Coming into the 2023 campaign, the Princeton Tigers women's soccer team was looking to largely improve from a 2022 season that saw them go a mere 9-7-1 overall, and under .500 in conference play with a 2-4-1 record. The preseason polls saw them ranked fourth in the Ivy League conference, but the Tigers knew they had more to them and were ready to show it.
The Tigers started off opening play on a high note, having two games in three nights and putting forth amazing performances in both games earning a 3-0 win over Monmouth and 5-0 win over LaSalle giving Princeton fans ample confidence for the upcoming season. As non-conference play continued, the Tigers didn’t falter going 1-1-1 over their next 3 games, losing to a talented #6 Penn State and tying with a well respected Rutgers team.
Going into their last two games of non-conference play, the Tigers were still being overlooked, but had a chance to flip the narrative when they matched up against #10 Georgetown. The Tigers pounced on this opportunity managing to get the game winning goal in the final minutes after a strong push from Georgetown coming back down 2-0. Riding off of this momentum, Princeton dominated in their final game before conference play, taking down Quinnipiac 4-2.
Their stellar performance in these final two games earned them their first United Soccer Coaches Top 25 spot since 2021, coming in at No. 14, their highest ranking since 2018. While many were surprised the Tigers fell in the top 15, their play as of recent makes their spot well deserved. The Tigers pulled together a full team effort to earn their 5-1-1 record, but one player shined through for Princeton.
Todrin Leading Princeton
Sophomore Pietra Tordin, who was awarded the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award, has already gone above and beyond from her freshman season. In just seven games played this season, Tordin has scored nine goals, already going above her season total from last season, and notching three assists, tying her total for last season as well. In Princeton’s 4-3 win against Army, Tordin scored all four goals allowing the Tigers to come away with the win after a back and forth battle.
She’s been dominant for Princeton, earning a list of honors already by being named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week twice, earning a spot on one of Top Drawer’s nationwide Team of the Week and selected as the top United Soccer Coaches Division 1 women’s soccer player during the week of September 6.
Tordin doesn’t seem to be slowing down either, and will look to continue being a dominant force as conference play begins.
The Tigers are looking to only go up from this point as they can surely make some noise in Ivy League play which starts Friday, September 22, when they host Cornell in Princeton.
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