Thank God it was Friday. Riding a three-game losing streak, the field hockey team needed a win badly when they played Columbia on Friday night, and that's exactly what they got, beating the Lions 3-1.
Though Princeton (2-5 overall, 2-1 Ivy League) dominated offensively throughout the first half, the scoreboard was blank until junior midfielder Maren Ford scored an unassisted goal with five minutes left in the half. This goal proved crucial for the team as it swung the momentum in Princeton's direction heading into the locker room.
Second-half scoring
Fifty-six seconds into the second half a penalty-corner situation set up an insurance score. Senior midfielder Natalie Martirosian stopped junior midfielder Hillary Schmidt's push, and senior defender Lizzie Black dumped a straight shot into the net to make it a 2-0 game.
Princeton rallied again with just under 15 minutes remaining as senior midfielder Alexis Martirosian drove a straight shot to the back of the cage thanks to her sister Natalie's second assist of the game.
Both second half goals were of particular significance to the team's development since they have been struggling with straight shots thus far in the season. Black and Martirosian are helping to end that drought.
Columbia's lone score came from Diana Day with just over a minute left in the game to make the final score 3-1.
The Tigers dominated the game offensively as they outshot Columbia 18-2. They also picked up 11 penalty corners in comparison to the Lions' two. Furthermore, Princeton exhibited a great passing rhythm that they had yet to achieve this year.
Shifting positions
The Tigers' success can largely be attributed to the team's strong midfielders. Second-year head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn shuffled her midfielders before the match against Columbia. This forced the players to adjust to a new style of play, but also resulted in an offensive boost for the team. Freshman Nicole Ng made the necessary adjustments and played well at the left-midfield position, while freshman Paige Schmidt manned the middle. Holmes-Winn praised Schmidt as an excellent ball distributer who successfully got the ball to right midfielder Natalie Martirosian, setting Martirosian up for some dangerous attacks.
The win improved Princeton's record to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Furthermore it pushed the Tigers to 8-0 all-time against Columbia.
Holmes-Winn was extremely pleased with the team's effort and performance.
"Psychologically this was an important win for us," she said. "There is a great deal of vagary in sport — things one cannot control. But we know that we did not play up to our potential against Dartmouth and that was disappointing. Moving forward we are striving to be more conscious of fighting for and connecting with one another on the field."
On the horizon
Princeton's next challenge will be a road game Tuesday night against No. 17 Penn State. The Nittany Lions, currently 5-5 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten Conference play, are coming off a solid 3-1 victory over Ohio State.
Princeton and Penn State have traditionally had a good rivalry and this year should be no exception.
Differing styles
It should be an interesting match-up as the two team's styles of play tend to differ greatly. Penn State is a good, athletic team known for excellent passing and dangerous individual players.
"It becomes a test of which team can stick to their style of play and game plan the best," Alexis Martirosian explained. "We have really been testing ourselves during the past few practices and I am sure that it will pay off in our upcoming games."
"Penn State isn't playing their best hockey this year and they have lost some games they probably should have won," Holmes-Winn said. "They are similar to us in that respect. We are both in must-win situations. It will be a desperate game."
For the field hockey team, with any luck Tuesdays will prove as fortuitous as Fridays.
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