Field Hockey wraps up sour year on sour note

When the Penn field hockey team traveled to Princeton to meet the Ivy League-leading Tigers on Friday, it was clearly a clash between the ultimate underdog and the obvious favorite. The Quakers headed into the game 3-13 overall and 0-6 in Ancient Eight play. The Tigers, on the other hand, had a 13-3 overall record and were looking to maintain their undefeated Ivy mark. Both teams were playing for pride -- but under opposite circumstances. The Red and Blue were looking to end their frustrating season on an optimistic note, while the Tigers were just out to prove how ready they are to make a run at the national championship. And despite the Quakers' 9-0 loss, both teams may have gotten some of what they wanted. "Our team really put together some great plays, and the final score didn't reflect the effort we made," senior Lauren Cornew said. "It was disappointing to lose to Princeton and to lose by a large margin, but I am proud of our effort." The Tigers struck quickly for their first goal of the game two and a half minutes into the first half, and never looked back. Four members of Princeton's squad found the back of the net twice. And while the statistics of the game were rather lopsided -- with the Tigers outshooting Penn 42-2 and earning 14 penalty corners to the Quakers' two -- the Red and Blue were still able to take something positive from the game. "If you were there watching the game, you would know that it didn't feel like they had a big lead. We played hard, and the score just isn't indicative of the way that we played," junior Nikki Battiste said. Now with 10 Ivy League titles, including their current streak of seven consecutive crowns, the Tigers have established a field hockey dynasty at Old Nassau, setting the standard for the rest of the league. The Quakers are second all-time in Ivy League championships with seven, most recently winning in the title in 1993. Although Penn is in the cellar of the Ancient Eight this year, the Red and Blue envision themselves back on top in the coming seasons. From the very beginning of this season, Penn was labeled youthful and inexperienced. However, after a season marred by bad breaks and the resulting frustration, the Quakers are ready to utilize their experience -- the good along with the bad -- to return to the glory of old. "We realized that we need to put together our skills and talent on the field. We definitely have the potential to play better next season," Battiste said. The Quakers will lose two seniors to graduation, co-captain Amna Nawaz and Cornew. And although they will surely be missed for their leadership capabilities both on the field and in the locker room, a host of young, talented and battle-hardened veterans will return to the squad to try to push the Quakers past the bad luck of the past two seasons. Earlier this season, Nawaz indicated what she thought of the future of the field hockey program in the next few seasons. "I'm very excited to see where this program is headed in the next couple seasons," Nawaz said. "I'm very excited with the progress made this year and that they will continue to make over the coming years." With plenty of experience, the Quakers will look to rebound next year to make good on their early-season motto, "Prove it."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.