Field hockey loses two games to open season

First-half deficits stalled the field hockey team's attempts to begin the season on a winning note last weekend. The Tigers (0-2) suffered two losses on their home turf at Class of 1952 Stadium, first to the Northeastern Huskies on Friday, 2-1, and then to the Delaware Blue Hens on Sunday, 2-0.

Friday's first 20 minutes of play went back and forth with both sides generating quality scoring opportunities. Senior midfielder Alexis Martirosian broke the stalemate at 20 minutes, seven seconds, putting Princeton up, 1-0, off a pass from senior defender Kelly Darling.

But Northeastern got on the board only two minutes later by capitalizing on the rebound off a missed penalty corner, slipping the ball just past sophomore goalkeeper Juliana Simon.

Northeastern (4-0) stepped up its intensity following the goal, and the Huskies' hard work was rewarded with another goal at 29:39. Although the Tigers continued to pepper the Northeastern net, Nelson's sure hands prevented Princeton from evening up the score.

Princeton come out with renewed energy in the second half. Moving, passing and creating opportunities, the Tigers were able to get off seven shots on goal while limiting the Huskies to one. But even though the Tigers dominated the run of play, Princeton's attack could not find the back of the net and the game ended with Northeastern on top by one goal.

"It didn't have anything to do with stopping the other team," freshman attack Paige Schmidt said. "We just couldn't finish."

Sunday's game was equally frustrating for the Tigers. Although Princeton pummeled the net continuously in both halves, outshooting Delaware 7-4 and 7-3, respectively, the team failed to convert on any of its 14 shots.

While Princeton held the Blue Hens to only seven shots overall, Delaware (3-1) made its shots count. The Blue Hens went up, 1-0, only 6:32 into the game, and doubled up the lead off a penalty corner four minutes later.

Senior attack Natalie Martirosian produced one of the best opportunities of the game with a shot that came within a breath of crossing the line before being intercepted by the Blue Hen goalkeeper.

The Tigers' inability to finish may have been a result of the team's lack of cohesiveness. Five new freshmen have been added to the ranks and although they are showing promise, the change from high school to college is marked.

"The level of play and intensity [in college] is definitely higher," Schmidt said. "There are going to be eight seniors graduating this year so I hope that we will be able to step into their shoes."

Despite the disappointing start to the season, the team is focusing on its offensive strategies in practice this week in preparation for Saturday's contest against Yale.