This weekend, the women's soccer team (3-0) will be traveling to North Carolina to try to build on its early-season success.
"We are going down there for two wins," freshman midfielder Diana Matheson said. "And we'll be disappointed if we come out with anything less."
The Tigers' first test will be a Friday night game against UNC-Greensboro. So far, the Spartans have tallied a 5-2-1 record. Additionally, they are fresh off a sound 7-1 shellacking of Coastal Carolina.
On Sunday the Tigers will square off against Wake Forest in a matinee before heading back to Old Nassau. Thus far, the Demon Deacons have notched a 4-1-1 record, while averaging three goals a game in their four victories.
With this in mind, the Tigers will have to play sound defense if they plan on emerging victorious from their weekend trip down south.
For Princeton, both games figure to be highly competitive as UNC-Greensboro and Wake Forest were both in the NCAA tournament field of 64 competitors a year ago.
"[This trip] should be a good test and tuneup for us," head coach Julie Shackford said.
If Princeton plays up to the same level as it has in the first three games of the year, winning should not be a problem. The Tigers started off their season impressively by beating then-No. 5 Texas A&M, 2-1.
The Tigers then followed up their upset win with a 1-0 victory at Penn versus Villanova.
The triumph was doubly rewarding because Villanova was the same team that knocked Princeton out of the NCAA tournament in the first round last year.
Finally, in Princeton's most recent game, the Tigers posted another impressive victory, beating Vanderbilt 3-0.
In that game, the Tigers were led by junior forward Emily Behncke's two goals and another suffocating defensive performance.
"[Defense] has been the bread and butter for this team for the last five or six years," Shackford said.
Through three games, the Tiger defense has yielded just one goal and notched 11 saves — not bad for a team who is still missing senior defender, Rochelle Willis. She was a first-team All-Ivy League and Regional All-America player last season.
After last weeks' performances, the Ivy League recognized two bright stars on the team.
Junior defender Romy Trigg-Smith was named the Player of the Week for her defensive efforts. Trigg-Smith, who played offense during the preseason, was shifted back to defense after the injuries to Willis and her twin sister Janine. Trigg-Smith has spearheaded a defensive force that has been nearly untouchable this season.
With Rochelle's return, Princeton looks to be in good shape as its defense will be even deeper than last season, allowing the ball to spend more time near the opponents goal.
The other award bestowed on Princeton this week was given to fabulous freshman Diana Matheson. She was selected as the league's first Rookie of the Week this season after netting two goals and one assist to start off the year. Matheson waited just 4 minutes, 43 seconds into her first game as a Tiger to get on the scoreboard. She would also score in the win against Villanova.
"Getting the award is definitely very exciting, especially since Romy got [honored] as well," Matheson said. "It's just great for the team."
With all the talent that Princeton has this year on the team, expectations are high — for the year and this weekend's road trip.
The game at UNC-Greensboro kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight. Sunday, the Tigers will be in Winston-Salem for a 1 p.m. start against the Demon Deacons.
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