STANDING TALL: Princeton University field hockey goalie Olivia Caponiti (No. 35) guards the cage in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, junior star Caponiti made one save to help second-seeded Princeton edge top-seeded Harvard 2-1 in the final of the Ivy League Tournament. The Tigers, now 15-3 overall, will start play in the NCAA tournament where it is seeded second and will host a second round contest on November 14 between the winner of the Fairfield/Boston University first round matchup with the victor advancing to the quarterfinal round on November 16. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

By Justin Feil

Olivia Caponiti and the Princeton University field hockey team had been looking forward to a chance at a rematch with Harvard.

A 3-1 loss on September 26 had left the Tigers 4-3 overall, but then they started to roll. Princeton’s 11th straight win since then came when the second-seeded Tigers posted a tense 2-1 victory over the host and No. 1 seed Crimson last Sunday when the teams met in the Ivy League Tournament final.

“Everyone is so, so happy,” said Caponiti, the Tiger goalie who made one save in the win. “I think it was a great game, and I think we all knew that we could do it, and we really bought in this time, and we kind of leaned on the fact that last time we played them it wasn’t our best game, and we’ve improved every single game. I think we were confident, and we went out there and did it, and everyone’s super happy and excited.”

Pru Lindsey gave Princeton an early 1-0 lead on a penalty stroke, but Harvard tied it 10 minutes later, three minutes before halftime. After the half, it was four-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Beth Yeager who scored on a penalty corner six minutes into the third quarter and Caponiti and the Tigers defense would not allow another goal to give Princeton its first Ivy tournament title.

“We focused on ourselves and how we’ve gotten better kind of throughout the entire season and we were just confident in ourselves and we wanted that title to kind of show all of our hard work and all the time we put into it,” said Caponiti. “And I think we just wanted to do it as a team, no matter who we were playing against. But, of course, it makes it a little sweeter that we beat them.”

Harvard had won the previous two Ivy tournament titles — both over Princeton — and they came into the tournament championship unbeaten this season. It’s the second time Princeton has defeated a highly touted undefeated team, handing defending national champion and then-No. 1 Northwestern its first loss on October 13.

“I think we’ve been looking forward to having potentially this opportunity to play Harvard again since the first matchup,” said Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente. “Since last game, we’ve really been on the climb and really turned a corner, and it’s just been building game by game, and getting better, so I just think getting a chance to come on and have a redo on this, and having it in the Ivy League championship tournament final, it’s great.”

The championship win, combined with their streaking and body of work, earned Princeton the No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The 15-3 Tigers will host the winner of the first round matchup between Fairfield/Boston University in a second round contest at Bedford Field on Friday. The victor will advance to the quarterfinal round on Sunday at Bedford. The Tigers are one of three Ivy teams in the NCAA tournament, along with Harvard and Yale, the latter whom Princeton defeated, 3-0, in the Ivy tournament semifinals. Princeton, which fell to No. 1 seed North Carolina, 3-2, in the second game of the season, is looking for its first national championship since 2012.

“The focus just needs to be going back to just what we’ve been doing during the week, not the same preparation, but the same routine, focusing on our preparation, and just being really intentional with that,” said Tagliente. “It’s not the time of the year to drift away from the core of what makes us great. We’ll just keep refining and, just keep on the path that we’re on right now.”

Princeton has relied on its emerging balance. It hasn’t just been Yeager, though she’s been great in big spots like scoring the game-winner. Caponiti has seen that sort of play from Yeager since they were teammates at Sacred Heart Greenwich in Connecticut.

“I’m so happy for her,” said Caponiti, a 6’0 native of Rye, N.Y. “Beth is an insane player. She amazes me every day. And it’s really cool because we basically grew up together. We went to the same middle school and high school and crossed over for I think it was two years in high school. And I think having that relationship and seeing her grow as a player throughout her entire time has been insane. I’m just so happy for her. And I can’t wait to see all that she does in the tournament.”

Ella Cashman and Clem Houlden were also first-team All-Ivy League selections while Caponiti, Ottilie Sykes and Caitlin Thompson were all selected to the All-Ivy second team. Cashman, Lindsey and Sykes joined Yeager on the Ivy All-Tournament team.

“We’ve got a lot of great players,” said Tagliente. “Beth’s just a dominant player. She’s hard to stop, but if you over focus on her, we have enough players that will really make you pay for that. And that’s the difference with us and a lot of teams.

We’re not a very individual team. Like if you scout us, we’re not going to be on the dribble a lot. It’s just really a lot of connections and it’s very hard to play against when and defend when the ball movement is just so quick.”

Defensively, the Tigers have tried to make things easier for Caponiti by allowing fewer shots. They held Harvard to two shots in the Ivy final, and their play will be a key to Princeton’s national championship chances.

“Defense is a huge focus of ours and definitely a huge strength,” said Caponiti. “The defense has limited a lot of shots this season and I think that’s super important. We kind of say the best offense is a good defense and it starts from behind. And I think that’s definitely something we focus on, but we kind of all do it together and trust each other and know that if the forwards are playing defense and they don’t get it, then there’s the next line, and the next line, and the next line. And I think we really work as a team and communicate and I think it’s been super strong and will continue to be.”

Caponiti is the final line of defense. The biggest question mark coming into the season was how Princeton would replace a four-year starter Robyn Thompson in goal. Caponiti has given the Tigers confidence since taking over full time the second weekend of the year.

“It’s been so fun,” said Caponiti, who has posted a goals against average of 0.83 and a save percentage of 0.725 this season. “I think the past few years, I’ve kind of been getting to improve in every practice and kind of working up and towards this moment where I was kind of the one to be on the field. But I think everyday practice, I’ve just been focusing on getting better. And my teammates are awesome. And my defense is insane so I just have a lot of trust in them.”

Tagliente has been impressed by the way Caponiti grabbed the starting role. She quickly established herself and gave the team a lift.

“The opening weekend we split on, and then there just was a general vibe from her that she wanted this,” said Tagliente. “She believed in herself. It didn’t matter if I believed in her yet or what I thought honestly. They were still kind of neck and neck, but I think it was just overall her belief and her passion that I want it, and then it instills trust in us. And then she has backed it up all year. Good for her because I think this was not easy shoes to fill.”

Solidifying that spot enabled Princeton to focus on its development end to end. The Tigers have been a picture of growth through the season, starting slow and then producing a long winning streak that now includes an Ivy tournament title is proof they are reaching new levels each week. Princeton is hoping that continues in the NCAA tournament as they keep the focus on improving each aspect of their game.

“We’ve been continuing to grow and get better in different areas,” said Tagliente. “And you want to peak later in the field. I don’t really even think we’ve peaked. We’re still in a flow of continuing to kind of push this forward. And I don’t know if there is really a peak for this team. And I don’t know if we need to hit one, but it’s more about just continuing that trajectory that we’re headed in.”