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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Star-Studded Princeton Women's Soccer Ready For Opening Test with Texas A&M
By Bill Alden
It's hard to look at the 2004 Princeton University women's soccer team and not see a juggernaut in the making.
The Tigers entered preseason practice last week boasting a core of 10 seasoned seniors, featuring prolific forward Esmeralda Negron, the 2003 Ivy League Player of the Year who spent this summer helping the U.S. Under-21 women's team win the Nordic Cup.
In addition to Negron, Princeton welcomes back first-team All Ivy performers in junior midfielder Emily Behncke and senior defender Rochelle Willis and second-team All-Ivy choices in senior defender Janine Willis and junior forward Maura Gallagher.
The team comes into the fall with a special hunger, feeling that its 11-3-3 mark last year was a disappointment particularly since it placed second in the Ivy League, thereby failing to win the title for the first time since 1999.
This summer, Princeton got some extra time together as it traveled to Germany where on the field it faced four German pro teams and off the field it solidified the already deep bonds existing between its veterans.
While Tiger head coach Julie Shackford utilizes the standard superstition of those in her profession, even she admits that this fall could turn into something special.
"I don't want to jinx us but on paper this is the strongest group we've had," said Shackford, who brings an overall 98-49-10 mark into the tenth year of her tenure at Princeton and has guided the Tigers to five straight NCAA appearances.
"I don't think I've ever had 10 seniors on one team. We have a lot of good, experienced players. They are hungry after coming in second in the league last year. We have all the ingredients for a good season."
A lot of other observers around the country apparently agree with Shackford's assessment as Princeton is ranked 27th nationally in the Soccer Buzz magazine preseason poll. The Tigers will get a chance to move up the charts this Friday when they host fourth-ranked Texas A&M.
Shackford, however, knows that preseason rankings don't guarantee a great season. "You have to keep people healthy and finish your chances," said Shackford, in reflecting on her team's prospects. "We learned in Germany what we needed to work on. We made little adjustments defensively and worked on getting more numbers into the attack. You also need a little luck."
Princeton is very lucky to have Negron as the front person on its attack. Last season, the Harrington Park, N.J. native scored 13 goals, tying the program's single-season record, and she enters the fall with 27 career goals, 14 away from Princeton's all-time record.
"Es is a step ahead of everyone," said Shackford in assessing how Negron's U-21 stint has impacted her play. "She is harder, faster, and more tuned in. Nobody could stay with her in Germany although she did have some problems finishing her opportunities."
Shackford expects Negron to put away most of her chances once she hits the pitch this fall. "I think Es can get 15-20 goals this season," said Shackford, whose team returns the players who scored 34 of the team's 38 goals a year ago. "We're going to do what we can to help her break records. There will be very few games where she does not get scoring chances."
The Tigers should also get production up front from a trio of young players, sophomores Meghan Farrell and Amanda Ferranti and freshman Melissa Whitley.
"Farrell is not flashy but she is a good finisher," said Shackford of the Blue Bell, Pa. native who had three goals last year.
"Meghan doesn't need a lot of touches to score. Amanda didn't play much last year but she has really improved. Melissa can really fly."
The midfield will feature a mix of experience and precocious newcomer. "Behncke is going to score, she had more goals last year than any midfielder in the league," said Shackford, referring to the junior from Williamsburg, Va. who was Princeton's No. 2 goal scorer last fall with seven tallies.
"Gallagher and [senior] Tina Fontanez will play wide, they can score. Diana Matheson [a freshman from Oakville, Ontario who has played on the Canadian national team] can score but is also a good playmaker. She puts people in position to score."
Others who figure in Princeton's midfield mix include senior tri-captain Sylvia Morelli and junior Romy Trigg-Smith.
The back line is dominated by three Canadians, the Willis twins from Unionville Ontario and Brea Griffiths from Burlington, Ontario. The trio are four-year starters with Griffiths and Rochelle Willis serving as two of the team's tri-captains.
"They're beasts," said Shackford with a chuckle in assessing the Canadian trio's value to the team. "They work so well together, they've been playing back there for three years."
The defensive set-up should also include senior Elizabeth Pillion and sophomore Christina Constantino.
The biggest question mark for Shackford is her goalkeeper situation where juniors Madeline Jackson and Emily Vogelzang shared time last season.
"They played about the same as each other in Germany," said Shackford, who has another junior, Emily Bernard, in the goalie mix. "Maren Dale [a freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.] will see some action this fall."
Shackford believes her team is ready for the severe test it faces this Friday when it gets into action against powerful Texas A&M
"Why not challenge yourself before the Ivy season?," added Shackford. "It's better to play someone like this than somebody we can beat 4-0. The practices have been competitive, everybody is passionate. Its a special group."
And a group that clearly has a chance to produce a really special fall.
