Field Hockey: Bulldogs the last test before No. 2 Terps

After a 9-1 win over Dartmouth last Friday, Princeton edged out a 1-0 victory over then-No.8 Syracuse on Sunday when sophomore striker Michelle Cesan blasted a ball from the top of the circle with just over a minute remaining in regulation. In the coming days, the Tigers have their minds set on pulling out another pair of victories against an Ivy League foe and a national rival. And this time, the stakes are higher.

If last year serves as any guide, sparks will fly when Princeton and Maryland meet Tuesday night under the lights at Class of 1952 Stadium. Last year, the Tigers lost to the Terps 3-2 in overtime during regular-season play in what many spectators saw as a display of field hockey at its best. Princeton met Maryland again in the semifinal round of the NCAA national championship with hopes of finishing what they started, only to fall to the Terps 7-5.

“Maryland is one of our biggest competitions,” junior midfielder and tri-captain Alyssa Pyros said. “We haven’t beat them since I’ve been here, but every year we’re getting closer and closer, and we really think this is our year that we’re going to bring them down.”

The Tigers have made tremendous strides in Pyros’ time at Princeton. Two years ago, Maryland beat the Tigers 5-0. Despite coming up just short of victory last year, Princeton’s strong showing against Maryland gives the Tigers valuable experience.

“This year we need to know that we are capable of beating them and have that confidence going in, and we really just need to play together for the full 70 minutes — we can’t let up,” junior midfielder and tri-captain Katie Reinprecht said.

To beat Maryland, Princeton will have to contend with the Terps’ powerful offense, led by attacker Katie O’Donnell, who has averaged one goal per game so far this season.

“Katie O’Donnell ... can be super threatening,” Reinprecht said. “If she is on the forward line she is going to be someone we are going to have to definitely control.”

O’Donnell leads the nation in assists per game, averaging 1.7. On Princeton’s side, sophomore midfielder Julia Reinprecht and Cesan rank seventh and 14th in the nation, respectively, for assists per game.

Princeton and Maryland both have deep offenses. Princeton’s junior striker Kathleen Sharkey leads the nation in points per game with 5.6 on average, while O’Donnell places third with 3.71. However, Maryland has two additional players in the top 20: Jill Witmer and Jemma Buckley have averaged 2.14 points per game, trailed closely by Cesan with an average of 2.

With such explosive offenses, the game may come down to defense. The Tigers are looking to exploit any possible advantage they might have.

“In the past [Maryland has] had very strong backs who can both defend and attack,” Katie Reinprecht said. “I know they did lose a few defenders in their senior class last year, so I hope that we’ll be able to expose them there, but I guess that we’ll see.”

Princeton’s defensive unit looked in peak performance as it warded off Syracuse last weekend, anchored by Julia Reinprecht, Pyros, senior back and tri-captain Alexandra Douwes, sophomore back Amy Donavan and freshman goalkeeper Christina Maida. Maida ranks second in the nation for goals-against average, allowing only .44 goals per game, and third for her save percentage, coming in at .889.

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In addition to their strong defense, the Tigers expect an added boost from their home-field advantage.

“We have a home-field advantage because our field is old and so there are lumps in places that we know about that the other teams don’t,” Pyros said. “I also think that playing in front of our fans will help pump us up and keep us going.”

The Tigers know that it will take more than a few bounces going their way to win on Tuesday. For Princeton, every little thing matters.

“I think it’s just going to be a collective effort,” Katie Reinprecht said. “I know everyone is super excited, but when you’re actually in the game nerves can definitely get a hold of us, so we’re just going to have to be able to regroup during the game and come together and motivate each other on the field,” she added.

While playing the Terps is one of the Tigers’ most anticipated matches of the season, Princeton first has to get past Yale. While Princeton has built its reputation as a field hockey powerhouse in part by pulverizing its Ivy League rivals, the Tigers have frequently had the Bulldogs nipping at their heels.

Princeton beat Yale last year, but the game was closer than expected thanks to the Bulldogs’ solid defense. Princeton was leading 1-0 at the half before a second-half scoring spree brought the final tally to 5-2.

“Since the Ivy League is our league, we always want to do our best and give it 100 percent,” Pyros said. “We’re looking to do better than we did the year before against them.”