Big Game In Cambridge

Here's a stat that is somewhat impressive: Since the start of the 2017 season, the Princeton and Harvard field hockey teams are a combined 77-1 against the rest of the Ivy League. 

Even in the heyday of the Princeton-Penn men's basketball rivalry, they never dominated the other league teams to that extent. TigerBlog hasn't done the research, though he's willing to guess that there has never been another example of two teams in the league who have won 77 of 78 against everyone else at any stretch.

And if it did happen? Then at worst, the current Princeton-Harvard run is only one game off of that.

With that sort of league preeminence, it's not surprising to learn each Princeton-Harvard game is a big one. The next one in the series comes up Saturday in Cambridge, where the teams square off for a noon start. 

Princeton comes into the game at 4-0 in the league. Harvard comes into the game at 4-0 in the league. Princeton has outscored its four Ivy opponents 10-2. Harvard has outscored its four Ivy opponents 19-5.

What's at stake? 

The winner of the game will hold the tiebreaker for the top seed and the host role in the Ivy League tournament, which takes place Nov. 8-10. It would also be assured of at least a share of the league title with one win in it last two games and an outright league title with two wins. 

The last time neither Princeton nor Harvard had at least a share of the Ivy title? How about 1993?

Princeton is 8-4 overall, with losses to No. 1 Northwestern, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 11 Syracuse and No. 15 Penn State (those are RPI rankings). Of those four losses, Princeton had the lead against Northwestern and Penn State and was tied in the second half with both UNC and Syracuse. 

Harvard is 10-2, with losses to UMass and Northwestern. In fact, both Princeton and Harvard lost to Northwestern by a 3-2 score. The Wildcats have allowed a total of seven goals in 13 games, with four of those against the Tigers and Crimson and three in the other 11 combined. 

Princeton is led, of course, by U.S. Olympian Beth Yeager, who leads the Ivy League in goals, assists and points. Yeager reminds TB of another Princeton athlete from a different sport, one who like Yeager is all over the field.

Yeager is technically a midfielder, mostly because there is no position called "everywhere." Does that remind you of anyone else? How about Zach Currier, the men's lacrosse player?

They have much in common. They are both tireless. They can both be found on the offensive or defensive end of the field. They can both do anything their team needs them to do. They both make everyone else on the field with them better. 

And, they are both tenacious, pesky players. If they're on your team, you love them. If they're on your opponent's team, you hate them — but have to grudgingly admit your respect for them.

Princeton is not a one-woman show, of course.

Sophomore Ottilie Sykes is the current Ivy Defensive Player of the Week, after being the league Co-Rookie of the Year last year. There are six freshmen who play regularly. Ella Cashman makes her impact felt for pretty much all 60 minutes. Talia Schenck and Grace Schulze continue to create scoring opportunities.

Gracie McGowan is more than just a social media expert; she's also one of the Ivy League's best defenders. Goalie Robyn Thompson continues to move up the program career lists in wins and shutouts. 

Harvard's roster is also stocked from top to bottom. The game should be a great one. 

The Ivy League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament goes to the winner of the Ivy tournament. A year ago, which was the first year of the ILT, Harvard defeated Princeton 4-0 in the regular season and then 2-1 in the Ivy final on a goal with 34 seconds to play. 

Will this be the first meeting between the teams this season? Will they meet again in the Ivy final next month? 

The game Saturday will be the first chance for these two to make their statement for 2024.