryn Noe.

Becker was also the catalyst on the Tigers' second goal of the game when she brought the ball up the right side and spotted junior midfielder Claire Miller all alone in the middle of the circle. Miller was stuffed on her first attempt, but the ball came right back to her and she made good on the second.

Friebe scored the second of four goals at the 24-minute mark when she beat three defenders as she spun and nailed the bottom left corner for a goal. Martirosian concluded the first half scoring with a penalty stroke.

Knowing they wanted to make this a statement game, Princeton came out of halftime with a great deal of intensity. The Tigers scored four goals in the first 10 minutes to up their lead to 8-0 and bury the Bears.

Miller opened the second half with her second goal of the game after only 54 seconds. Friebe followed with a goal off a beautifully set up penalty corner. Next Martirosian hit the left corner of the net where Noe had no chance, and Friebe scored her fourth on a rocket from the middle of the circle to conclude the amazing stretch.

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Freshman midfielder Hillary Schmidt concluded the Tiger scoring in the 50th minute when she pounded a bouncing ball in the circle and found the back of the cage.

Princeton's intensity in this game was evident from the start and it will be very important for the team to maintain it for the rest of the season.

"We get so fired up now — we won't make it if we don't win [the Ivy title]," Friebe said.

Since Princeton's out-of-conference record is a disappointing 2-5, they will probably not get an at large bid into the NCAA tournament.

Two other positive signs emerged from Saturday's contest. First, Princeton executed a gorgeous penalty corner that resulted in a Friebe goal.

Second, sophomore defense Lizzie Black played the ball to Martirosian who quickly stopped it and played the ball to Friebe. Friebe was wide open for the shot and did not miss.

The Tigers have continued to raise the level of their play, and are playing their best field hockey of the year.

It could not have come at a better time, for Harvard, the other undefeated Ivy team, visits Class of '52 stadium next Saturday.

Whichever team wins will be in the driver's seat on the way to the Ivy title. A win for Princeton would go a long way in building the team's confidence for another Ivy title.

"Harvard's goal every year is to beat Princeton," Friebe said. "They don't care if they lose all their other games."