Club field hockey team sets its sights on final four

The members of Princeton's club field hockey team want to make one thing clear: They're here for a championship and they have a team talented enough to match their ambitions.

Coming off a season in which Princeton made it to the final four of the National Field Hockey League, the Tigers have high expectations for the coming year.

"Final Four is our goal this year," sophomore defender Stephanie Burset said.

Standouts sophomore Laura Adams, junior Katherine Hamilton and senior Lauren Hedinger anchor one of the more dominant midfields in the league, while the back line provides solid defensive support. Hamilton is also a senior writer at the Daily Princetonian.

The real star of the team, however, may be freshman Ashley Dremiller who has already shown incredible poise and skill through her first few games.

"She bailed us out," said Burset. "She had some sick splits and layouts."

Even the veterans have picked up on her abilities.

"I think everyone is impressed with her," junior team president Jana Holt said.

Though the Tigers may have no shortage of talent, like any club sport, depth is an issue.

"The first part of our strategy includes harassing anyone who will play into throwing [on] an orange jersey and coming out for the games," Burset said.

Though many members of the team played varsity field hockey in high school, the team is open to anyone willing to practice hard and show up at game time. Already, freshman Jeff Kirchik — a varsity wrestler — has shown promise at forward in his first year of competitive field hockey.

The performance of newcomers is especially impressive considering the complexity of the sport. While field hockey requires the same conditioning and athletic skills as lacrosse or ice hockey, the rules are considerably more complex. For the passive observer, it can take years to appreciate all the idiosyncrasies and quirks of the sport.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"My dad sat through six years of watching me play and I don't think he understood what all those whistles were until my senior year in high school," Burset said.

To acquaint new players with the sport and to hone the skills of those already accustomed to the game, the Tigers hold biweekly practice at West Windsor fields. There, the team runs through their drills, practices their art and discusses strategy.

The Tigers split their first set of games to start the season, losing to Villanova before defeating Loyola (MD). Their 1-1 record, however, is misleading.

"We were competing against teams that have been playing for about three weeks now, had a lot of subs — we had two — and one of which had a coach," said Holt.

The Tigers compensate for their lack of formal coaching with veteran leadership.

"Most of last years' juniors are still really involved with the team," senior Becky O'Neill, who scored a crucial goal in the opening double header, said.

Princeton boasts a colorful local rivalry with traditional nemesis Rutgers as well as with TCNJ and St. Joseph's. This year though, the most important matchup may come against Villanova. The Wildcats defeated the Tigers in their first meeting this year, making the next match a must-win for Princeton.

Between then and now, however, the Tigers have a lot ahead of them. In a few weeks, the Tigers will travel to Maryland for a crucial tournament. The National Field Hockey League playoffs depend on a solid performance in that tournament.

"I think we have a great shot at making it to the tournament again. The team looks really strong," Holt said.

Princeton travels to TCNJ for a doubleheader next week, followed by Maryland and St. Joseph's. Then the Tigers come home Oct. 22 for their last home game of the season against Rutgers. Games are at West Windsor field, open to the public and free.

The Tigers promise to impress. "We might have to force you to do another [article] if we make the Final Four again this year" Holt said.