Tonight, the Princeton Tigers take on the No.1 field hockey team in the nation, the University of Maryland Terrapins, in a game that could very well reshape the current standings of the league.

To be perfectly honest, Princeton’s current record is impressive. With nine wins and only one loss overall, the Tigers are sure to give the Terrapins, who are eleven and two, some serious competition.

However, there are still doubts that the Ivy League team can pull off a coup d’etat tonight.

Since Princeton’s last game was on October 5th against the Providence Friars, many fear that this long break will leave the Tigers unprepared for the match.

The Daily Princetonian reports:

Unfortunately for Princeton, the Terrapins feature a potent offense. Back Susie Rowe leads Maryland with an astonishing 17 goals and 42 points overall, with O’Donnell a close second with 38 points.

The Tigers understand what a victory over the top-ranked team would mean in terms of the playoffs. With a win, Princeton would all but guarantee itself a spot in the top 10 and would likely receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Last season, UMass defeated the Tigers in a tournament play-in game.

Good luck, Princetonians. Don’t choke again, because there’s a lot riding on this one.

If the Tigers can eke out a victory, they could very well land in the NCAA tournament, proving once and for all that Ivy League teams are capable of going toe-to-toe with the country’s best.