Sacramento St., Berkeley to host women's soccer

In the latest women's soccer poll, released yesterday, Princeton made its first appearance of the season, at No. 25. This is the Tigers' highest ranking since coming in at No. 15 last year prior to its late-season slide.

When the Tigers improved their record to 3-0 with two wins last weekend at the Princeton Invitational, all seemed well for head coach Julie Shackford's squad.

However, this week presents Princeton with new and tougher challenges as it heads out to California for two games. On Friday the Tigers will meet Sacramento State before Sunday's marquee showdown with No. 10 Cal-Berkeley.

The team will have to take extra caution not to look beyond Friday's game. Despite a 1-3 record, Sacramento State should provide the stiffest competition Princeton has seen thus far.

"All the California teams are great," Shackford said. "They all have recruited players on full scholarships, so both games will be very tough."

Sunday's matchup could pit two undefeated squads, as the Golden Bears have amassed a 2-0-2 record in their first four games. Just last week, Cal played No. 3 Santa Clara to a 0-0 tie, which earned Golden Bear goalkeeper Ashley Sulprizio a spot on Soccer America's Team of the Week.

"We're going to have to be very sharp with the ball," Shackford said. "We can't give the ball away in the midfield and we can't have defensive mistakes. And if we have chances early, we have to finish them."

"We try to focus on ourselves, and do the things that we do well," senior forward Theresa Sherry added. "We're a very athletic team and a pretty talented team. But Berkeley may have some special players that we have to worry about."

One of those players is sophomore forward Liz Eisenberg. Eisenberg scored the game-winning goal against Fresno State last week, her second such tally of the season.

Senior midfielder Kimberly Yoker has also played well for the Golden Bears, assisting on another goal in the Fresno State game.

Improving its play

Princeton's primary focus, despite its early season record, will be raising its level of play. The three wins have all come against marginal opponents that would never show up on the national soccer radar.

"I think so far we have played average, which may be right for the beginning of the season," Shackford said. "There is a lot of talent on the field and, at times, we have moved the ball well. But when you are dominating games, you often lose focus in transition."

Along with the problems Shackford discussed, the Tigers will need serious contributions from players off the bench. With two games in three days in the California heat, the Princeton subs will be integral to the team's success.

"The difference between starters and nonstarters on our team is really small," Sherry said. "Everyone is going to get a lot of [playing] time, so those people coming off the bench are going to be very important.

"The forwards are also going to have to step up and put pressure on the defenses we see and try to put the ball in the net."

Measure of success

But the team does not necessarily have to win both games to make it a successful weekend. Much of the benefit will be for the young team to get experience facing some of the best soccer players in the country. Even better for the program is that the road trip comes on the eve of the start of Ivy League play. The dividends that the games in California pay will be seen not only over the weekend, but in the weeks and months to come.

Moreover, with good soccer and stingy defense, even a loss may not knock the Tigers too far down in the rankings.

Still, with so much talent on the Princeton squad, both games are up in the air. If the bounces go the Tigers' way, this weekend could be a defining moment in the women's soccer program at Princeton.

"It would be the biggest win here," Shackford said with her eyes as wide as they were white. "Ever."