Field Hockey ends at Tigers

The Quakers finish their season with Ivy League champion Princeton. Save the best for last. Tonight at 7 p.m., the Penn field hockey team will be doing just that. In its last game of the season, the Quakers (8-8 overall, 4-2 Ivy League) face the No. 4 team in the nation, Princeton (14-2, 6-0), on the Class of 1952 Stadium's turf. Clinching its fifth consecutive Ivy League title and the eighth in the program's history -- breaking a tie with the Red and Blue's seven Ivy crowns -- the Orange and Black look to make the Quakers its 32nd-straight Ivy league win. "We have nothing to lose," Penn coach Val Cloud said simply. With the league wrapped up, Princeton, on the other hand, has but one thing to lose -- its 31-game Ivy win streak. Tonight, the Quakers could bring Princeton's dynasty full circle -- the Tigers streak began after a loss to Penn five years ago. To end Princeton's winning ways it is imperative that the Quakers focuses on one major aspect of the Tiger's reign of terror -- speed. "The greatest part of [Princeton's] game is their speed," Cloud said. "They are not only good players, they're fast players." Leading Princeton with her speed and scoring is sophomore attack player Hilary Matson, New York state's record-holder for the 100- and 400-meter hurdles. Not far behind Matson are senior attack players Kristy Hale and Molly O'Malley and sophomore Melanie Meerschwam. In addition to a strong forward line, Princeton has experience on its side. "[Princeton] has a very big group of seniors, all who have been starting for a couple of years," said Penn sophomore Aviva Meerschwam, a former Princeton player. "They are very experienced and are used to playing together." Princeton, however, will play one senior short. In the Tigers' last game, tri-captain O'Malley -- Princeton's flyer on corners -- took a fall and injured her knee. Although this means Princeton will have to make adjustments, they are not alone. Penn tri-captain Maureen Flynn tore her anterior cruciate ligament -- ACL -- against Penn State last Wednesday. Despite the fact that both teams will be shaking things up, the Quakers still need to compensate for alack of speed. Although speed cannot be taught, methods to contain speed can, so the Quakers will need to step to the ball, support each other and make crisper, shorter passes. "We have to play our best to make it a good game," Meerschwam said. "The odds are against us. [But] if we play as a team and score a couple of goals, we'll be satisfied." Scoring a couple of goals, though, will be a tough task to accomplish. Tigers senior goalkeeper Meg DeJong has shut out five of her six Ivy opponents this season. But if the Quakers can become the second team to score on DeJong, a possible end to the Tiger's dynasty could be in sight. And that would be worth saving the best for last.