ON THE BALL: Princeton University women’s soccer player ­Lauren Lazo controls the ball in action last fall. Princeton will be looking to sophomore Lazo to build on a solid debut campaign that saw her tally four goals and four assists on the way to earning Honorable Mention All-Ivy League recognition. The Tigers start their 2012 season by hosting the Princeton Invitational this weekend at Roberts Stadium, facing Wake Forest on August 31 and Colgate on September 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Looking at the statistics, it would appear that the Princeton University women’s soccer team produced another solid campaign in 2011.

The Tigers outscored their foes 27-26 on the season, generating 121 shots on goal to 71 for their opponents and ending up with a 102-43 edge in corner kicks.

But those solid numbers didn’t result in a good fall as the Tigers slipped to 6-10-1 overall and 2-5 in Ivy League action after going 9-6-1 in 2010.

As Princeton head coach Julie Shackford looks ahead to the upcoming season, she believes her returning players learned some valuable lessons from last fall’s frustration.

“It was a weird season, we weren’t a bad team,” said Shackford, who brings a 175-99-21 record into her 18th season at the helm of the Tigers and has guided the program to seven NCAA appearances during her tenure.

“We played some good soccer, we just weren’t consistent at finishing. Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. The players took it to heart. We had a great spring and they did their homework over the summer.”

Shackford is expecting some good work from her seniors as the program looks to regain its winning ways.

“We have eight seniors and they are strong leaders,” said Shackford, whose team starts the 2012 campaign by hosting the Princeton Invitational this weekend at Roberts Stadium, facing Wake Forest on August 31 and Colgate on September 2.

“You find that teams that have done the best over the years had strong senior leadership. The seniors have maturity and talent; they have been through the ups and downs. Everybody is on board.”

Princeton will be depending on two of those seniors, Jen Hoy and Caitlin Blosser, together with a pair of sophomores, Melissa Downey and Lauren Lazo, to trigger the offense.

“We have a lot of attacking players,” said Shackford. “We have Blosser as a target and then Hoy, Lazo, and Downey right behind them. We are playing all four together; using a 4-2-3-1 formation.”

In Shackford’s view, that alignment will allow the speedy Hoy to find open space.

“Hoy is not going to feel like it is all on her shoulders,” said Shackford of Hoy, who tallied  eight goals and five assists last fall on the way to earning First-team All-Ivy League honors.

“With our depth, she will have more freedom to do what she does best. She will be marked and people will be playing hard against her. She has such a good motor; she goes hard all the time.”

The three other starters up front have the potential to make things hard on Princeton’s foes. Lazo had four goals and four assists in 2011 with Downey tallying two goals and five assists and Blosser having scored nine goals in her Tiger career.

“Lazo is a special player; she can score and she can pass,” added Shackford, who will be using sophomores Jess Haley and Liana Cornacchio on attack.

“She covers so much ground; she can clean up mistakes. Downey is really creative. Blosser is back in form; she is big and is a good header.”

Shackford will be counting on some heads-up play in the midfield from the group of junior Gabrielle Guzman and freshman Jessica Lee together with seniors Rachel Sheehy and Rebecca Schmoys.

“Guzman will be one of the holding midfielders for sure,” said Shackford. “Jessica Lee will see time; she has been playing with the U.S. U-18 team. Rachel Sheehy and Rebecca Schmoys will also get minutes.”

Senior Alison Nabatoff will play a key role in holding the fort along the back line. She will be joined in the defensive corps by junior Diane Metcalf-Leggette, freshman Emily Sura, junior Kacie Kergides, sophomore Gabrielle Ragazzo, and freshman Catherine Hartigan.

“Nabatoff is one of the smarter players we have had; she reads the game very well,” said Shackford.

“Metcalf-Leggette is all good; she is back and doing well. Emily Sura and Kacie Kergides are in the mix. Gabrielle Ragazzo has nailed down the right back position. Catherine Hartigan should also see time in the back.”

Three players could see time at goalie for the Tigers with seniors Kristin Watson and Claire Pinciaro together with sophomore Darcy Hargadon in the mix.

“It will be Watson as the starter with Pinciaro and Hargadon battling for time,” said Shackford. “Watson has experience, size, and physicality. She has a lot of confidence.”

Shackford is confident that her squad has the resources to battle anyone on its schedule.

“We have a lot of depth, we have 23 field players,” said Shackford. “That will come in handy, we have our hands full in the beginning. I think we need to keep everyone healthy and embrace the idea of depth. We will have constant competition for positions which is good; that holds people accountable.”

Enduring disappointment last fall should serve to make the Tigers more competitive in 2012.

“Coming off a season like that is an automatic motivator for the players,” said Shackford. “They have worked hard; they don’t want to have that feeling again.”

The Tigers will be looking to produce a feel-good weekend as they face some formidable foes in their first taste of regular season action.

“I am excited,” said Shackford. “It is a good opportunity to be able to compete with a team like Wake that has a big head start on us. Colgate is a solid Patriot League team. It should be two great games with a great atmosphere.”