Field hockey hosts Columbia, looks to improve to 3-0 in Ivy

For the first time since classes started, the field hockey team returns home to Class of 1952 Stadium on Saturday, where the Tigers will attempt to improve their Ivy League record to 3-0.

The young Princeton squad has earned itself a spot at the top of the Ivy League standings and has begun to show some of the form that allowed it to win 32 straight Ivy League games between 1999 and 2004.

Princeton now gets the chance to extend its current streak against Columbia, as the Tigers square off against Columbia (3-3 overall, 0-1 Ivy League) for the first half of the doubleheader weekend.

Six games into the season, the inexperienced Tigers are slowly beginning to find a groove. Despite being 2-4 for the season, they are .500 in their last for games, and, more importantly, Princeton shut out archrival Dartmouth last Saturday. With that crucial victory, the Tigers have plenty of momentum heading into the weekend. And the halftime speeches from head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn are apparently sinking in. Princeton, who has been outscored, 8-4, in first halves, outscores its opponents, 9-5, in the second.

The Lions meeting them at 1952 Stadium on Saturday are also recovering from a slow start. After dropping close games to Maine and Colgate, Columbia has gone on to shut out two straight opponents. Led by senior co-captains Courtney Robinson and Diana Day, the Lions have played a tight offense and an even tighter defense.

Princeton will be playing once again without senior standout Lauren Ehrlichman, who is playing on the United State's junior world cup team in Chile. But stepping in to fill the goalscoring void left by Ehrlichman have been a host of talent, both old and new. Eight different Tigers have scored in the first six games, while senior midfielder Maren Ford and sophomore attack Paige Schmidt have applied plenty of offensive pressure on goal.

The Tigers have also begun to see their defense and goaltending improve. Against Dartmouth, Princeton allowed only four shots on goal. And in the loss to Northeastern, junior goaltender Allison Nemeth made eight saves.

Princeton faces the Great Danes of Albany on Sunday. Though just under .500 at 4-5, the Great Danes have played their opponents tough, forcing overtime in their last four games. Albany's defense is decidedly not as strong as Columbia's, having given up 21 goals.

With the exception of Kristen Holder and Tina Bryson, who have five and four goals, respectively, Albany's offense is somewhat lackluster. Despite having played half again as many games as the Tigers, the Great Danes have put up only 91 shots on goal to Princeton's 86.

Princeton will be evenly matched against both teams it faces this weekend, for what Albany and Columbia lack in talent they make up for in experience.

In light of Princeton's recent success against league opponents, an average Columbia squad seems to be the perfect opponent. Against Albany, they will just hope to relegate the contest to regulation.