Field Hockey: Bears provide opportunity to bounce back

“For an Ivy League team, a win against Princeton can define their season,” senior defender and co-captain Holly McGarvie said. “We need to learn from Maryland and build on [the loss].”

The scoreline belied the game, with two Maryland goals coming in the last five minutes of the game, but the Tigers were definitely beat. Princeton could not stop Maryland forward Nicole Muracco, who had four of the Terrapins’ five goals. The Tigers outshot Maryland 12-6 in the second half but could not get the ball past the Terps’ goalkeeper. Muracco got off to a quick start with a goal in the sixth minute and never looked back. The loss dropped Princeton to 9-2 on the season.

“The way we played [Wednesday] night was not the way we usually play,” McGarvie said. “We can play just as well as [Maryland]. We can beat that team in November in the playoffs.”

But first, the Tigers need to get past Brown and Villanova.

“These games are really going to help us stop dwelling on Maryland,” McGarvie said. “Our bid to the NCAA tournament will be our Ivy League championship.”

Brown (3-8, 0-3) comes into Saturday’s game off a 3-1 loss to Vermont this past Sunday. The game was not nearly as close as the score indicated, as the Bears were dominated by the Catamounts. Vermont outshot Brown 21-9 and had nine penalty corners to Brown’s three.

The Bears are led by forward Abigail Taft, who has scored seven goals this season. She is Brown’s most-feared player, with a shot percentage of .412, almost .300 better than her next teammate. Luckily for the Tigers, Taft will probably not have many opportunities to score, as Brown has been outscored 30-16 and outshot a staggering 245-102 this year. As long as Princeton finds the net a few times, it should take care of the Bears with little trouble.

“Brown in the past has been a weaker team,” McGarvie said.

Villanova (10-4, 1-3 Big East) is a stronger team than Brown but comes to Princeton on a three-game losing streak. Last Saturday, No. 6 James Madison defeated the Wildcats, 1-0, in a defensive struggle. Villanova’s past two defeats were much more lopsided, a 3-1 loss to No. 11 Louisville and a 3-0 loss to No. 18 Providence.

The Wildcats are headed by forwards Abby Sordoni and Dana Ramsden. The two have combined for 15 goals, half of Villanova’s season total. Unlike Brown, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 30-14, and have also outshot them, 184-112. In goal, Villanova is backed by goalkeeper Maura McCormick, who has a 1.11 goals-against average and 55 saves.

“Villanova will play the full 70 minutes,” McGarvie said.

With only six games left in the regular season, including the two this weekend, the Tigers look to secure their fourth-straight Ivy League championship and ensure a spot in the NCAA Championship in Louisville in November. The Tigers just might win out, as the only ranked team left on their schedule is American at home on Nov. 2. They will also have home-field advantage for every remaining game but one, a Nov. 1 matchup at Cornell.