Though the women's soccer season is already past the midway point (Princeton is 12-0-0), in honor of midterm week we present the midseason awards. Though these results do not necessarily foretell the season-ending awards, the following are the players currently at the top of five categories in this, the first year of the women's soccer Princeys (no, not Espys, Princeys).
Breakout Player of the Year: Brea Griffiths. Though a solid player last year, the sophomore defender has stepped up her play this year to become a dominant force on the back line. Griffiths has filled the role of 'enforcer' on the field with her dominance in the air and physical play in one-on-one situations.
Griffiths' offensive game has progressed as well. Though she has only registered one goal on the season, the Canadian-born back has taken on a more aggressive role, pushing up the field at times and moving to a defensive midfield position when the team feels little defensive pressure. Moreover, her one goal was the game-winner against George Mason, whom the Tigers dominated, but failed to score against for over 80 minutes of regulation.
Rookie of the Year: Emily Behncke. Though just a frosh, this diaper dandy in the midfield has shown the skill and maturity of a veteran in the first two months of her career. Tied for third on the team with five goals, Behncke has garnered Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors twice this season. In fact, Behncke is the current holder of the award, winning it last week as a result of her game-winning goal against conference rival Brown. Behncke is also the only freshman to start every game thus far this season.
Outstanding Individual Performance: Jean Poster. Though she has been under incredible scrutiny all season long, the junior keeper came up with the single most important play of Princeton's season. In the Tigers' only two-game weekend, they traveled to Boston to take on Boston College and Boston University. After defeating the Eagles Friday, a tired team came back on Sunday to take on the Terriers. Up 1-0 late in the game, Princeton committed a foul in its own penalty box resulting in a penalty kick.
Keepers are not supposed to stop penalty kicks. Like free throws in basketball, they should be automatic. But Poster would have none of it as she made a spectacular save to preserve the Tigers' lead and unblemished record.
12th Man Award: Kristina Fontanez. Modelled after the NBA's Sixth Man Award, the 12th Man Award goes to the team's biggest contributor off the bench. Despite not starting, Fontanez regularly plays more than half the game and can always be relied upon for a jumpstart to the offense.
The sophomore midfielder is tied with Behncke for third on the team in goals with five. Fontanez has used her speed and superior ball control to become the team's most explosive one-on-one attacker.
Most Valuable Player: Esmeralda Negron. Though the team will tell you that everything starts with defense, no individual player has done more for the Tigers than this sophomore sensation. Negron leads the team in goals with eight and overall points with 17. She also leads the squad with five game-winning goals, including two in overtime.
After a solid rookie season last year, Negron has exploded in 2002. Dangerous every time she touches the ball, Negron's nose for the goal is one of the main reasons Princeton is the only unbeaten and untied team in Div. I.
"When the game is on the line, I put more pressure on myself," Negron said following Princeton's 1-0 victory over Rutgers, in which she scored the lone goal. "I just try to find an opening and get a good shot off."
With five games remaining in the regular season, Negron will have many more opportunities to showcase her scoring abilities.
And with the team needing just one win in its final two conference games to sew up the outright Ivy League title, opponents might want to keep an eye on No. 23 for the Tigers.
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