(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) CHALLENGING CAREER: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Barb Previ heads up the field in recent action. Sophomore Previ has been a bright spot for the Tigers (5-8 overall, 3-2 Ivy League), scoring 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists. Previ also plays for the Tiger women’s soccer team, having scored two goals and two assists in 34 appearances. In addition to tackling the tough assignment of playing two sports at the college level, the Medford, N.J. native has faced an additional hurdle as she is partially deaf and has to use a hearing aid on and off the field.

PU Sophomore Previ Overcoming Challenges in Competing for Tiger Women’s Lax and Soccer

Ed Benkin

Barb Previ is not one to shy away from a challenge.

For the last two years, the Princeton University sophomore has tackled the tough assignment of playing two sports at the college level, competing for the Tiger women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams.

The Medford, N.J. native has faced an additional hurdle as she is partially deaf and has to use a hearing aid on and off the field.

But for someone with the ability and determination to play two sports, Previ isn’t about to be slowed by her condition.

“It can be a problem on defense when there’s so much communicating and sliding and doubling,” said the the 5‘0 Previ.

“We are adjusting to the other team’s game. We try to do the best we can with it. I don’t play a lot of defense since I primarily play attack. My teammates just try to help if I get stuck back there.”

Previ has tried her best this spring to help the Tiger women’s lax team through a rough season which has seen Princeton go 5-8 overall and 3-2 in Ivy League action. After playing in nine games in 2009 and getting one assist, Previ has started every game this season, scoring 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists.

“You just try to get better and better as the season goes on,” said Previ, who had two assists last Saturday in a 11-9 loss at Harvard and will look to get on the scoring sheet this week when Princeton hosts No. 5 Penn (10-3 overall, 5-0 Ivy) on April 21 and seventh-ranked Dartmouth (9-2 overall, 4-1 Ivy) on April 25.

“I didn’t play much last year because of an injury and we had a lot of seniors. This year is more of a rebuilding year. Everybody has just been trying to raise their game as the season goes on.”

Previ certainly raised the level of Shawnee High sports during her glittering high school career.

In lacrosse, she was a US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American and sparked the Renegades to four conference championships.

On the soccer pitch, Previ earned All-American honors and was named the NSCAA Adidas New Jersey Player of the Year. She was the team’s leading scorer all four seasons and helped Shawnee win the 2006 South Jersey sectional title.

In reflecting on her high school lacrosse career, Previ said she soaked up some good lessons from her teammates.

“Shawnee is always one of the top teams in South Jersey,” said Previ. “I learned the basics of the game I needed to know. There are so many girls that play at such a high level. As a sophomore, I learned from the seniors and picked up aspects of their game and tried to incorporate them into mine.”

When Previ graduated from Shawnee, she was excited to have the opportunity to take her talents across the state to Princeton.

In addition its sterling academic reputation, Princeton gave Previ the chance to continue playing both soccer and lacrosse.

“I was fairly positive I wanted to play soccer and lacrosse in college,” explained Previ.

“Princeton is a place that allows you to do that. I do live in New Jersey and I’m very close to my family so I did want to stay close to home. Plus, my family enjoys going to the games.”

While Previ might not have much down time playing games in the fall and spring, she has relished being part of the Tiger lacrosse and soccer families.

“I really enjoy playing both sports here,” said Previ, who has scored two goals and two assists in her 34 appearances for the women’s soccer team. “I don’t get too much of a break in the winter, but I love the hustle and bustle of playing almost every day.”

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