BIG MAC: Princeton University women’s soccer player Heather MacNab, left, chases after the ball in recent action. Last Sunday, senior defender MacNab had two assists to help top-seeded Princeton defeat third-seeded Brown 2-0 in the Ivy League Tournament final. The Tigers, now 14-4, are headed to the NCAA tournament where they will play at Virginia (12-5) in a first round contest on November 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In early October, Princeton University women’s soccer player Heather MacNab left the field at Roberts Stadium on a cart after suffering a severe gash to her forehead in a scary collision with a Penn player.

As senior defender MacNab lay on the ground that night, she was already planning her return.

“What was on my mind was that we play Yale this weekend and I better be stitched up in time to come back,” said MacNab. “I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to but I was back the next weekend and that is all I could ask for.”

Last Sunday afternoon, MacNab flew across the pitch at Roberts Stadium, hugging her teammates after getting two assists and spearheading a stifling defensive effort to help Princeton defeat Brown 2-0 in the final of the Ivy League Tournament.

The Tigers, now 14-4, are headed to the NCAA tournament where they will play at Virginia (12-5) in a first round contest on November 15.

For MacNab, winning the tournament in her final home game left her with her indelible memory.

“Honestly I would not have wanted to do this in any other year or with any other group,” said MacNab, a 5’10 native of Indianapolis, Ind. “This team is so special from freshmen to seniors and all of the coaches. We just have such a love for one another and such a camaraderie. We believe in one another so much. I am without words.”

Having routed Brown 8-0 in a regular season meeting on October 5, the Tigers knew they were in for a scrap in the rematch.

“We definitely didn’t come in with the expectation that was going to be the case this time,” said MacNab. “We knew they had a chip on their shoulder against us. This is a really scary place to play and we knew that they were preparing well for that. At the end of the day, we have to protect our house so that is what was on our mind for 90 minutes.”

Weathering an early surge from the Bears, the Tigers started to find their rhythm as the first half went on.

“We knew the first five, 10 minutes they were really going to try to rattle us, play direct, and be physical,” said MacNab.“Once we got the ball on ground, there is no keeping up with us. There wasn’t a doubt in our mind that the ball was not going to go in the net.”

MacNab helped Princeton find the back of the net as she assisted on a goal by Drew Coomans with 11:27 left in the first half.

“Pietra [Tordin] pulled wide; when she has time and space on the ball she is unstoppable,” said MacNab. “I knew once she was driving on line, she was going to pick someone out in the box and the goal came from that.”

Early in the second half, MacNab picked up a second assist, lofting a corner kick that Lily Bryant banged home with 43:21 left in regulation.

“We work on corner kicks a lot, we work on set pieces at almost every single practice,” said MacNab. “The balls we played with today were a little bit lighter than the ones we usually play with so I knew it was going to be a little bit flighted. I saw her open at the back post and I was just hoping that it was going to get to her. She is a clinical finisher.”

At the defensive end, the Tigers thwarted the Bears, holding them to three shots on goal.

“We defend with all 11,” said MacNab. “Our front three is frightening in their press, our midfield is unbeatable and we have a really, really strong back four. There is lot of chemistry between us. Once you get past that four, we have the best goalkeeper (Tyler McCamey) in the nation.”

Having played all over the field for the Tigers in her career, MacNab has found a home on the back line this fall.

“I have come to become kind of a utility player on the team,” said MacNab, a first-team All-Ivy selection who now has two goals and eight assists this season. “I found my niche at left back this season. I get forward, I have a good vision of the field and more time on the ball so I think I have thrived there. I am excited to continue playing there.”

Princeton head coach Sean Driscoll believed that a goal was coming in the first half as Princeton got more and more possession of the ball.

“We had done enough to create chances,” said Driscoll. “I thought Brown did a really good job, their game plan was good. They gave us space in the wide areas. I thought our possession would hopefully break them down. It came out of kind of an odd play. I think we deserved it.”

Bryant’s goal gave the Tigers a cushion. “That certainly made life a lot easier for us, it takes a little bit of the pressure off,” said Driscoll. “I just thought it was a really compelling game with two different styles. They made it very difficult for us but I am proud of the kids for fighting through it.”

Driscoll was proud of how the Tigers played at the defensive end.

“We had another shutout, we defend really well as a group,” said Driscoll, whose team now has nine shutouts this season with a goals against average of 0.56. “That is what makes us an interesting team. We can win the game in a multitude of ways. We can lock down defensively, we can do really well in transition and we can also possess. We have a lot of pieces.”

The multi-talented MacNab has been a key piece for the Tigers.

“We talked to her halfway through the season about changing positions,” said Driscoll. “We moved her to left back and she made such a huge difference for us. I am really happy that she gets the attention that she does. Getting the assists is amazing but it is only part of what she does.”

Earning its first Ivy tournament title was a happy moment for Princeton who had gone 6-1 in league play this year to earn the regular season championship.

“We got knocked out last year so it meant a lot to us,” said Driscoll. “We are the first team to win both the regular season and the Ivy tournament. It has only been around for two years but it is nice to be the trailblazers, it is really awesome. It is a really good feeling to know that all of their hard work has paid off.”

In reflecting on the qualities that make this team special, Driscoll pointed to its special chemistry.

“I think it starts with the captains (MacNab and McCamey) and the seniors, it is a very kind group, they work very well together,” said Driscoll. “They care about each other and they are all such good players.”

With Princeton having topped Michigan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year before falling at Texas Tech on penalty kicks in a second round contest, Driscoll believes that experience will serve the Tigers well as they face Virginia.

“Fortunately we have been in the tournament in six of the last nine years,” said Driscoll. “We have had a lot of experience there. We played so well in Texas and it just didn’t happen. The result in the end didn’t work out but we played so well. We are looking forward to wherever our name is called.”

In MacNab’s view, the Tigers are in a good place as they make a return trip to the NCAAs.

“We played in maybe the most brutal environment last year at Texas Tech,” said MacNab. “We have a ton of experience now in that environment. I think we are more prepared than we have ever been going into the NCAA tournament.”