The Princeton University women’s soccer team (2-1-0) is preparing for their biggest week of the season so far.
Princeton has high expectations for the season as they were picked first in the Ivy League preseason poll. In 2025, Princeton won their second straight Ivy League championship.
On Thursday, September 3, the Tigers will be in Columbus, Ohio, where they will face their first top-10 United Soccer Coaches ranked opponent, No. 8 Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, September 6, they return home to Roberts Stadium to face Rutgers University (0-1-3) at 5 p.m.
Let’s learn more about the opponents they will face later this week.
Ohio State
Ohio State comes into Thursday’s game against Princeton on a two-game winning streak, which includes a win over No. 12 Kansas. Since Princeton Head Coach Sean Driscoll took over in 2015, the Tigers are 3-8-2 against top-10 opponents.
Buckeyes forward Amanda Schlueter, defender Ava Bramblett and midfielder Ava Greco were named players to watch in the Big Ten conference. The Buckeyes were picked fifth in the Big Ten preseason poll. Their No. 8 ranking is the highest they have had since 2023.
Ohio State won the only previous meeting between the two teams, defeating Princeton 4-1 at Roberts Stadium last season. Junior forward Alexandra Barry scored Princeton’s only goal in that game. Sophomore forward/midfielder Aubrey Crisostomo earned her first career point with an assist on the goal, and sophomore forward Nina Cantor also picked up an assist.
Rutgers
Last year, the Scarlet Knights failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011, and they brought seven freshmen into the program to help them bounce back. Freshman forward Lilia Calvert has led the way among the Rutgers freshmen with one assist and 311 minutes this season.
Rutgers’ senior forward Ashley Baran, senior goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer and junior midfielder Gabriela Gil were named Big Ten Players to Watch prior to the season. Rutgers were picked 15th in the Big Ten preseason poll.
Rutgers leads the all-time series with Princeton 18-11-6, but the Tigers’ 4-3 upset win over No.9 Rutgers in 2021 remains a source of pride for the Princeton program under Coach Driscoll. In their last five meetings, Princeton has gone 1-1-3 against their in-state rivals, dating back to 2021.
Princeton’s Players to Watch
Senior forward Isabella Garces has led the way for Princeton this season on offense. She has three of her team’s five goals this season, and leads the team with six points.
Dylan Jovanovic has chipped in a goal and an assist, which makes her second on the team with three points, while Kayla Wong has a team-best three assists and three points.
Maddie Recupero has also found the back of the net this season once, while Stella Monberg, Anna Chau, and Mariana Gomez each have one assist.
Princeton’s defense and goalkeeping has been strong so far this season. Coach Driscoll has given goalkeepers Cecilia Cerone and Sydney Romano equal playing time, and the results have been good. The platoon has posted two shutouts in their first three games. The team is off to a 2-1-0 start to 2026.
Princeton Can Make an Early Statement
Princeton can make an early statement that they can hang with the ranked opponents in the non-conference part of their schedule with a win or draw at Ohio State. Then, Sunday’s game will be no cakewalk against a hungry Rutgers side that will be well-rested. It’s a big week for Driscoll and his Tigers because they can make a statement to the rest of their opponents that 2026 will be a different year against conferences like the Big Ten and Big East. Last season, Princeton women’s soccer finished 3-4-3 against out-of-conference opponents.
