It is a common theme in sports that when a team is able to control its own destiny and win big games, the other pieces will all fall into place. This season, the field hockey team has been able to control its own destiny within the Ivy League, and now they are reaping the benefits.
After a huge win at Harvard on Saturday, Princeton (7-8 overall, 6-0 Ivy League) has one Ivy League game left, a contest against Penn (8-6, 2-2) in Philadelphia on Nov. 4. But thanks to Brown's victory over Cornell (9-5, 4-2) this past weekend, the Tigers have already clinched the Ivy League title, their 11th in 12 years. And because they have won the league title, Princeton will return to compete in the NCAA tournament after a one-year absence.
In other words, the Tigers will be playing their final two games of the season only for practice and for pride. Just as Princeton would love to defeat Penn and sweep the Ivy League season, the Tigers would equally love to make their seniors' last home game — against Rutgers on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Class of 1952 Stadium — a happy memory.
That the Tigers have the luxury of playing only for such goals at this point in the season is made especially remarkable considering how their season started (7-10, 0-5 Big East).
Princeton began the season by losing three of its first four games. Then the Tigers had to deal with the two-week absence of senior attack Lauren Ehrlichman, who had earned a spot on the Junior World Cup team in Chile. Her absence was an even bigger loss because the talented Ehrlichman left behind a youthful team, unsure of its ability to win in big-game situations.
But the season started to shape up for Princeton, and with the big wins came experience and confidence — especially in the Ivy League. The Tigers have dominated in league play this year, as the statistics show. They have outscored opponents, 19-3, and have recorded shutouts against Dartmouth, Columbia and Brown, thanks to outstanding goaltending from junior Allison Nemeth.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise for Princeton has been the maturation of its 10 freshmen over the course of the season. What started out as a potential weakness for the Tigers has become an integral part of their success. Over the course of the season, they have had many chances to learn and adapt to the collegiate experience.
A good example is freshman midfielder Candi Arner. After scoring the game-winning overtime goal against Harvard, she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week. Arner's performance in the game against Harvard is just one indication that the young players on this team have been able to grow during the course of the season and been able to generate goals under pressure.
Head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn recognizes Arner's improvement over the course of the season and her immense contributions to the team.
"The freshmen have been a vital force this season," Holmes-Winn said. "Candi in particular has been one of the most consistent players. Every game she becomes more effective on the field."
While those freshmen are free of the unhappy memories of last season's disappointment, the rest of the Tigers are not so lucky: Princeton would love to avenge last year's loss to the Quakers that cost it the title. Holmes-Winn is confident that her team will answer this challenge.
"Getting psyched for the Penn game will not be an issue," Holmes-Winn said. "Penn knocked us out last year, and we could have won the title outright. Our focus is always to play our best hockey and to elevate our game."
Ehrlichman said that the game against the Quakers will mean a lot for the team, especially the seniors.
"When we arrived at Princeton our freshman year, we came into a program that had won eight consecutive Ivy League titles," Ehrlichman said. "Last year, we watched our seniors, a class that had gone to the Final Four their freshman year, walk off the field without an Ivy League title for the first time in 10 years. I have never forgotten the feeling of losing the Penn game with no time left on the clock, and I don't think I ever will."
Odds are, Ehrlichman wouldn't mind making a new memory: finishing her college career on a high note.
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