Hungry Bears to challenge sliding Tigers

“A big thing for us this weekend is just getting back to our strengths,” junior attack Christine Casaceli said, “getting back to our basic attack motion and really focusing on smart fundamentals. Recently the ball has been in our defensive end, and we need to make sure we keep it in the offense.”

Additionally, though Princeton has dominated Brown in the past, the Bears proved that they are a force to be reckoned with after completing an unexpected 8-5 win over Dartmouth earlier this season. Brown’s record may not be as impressive as the Tigers’, but the Bears were just one goal short of beating both Harvard and Hofstra and are hungrier than ever for a win this weekend. Leading the Bears with 22 goals this season is Jesse Nunn, who is sure to be an offensive force this weekend.

“Brown has gotten continuously better,” senior attack and captain Ashley Amo said. “We’ve realized that no matter what the level of the team you are playing, nobody is just going to roll over and die during a game. We are going to come out hard, and there is no way we aren’t coming away with a win.”

Though Princeton’s performance in its last two Ivy League losses was less than stellar, the Tigers stepped up their playing in Wednesday’s match against Temple. Despite a slow first half, Princeton hit the turf running during the second period of the game, finally displaying the skills and intensity of a powerhouse team.

During the last 20 minutes of the game against Temple, the Tigers scored eight straight goals over the course of 14 minutes, gaining a 10-point lead and returning to the offensive strategies that lead them to a 10-game winning streak earlier this season.

Princeton has struggled on offense recently in part because of numerous injuries. Forced to substitute several new players into starting spots against both Penn and Dartmouth, the Tigers’ attack struggled to adjust, and this lack of cohesiveness clearly translated to the scoreboard.

Its recent performance, however, seems to indicate that Princeton is finally ready to play as a team.

“We have had some new people,” Amo said. “The most important thing was getting comfortable with the adjustments. We played well against Temple and took the ball hard to the goal during the second half, and I think we can do that again this weekend.”

In spite of offensive woes, several standout scorers have emerged. Particular players to look out for this weekend include junior midfielder Katie Cox, who dominated the offense against Temple, earning three goals and two assists and managed to find the back of the net twice in a span of one minute, 22 seconds. Additional offensive powerhouse players include Casaceli, who leads the team with 29 goals, and sophomore midfielder Jenna Washabaugh, who had four of her team’s 11 draw controls in the Temple match.

The Tigers’ recent loss to Penn, which finished conference play undefeated, killed Princeton’s chances of bringing home a championship trophy. Princeton is currently tied for second place in the Ivy League with Cornell, the same team the Tigers were forced to share a title with in 2006.

Though the Tigers are fighting for second place this weekend, in many ways the more important thing they are fighting for is their dignity. After two tough Ivy League losses and a non-league game that was too close for comfort until the second half, Princeton needs this win if it wants to be remembered as more than just a major flop.