Amidst the heralded success of the women's soccer team this fall, a far less publicized but perhaps similarly dominant women's soccer squad has been plugging away on campus. The women's club soccer team has amassed an impressive 11-3-2 record en route to qualifying for its first-ever bid to the championship bracket of the national women's club soccer tournament in Bakersfield, California, held the weekend before Thanksgiving.
In their first four games, the Tigers outscored their opponents 16-3, including an 8-0 thumping of Lehigh in which seven different players scored. On the season, junior forward Linda Crites leads the team with six goals.
In October at the Princeton Invitational, the squad went 5-0 to win the tournament, beating its first four opponents by a combined score of 10-0 before a 1-0 victory in the championship game against Rutgers. In the regional tournament two weeks ago, the squad went 1-1-2, including a tie against last year's national champion, Penn State.
By finishing as one of the top two teams in their region, the Tigers qualified for the championship bracket of the national tournament. The team has finished third in the region for the past three years. Last year, they competed in the open bracket of the national tournament where they lost to Ohio State in the semifinals.
Though making their first ever appearance in the championship bracket, the Tigers are intent on making a successful run in the tournament.
"The strength of the team rests in the ability of each member to contribute her greatest assets as a member, not an individual, to the drive towards Bakersfield. The secret has been teamwork," senior midfielder and club president Tracy Gertler said.
The club soccer team, like many of the other club sports, practices twice a week during its competitive season with games on weekends. The squad makes cuts in early September and begins its game schedule at the end of that month.
In other club sports, the sailing team, which trains an hour away at the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, went to fourteen regattas this fall. The competitions took place all over the East Coast, from the Tom Curtis regatta at Georgetown University to the Hatch Brown at Boston University. The team typically attended multiple regattas every weekend, sending only certain boats to each.
Perhaps the most exciting result of the fall came during Princeton's home regatta in which the women placed second despite windy and cold conditions. With the fall season complete, the team now begins preparations for another busy schedule in the spring season, which commences in late February.
Back on dry land, the women's club basketball team finished in fifth place in the 14-team East Coast Women's Club Basketball league with a 7-4 record. The squad also participated in tournaments at Loyola College and last weekend at the University of Delaware, where it defeated Penn and Loyola.
In the team's home tournament, the Tigers finished 3-1, beating Penn State, Delaware, and Penn. The team travels to the University of Maryland for the league championship tournament this weekend.
The coed club tennis team, which includes over 70 members, went 2-0-1 this fall, with wins against Lafayette University (14-4) and the University of Delaware (10-8). Against Delaware on the indoor courts at Jadwin, the women's singles players led the Tigers, as all six defeated their Blue Hen opponents. In the tie with Lehigh, graduate student Taka Okubo won a key match at No. 1 singles, 11-10, to secure the result.
Four women's singles players, junior Lauren Marlowe, freshman Lindsey Cant, sophomore Anna Thoman, and sophomore Ellenna Raymond, as well as two men's singles players, freshmen Evan Cooper and Greg Lee, went undefeated this fall. In addition, the women's doubles team of senior Allison Smith and sophomore Jenn DeSante finished with a perfect 3-0 record.
"The team is looking forward to another successful season in the Spring," Marlowe said.
The equestrian team has also kept busy this fall, participating in four shows thus far with Princeton's own show upcoming at the end of November. The team, which trains at Phoenix Farms in Hillsborough, New Jersey, places riders in eight different categories of competition at each show, ranging in both ability and skill demonstrated.
In only three shows, senior Kelly Wells, competing mainly in the open equitation on the flat and the open equitation over fences, placed first two times and second four times.
The women's club softball team competed in their first ever fall season, compiling a 3-5 record and traveling as far as James Madison in Virginia for games.
"The team is looking great, and we're looking forward to an exciting spring," junior captain Gabrielle Ibanez-Vazquez said.
Princeton offers 34 club sports, fifteen of which are competitive interscholastically during the fall.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.