(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) TAYLOR MADE: Princeton University junior defender Taylor Numann, left, clears the ball in a game last fall. Numann emerged as a key player for the Tigers in 2006, earning first-team All-Ivy honors and being voted the Princeton team's MVP. Numann will look to build on that progress as the Tigers kick off the 2007 campaign by playing Connecticut at Boston University on August 31.

PU Women's Soccer Kicking Off 2007 Season Looking to Build on Last Fall's Strong Finish

Bill Alden

In 2004, the Princeton University women's soccer team reached unprecedented heights as it made a dazzling run to the NCAA Final Four.

The Tigers have stumbled in the last two campaigns, failing to win the Ivy League or advance to the NCAA tournament since that magical fall.

Last season, the Tigers hit rock bottom as they fell to 4-7-1 overall and 0-4 in the Ivy League after a 3-2 loss at Columbia.

But with the team's veterans showing their championship mettle, Princeton reeled off four straight shutout wins to end the season at 8-7-1 and clinch the program's 10th straight winning season.

PU head coach Julie Shackford believes that the team's seniors are coming into the upcoming season looking to recapture some of the magic they experienced as freshmen.

"There is a real hunger; the juniors and seniors know they haven't won the league in a couple of years," said Shackford, whose team will kick off its 2007 season by playing Connecticut at Boston University on Aug 31 before playing BU on September 2. "They are really committed to doing whatever is needed to put us in a position to win the league."

Shackford saw that commitment this past spring when Princeton went 2-0-2 in off-season exhibition contests.

"This is the first time in three or four years that I felt the group really worked hard and did well in the spring," added Shackford, who is in her 13th year heading the Tiger program and brings a 133-65-13 record into the season. "Last year we were working against each other at times; this year we are working together."

The Princeton defense has certainly worked well as a unit, having not surrendered a goal in the last 393:13 of last season nor during the spring friendlies.

The Tiger backline is led by junior Taylor Numann, who emerged as a force last fall when she earned first-team All-Ivy honors and was voted as the Princeton team MVP.

"Taylor is just really focused," said Shackford, who will also be utilizing sophomore Melissa Seitz, junior Lisa Chinn, freshman Melissa Sampias, and senior Melissa Whitley along her backline. "She is our last defender. She is good in the air and she's good with the ball. She isn't flashy; she just gets the job done."

Senior Whitley adds some fire to the team's defense. "We call Melissa the 'enforcer,'" said Shackford with a laugh. "She has a tone of speed and gives 100 percent in everything she does."

Senior goalkeeper Maren Dale figures to get just about 100 percent of the playing time in the net coming off a junior campaign which saw her post eight shutouts and compile a measly 1.05 goals against average.

"Maren trained and played with the Jersey Sky Blue of the W-League and she is fitter than she has ever looked," said Shackford. "She used to be a little uptight on the field, now she is much more relaxed. She's one of our captains and she's really intent on having a stellar senior season."

Heading up the midfield will be senior Diana Matheson, who has put together one of the most stellar careers in program history. Matheson was Princeton's leading scorer last fall, scoring 21 points on eight goals and five assists as she was named as a first-team All-Ivy player for the third straight season.

The Canada native has become a fixture on her country's national team and will be unavailable to Princeton until late September while she competes in the Women's World Cup in China.

Shackford will welcome back the diminutive Matheson with open arms when she returns from China."She's at a ridiculously high level," said Shackford of Matheson who comes into her final PU campaign with 59 points in her career on 20 goals and 19 assists.

"She's like another coach on the field. She traveled 75,000 miles last year; she's had more international experience than anyone on our staff. She's an incredibly balanced kid. She has over a 3.0 grade point average in economics even with the time she has missed. She leads by example; she's not loud or brash. She makes everyone around her better."

Princeton has some good midfielders around Matheson in junior Jen Om, freshman Alex Valerio, and senior Regina Yang. "Jen made a ton of progress last year and she had a phenomenal spring," said Shackford, noting that Om was an honorable mention All-Ivy pick last season. "Alex is another Canadian, She is pretty mature; she has great quickness. Regina is a good holding midfielder."

The Tigers have a trio of freshmen who appear to be adjusting to things pretty quickly in the middle of the field in former Lawrenceville star Bernie DaCosta, Lauren Whatley, and Libby van Beuren. "Bernie can really fly; she can get served balls," said Shackford, whose midfield mix will also include veterans Ashley Beyers and Sarah Peteraf.

"Lauren also has a lot of speed; she may be farther along technically, Libby is the younger sister of Teddy van Beuren, a former captain of the men's team."

Up front, the Tigers have some technical skill in their strike force which should be paced by sophomores Vicki Anagnostopoulos (six goals and four assists in 2006) and Marci Pasenello.

"Vicki is a true forward; she has a nose for the open goal," asserted Shackford, who will also be utilizing juniors Aarti Jain and Allison Williams, together with Valerio at striker. "Marci gained a lot of strength from last season; she had two goals in our scrimmages on Sunday."

The forwards will have to be on form if Princeton is to produce a strong start this weekend. "We have played UConn before," said Shackford, whose team will play its home games at Princeton Stadium this fall while Lourie-Love Field is being transformed into Roberts Stadium. "They are a fun team to play; they have quality all over the field. BU is more direct. They beat us last year for the first time ever so the players will be primed for that one."

Shackford and the Tigers are primed to get back into the Ivy title chase. "We are a faster, more athletic team than last year," asserted Shackford, who has guided Princeton to four Ivy crowns and six NCAA appearances in her tenure.

"We had injuries last year and the chemistry wasn't always the best. We have challenged them to take more ownership of the team. It has been really fun so far. I feel rejuvenated; I think we are ready to do really well."

If the Tigers can keep having fun, they may find themselves back in the national limelight.

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