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With Tripicchio Back At Full Speed, Tiger Men's Soccer On Right Track
By Bill Alden
For Franco Tripicchio, the 2002 soccer season was essentially a lost year.
Individually, the Princeton University midfielder was hampered by the after-effects of a knee injury which slowed him in games and prevented him from practicing.
Collectively, the Tigers struggled as they posted a 4-8-5 overall record, slumping to fifth place in the Ivy League with a 2-3-2 mark one year after winning the title.
As Tripicchio prepared for his final college campaign, he and his classmates were determined to rebound from last year's frustrations.
"I think the five seniors on the team have really been the heart and soul of this team since we got here," said Tripcchio, a Clark, N.J. native whose classmates on the team include Jeff Hare, Marty Shaw, Vincent Vitale, and Jason Bell.
"I think in the offseason after last year's disappointing performance, we really made a commitment as a team and as a class to make sure that this team is ready."
That commitment is starting to yield dividends as the Tigers have gotten off to a 3-2-2 start, highlighted by last Sunday's thrilling 3-2 overtime win at Dartmouth in the Ivy opener for both teams. In topping the Big Green, Tripicchio assisted on a Jeff Hare goal while freshman Kyle McHugh scored two goals, including the game winner.
Tripicchio has been a vital cog in the team's start with his energetic and skilled play in the midfield. "I'm trying not to leave anything behind my senior year," added the 5'8, 155-pound Tripicchio after picking up an assist in Princeton's 1-1 tie last Wednesday with nationally ranked Seton Hall.
"I like to think that stepping on the field that I am going to have the better of the play in the center of the midfield against the guys I'm matching up against. I think that's been the case in four of the first six games. Last year, I couldn't practice because of the swelling in my knee. I've been able to be a part of everything this year, I couldn't be happier about that."
Tiger head coach Jim Barlow is happy to have Tripicchio at 100 percent as his squad battles through the hotly contested Ivy circuit in which there is precious little difference between the eight teams.
"I thought Tripicchio was great tonight, I thought we battled really hard tonight," said Barlow after his squad's tie with Seton Hall.
"I think that any of the eight teams can win the league. Every team has won a few good games and lost a couple. Every league game is going to be tight. We've got to just keep getting a little bit sharper in front of both goals."
Tripicchio believes that team unity could give the Tigers the edge as they look to regain the league crown. "I would definitely say that on and off the field we're a much closer bunch," asserted Tripicchio, who will be looking to continue his sharp play as the Tigers host Adelphi this Wednesday before playing at Brown on October 11.
"We're more familiar with each other as players. We've worked hard and I think that, yes, we're absolutely ready to make a run at the league."
If the Tigers could pull that off, it would go a long way in helping Tripicchio
put the bad memories of 2002 behind him.
