Field Hockey: Sharkey scores 3 as Princeton continues Ancient Eight domination

The field hockey team has made a habit of running away from its opposition this year and its game on Saturday was no exception.

Princeton (6-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy League) defeated Yale (4-3, 1-1) in convincing fashion this weekend, storming to a 7-0 win in New Haven, Conn.

The Tigers’ contest with Yale looked very similar to their games against Bucknell, Richmond and Dartmouth, when the team came out strong in the first half and put pressure on the opposition’s defense from the outset. In only the 11th minute of the game, junior striker Kat Sharkey received a corner from sophomore midfielder Julia Reinprecht and beat Yale goalkeeper Katie Bolling to give her team a 1-0 lead. Six minutes later, junior midfielder Allison Behringer followed suit with her first goal of the season.

The Bulldogs struggled to get the ball past midfield against the Tigers’ defense in the first half and did not manage a shot on goal before the break. Princeton kept up the pressure throughout the half as sophomore striker Michelle Cesan scored unassisted and then assisted on Sharkey’s second goal of the game to give her team a 4-0 lead at the half.

In the 57th minute, Sharkey scored her third goal of the game to extend Princeton’s lead to 5-0. Junior midfielder and tri-captain Katie Reinprecht added to the scoreboard a minute later. Sophomore midfielder Molly Goodman capped the scoring off a pass from sophomore midfielder Carrie Diamond to make the score 7-0. Princeton outshot the Bulldogs by a dominating 28-2 margin and held an 8-3 edge in penalty corners — two of which the Tigers were able to convert to goals.

Sharkey’s three goals pushed her season total to 16, keeping her first in the nation in the category. Sharkey’s success stems from her ability to get the quick shot off and stay energetic throughout the game. Against Yale, Sharkey managed nine shots on goal — seven more than the entire Bulldog team.

“Taking quick shots is something I’ve been working on this season,” Sharkey said. “Every time I enter the circle, I try to get a goal, corner or high quality shot. I think as a forward it’s important to keep taking a lot of shots throughout the game. If you don’t shoot the ball, you are never going to score.”

Though the Bulldogs started off with intensity, their confidence was quickly whittled away with each Princeton attack, until they were left with little energy in the second half.

Princeton’s young roster belies the team’s experience: Though only one senior started against Yale, many of the Tigers’ underclassmen have seen significant playing time since their freshman year. This allows the team to communicate effectively and play to each individual’s strengths.

“This year we are really focusing on the basics and making sure that we approach every opponent with the same intensity,” junior midfielder Erin Jennings said. “I also think that we’ve had a lot of success this year because many of us have been playing with each other for three years now and have gotten to know each other’s tendencies. It’s really made our team a lot more cohesive.”

The Tigers will face No. 2 Maryland at home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s NCAA semifinal. Last year, the Terrapins ended Princeton’s season with a 7-5 win en route to the NCAA final, where the team lost to University of North Carolina.

Though it represents one of the season’s major tests, Princeton plans to approach the Maryland game with the same attitude it has brought to each game this season. The approach has worked so far: In six games, Princeton has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 34-3.

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“We approach each opponent the same,” Sharkey said. “Our mindset heading into the Maryland game next week won’t be any different from the mindset we had going into the Yale game.”