One win not enough for Princeton

Princeton’s 11 goals scored is the second-most in team history and represented the first time since 2002 that the team reached double digits in scoring. Particularly impressive, however, is not the quantity of goals scored but the number of players who found the back of the net.

Senior defender and tri-captain Holly McGarvie netted two goals to double her season total and put her in the team lead for goals scored. Classmates midfielder Candice Arner, midfielder Kristin Schwab and attack Kraftin Schreyer all scored as well.

Notably, freshman attack Kathleen Sharkey — in just her second game as a Tiger — notched three goals and an impressive seven points. Sharkey, who arrived at Princeton with high expectations, proved that she is more than capable of competing at the collegiate level.

Also scoring were junior attack Tina Bortz, classmate midfielder Kaitlin Donovan and freshman midfielder Katie Reinpreicht. The caliber of performance from so many players underscores Princeton’s potential this season.

Perhaps the most telling statistic, however, is that the Tigers held the Mountain Hawks to just one shot on goal.

Starting sophomore Jen King and junior Cynthia Wray shared goaltending duties. King played the first half, and picked up the win, her third of the season.

“The team atmosphere is very different this year than in seasons past,” Arner noted. “Our performance in the Lehigh game was complete domination.”

Starting off with three consecutive victories has given Princeton new confidence, which it looks to carry forward.

“To start 3-0 shows how much the team has grown in the past years,” McGarvie said. “It is important to set a tone from the first game, and now we have the confidence to take on any opponent on our schedule.”

This year’s Tigers are different from those of years past in several ways. With a particularly large recruiting class — seven freshmen in total — the Tigers are extraordinarily deep. Furthermore, Princeton lost just one senior to graduation.

“The fact that our team has so many returning starters and players that have seen significant playing time is valuable to our team,” Arner said. “We all know our potential. Now we just have to stay together and show the NCAA who Princeton is.”