CROSS OVER: Princeton University field hockey Sophia Tornetta, left, battles a foe for the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, senior star Tornetta scored a goal to help No. 5 Princeton defeat Dartmouth 3-0 in the Ivy League opener for both teams. The Tigers, now 6-3 overall and 1-0 Ivy, play at Yale on September 28 before hosting No. 21 Boston University on September 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

On one hand, Sophia Tornetta was happy that the Princeton University field hockey team started its Ivy League campaign by beating visiting Dartmouth 3-0 last Saturday.

But senior star Tornetta acknowledged that No. 5 Princeton fell short of its high standards as it found itself clinging to a 1-0 lead 53 minutes into the contest before pulling away with two late tallies.

“It was an eye-opening experience; we need to go into each game ready to play the full 70 minutes right from when the whistle blows,” said Tornetta, reflecting on the victory that improved the Tigers to 6-3 overall and 1-0 Ivy.

“We need to be tuned in and we need to play our game. I think there were moments where we kind of lapsed a little bit. We were lacking organization, but we used that as a learning opportunity too.”

Tornetta conceded that the Tigers were in a rush to make a statement as they started the defense of their Ivy crown.

“We wanted to make our footprint on the Ivy League and we struggled a bit because we wanted to get ahead so badly right away,” said Tornetta.

“At the end of the day it is a win, but it shows us a lot of areas where we still need work. I think moving forward we are going to be a team to be reckoned with. The biggest thing is to  play it around, play simple and play fast, like we know how to do. We strive to leave everything out there on the field, I think that is our biggest takeaway.”

Converting a feed from Hannah Davey, Tornetta scored to help Princeton get ahead 1-0 at the 8:59 mark of the first half.

“It was a great pass from Hannah; we know that she has a great flat ball across and she carved the baseline,” said Tornetta, a 5’2 native of Plymouth Meeting, Pa. who how has four goals this season.

“We connected right away; right when she passed it. I felt like there was a power behind it. We made eye contact and connected. That was a lift of energy for the team; anyone can be a playmaker when they want to be one.”

One of the team’s key playmakers, Sophia’s younger sister, sophomore star Julianna, gave the Tigers some breathing room, scoring with 16:54 left in regulation to double the Princeton lead.

“It is the best thing that could have happened,” asserted Tornetta, reflecting on playing with her sister.

“I know where she is and she knows where I am; there is a connection there. Just to watch her grow as a player is incredible. She has so much potential. Every game I see her get better and it is the best feeling ever to watch somebody who I have been playing with since I was little.”

As Tornetta goes through her final college campaign, she is looking to get the most out of her potential.

“I treat every game as an opportunity to get better,” said Tornetta. “That is the biggest thing we can take away from all of these games; whether it is a win or a loss, we build from here.”

Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente lamented her squad’s failure to cash in on opportunities as it outshot the Big Green 22-3.

“We came in complacent; we talked a lot about it and I guess maybe we need that wakeup call every year,” said Tagliente.

“We won but we have got a lot to work on. I don’t think we were sharp in any way in this game. It was a bit of a disappointing game. We talked about some of the things to expect and I don’t think we executed very well.”

With the Tigers having lost a wild 5-4 overtime thriller to No. 3 Maryland on September 18, Tagliente noted that her players faced a different approach from Dartmouth.

“It is an adjustment to the style of play, the Ivy League is different than Maryland and the ACC/Big 10 games we have been playing,” said Tagliente. “It is a little more physical, a little more big ball stuff. We had plenty of opportunities; there are no excuses for making this game as hard as we made it.”

Princeton did play hard on defense as it stifled the Big Green all game long.

“The back three (Maddie Bacskai, Annabeth Donovan, Gabby Andretta) did a nice job; Dartmouth is hard to play, there are a lot of tips and bouncy balls behind,” said Tagliente.

“It is physical. Coming off Maryland where we faced a little bit of that, it was good to see them step up and be confident and take care of everything. We only gave up one shot, up until two minutes left in the game.”

Going forward, Tagliente is looking for her players to do a better job taking care of business.

“We are back in the flow of school and I think these guys are figuring out what works and what doesn’t work,” said Tagliente, whose team plays at Yale on September 28 before hosting No. 21 Boston University on September 30.

“We have to settle in a little bit more here and get on track because I don’t quite feel that we are on track at the moment.”

In Tornetta’s view, the Tigers have what it takes to get on the right track.

“We have the talent and the team chemistry; we are all here supporting each other, on and off the field,” said Tornetta.

“I feel like every single time I step on the field here, I don’t play for myself, I play for my teammates. No matter what, we win as a team, we lose as a team. We do everything as a team. That is the one thing that will never falter; we are all in it together.”