Women's Water Polo: Tigers open 2012 slate at home this weekend

No. 20 Princeton will first face Harvard this Saturday. Although the Crimson are part of the Southern Division of the CWPA, this game will not count as a conference game. However, the matchup will be an important preview of two of the expected top teams in the Southern Division. The Harvard women started off their preseason with a training trip in Hungary and proved their mettle at the Iona Invitational. Despite falling to the hosts after fighting back with six goals during a fourth-quarter comeback attempt, the Crimson dispatched Villanova with ease, winning 13-1.

The Tigers, though untested this season, are lucky to have kept some of their key players from last year. Senior captain Kristen Ward will again lead Princeton from goal, and last year’s top three high scorers — sophomore utility Katie Rigler, junior attack Brittany Zwirner and sophomore utility Molly McBee will take the field. Unlike last season, when Princeton had only two new freshman faces, 2015 outnumbers all other classes this year. Since the freshmen make up over a third of the team, their ability to adapt to college play will be key for the Tigers. A strong freshman class made a big difference for the men’s water polo team in the fall, so the women will look to replicate the success of the men this spring.