Field Hockey: Early goals key for first-round

Between 2001 and 2007, the Tigers were a combined 0-8 against Penn State. In 2002 and 2003, the Nittany Lions cut Princeton’s season short in devastatingly close first-round losses in the NCAA tournament. But, as the words engraved on the Ivy League field hockey trophy proclaim, history cannot be rewritten. That was then. This is now.

“We have so much momentum from the last five games,” junior attack Christina Bortz said. “Our offense has been so explosive.”

What the Tigers (16-2 overall, 7-0 Ivy League) control is their current season. They have risen to a No. 8 national ranking and have done something they had not been able to do in seven years: beat Penn State (13-6).

It was a narrow win that tested a team that had recently come off a double-overtime loss to then-No. 5 Connecticut (17-3). The Tigers, however, put up dominating offensive statistics that have become a hallmark this season, outshooting Penn State 20-13 and doubling the Nittany Lions’ shots on goal.

“It was very early in the season, and we were just starting to come together as a team. We have a lot of momentum now that we did not have [then],” Bortz said.

Boosted confidence may be what the Tigers will need to overcome their past. Over the course of the season, the Tigers have outperformed Penn State in every major offensive category. In addition to solid play from the team as a whole, a large portion of the Orange and Black’s successes may be attributed to the development of two star freshmen.

Freshman midfielder Katie Reinprecht was unanimously named Ivy League Player of the Year, and freshman forward Kathleen Sharkey received Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors.

Both Reinprecht and Sharkey received first-team All-Ivy honors, along with senior defender and tri-captain Holly McGarvie, senior midfielder Sarah Reinprecht and senior midfielder Kraftin Schreyer. Senior midfielder and tri-captain Candice Arner earned second-team All-Ivy honors, and senior forward Kristin Schwab and junior defender Kaitlyn Perrelle earned honorable mentions.

Princeton will need excellent play from all of its stars to move past the Nittany Lions.

“They are always intense competitors. They always play us tough, and they’re really physical,” Bortz said. “They definitely put up a huge fight. We will have to match their intensity from the get go and try to get on the scoreboard early.

Scoring early was the key to the Tigers’ victory over Penn State on Sept. 24. The Princeton offense scored all three of its goals in the 3-2 win within three minutes of each other. It may not be that simple this time around, though.

“They are not going to give us many opportunities during the game, so we really have to take advantage of what they give us,” Bortz said. “We had quite a few missed opportunities [last time] before we started scoring. We have to capitalize.”

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Bortz said that the team is excited, but excitement won’t be the only thing this Saturday’s game promises. It will be No. 8 against No. 12, the winds of change against the forces of the past and a match that could very well be a springboard for some truly momentous history for the Tigers.