The Penn field hockey team has one more opportunity to clinch a winning Ivy record this season.
It just so happens that tonight's opponent has the statistics that make it one of the best teams in the history of Ivy League athletics.
No. 11 Princeton has wrapped up 12 Ivy League titles in the program's history -- their 10th straight since 1994 is the longest active championship streak in the Ancient Eight.
The Tigers' storied history also includes 19 All-America selections and eight NCAA tourney appearances.
"Princeton is definitely a top-level field hockey team," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "They are extremely well-coached and play with intensity every time."
This year, the Tigers experienced a major personnel change when coach Kristen Holmes-Winn replaced longtime head coach Beth Bozman. Winn, however, picked up right where her predecessor left off.
Princeton (11-5, 6-0 Ivy) has already clinched its 10th straight Ivy League title and has earned its second straight automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers currently have a nine-game winning streak over the Quakers, in which Princeton has outscored Penn, 38-5, while posting five shutouts.
The last time the Quakers defeated its rival was a 2-1 overtime victory in 1993.
"We are going to look at the game tape of that one," Cloud said.
Despite the overwhelming dominance of Princeton on paper, Cloud insists that the Quakers (10-6, 3-3) have their best chance in years to upset the Tigers and earn their second winning record in the Ancient Eight in the last three years.
Princeton "is not unbeatable," Cloud said. "They barely escaped Yale and Harvard, and have played other close games besides."
The Quakers, led by Ivy League offensive leader Liz Lorelli, are hoping to catch the Tigers napping with their minds set on postseason play. Lorelli leads the Ancient Eight in goals per game, goals and points.
"We are going to go into Princeton knowing that we have a chance to win," senior Marianne Rogers said. "We want to give them a battle up front and control the ball from start to finish."
Princeton does not lead the Ivies in any major offensive or defensive category, and does not have a player anywhere near Lorelli's 1.125 goals per game average.
Rather, the Tigers play an efficient game marked by controlling the ball at midfield and forcing penalty corners. Princeton forces an average of 10.25 corners a game, compared to Penn's 6.38.
The Quakers' defense will have its hands full with Princeton's four All-Americans from last year -- juniors Lizzie Black and Natalie Martirosian and seniors Claire Miller and Cory Picketts.
Penn freshman goalie Elizabeth Schlossberg will get her first opportunity to face the best the Ivy League has to offer. Schlossberg was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after recording her first solo shutout against West Chester and a career-high 10 saves against Brown.
"Our defense, especially Liz, has played really well in the last few games," senior co-captain Emily Farnesi said. "We know we are going to have our work cut out for us [tonight], but we are ready for the challenge."
The Quakers' overall winning record has given them the chance to apply to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, which, over the last few years, has included the Ivy's top three or four teams that finished below Princeton in the standings.
"We want another crack at some of the Ivy teams we lost to, like Brown and Yale," Cloud said. "Hopefully the tournament committee will give us the chance."
Penn will also honor its four seniors -- Farnesi, Jackie Lange, Courtney Blenheim and Rogers -- before tonight's faceoff as it is their last game at Franklin Field.
