In First Game at New Soccer Stadium, Tigers Trounce Dartmouth

Not 10 minutes from the sound of the kick-off whistle, rookie forward Pietra Tordin ’26 received the ball on left wing, dribbled her way toward the opposing goal, and slotted home a low left-footed finish — the first goal scored in Princeton’s new Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. 

Battling wind and rain brought to New Jersey by the remnants of Hurricane Ian, a few hearty spectators ventured out to watch the Tigers square off with Dartmouth. The sparse crowd included a strong contingent from the Princeton men’s team, which would have its first game at the field six days later. Tigers freshman midfielder Jack Hunt ’26 said it was “great to watch the game with my team in the new stadium. The rain kind of complicated things, but it was great to watch the Tigers win.” 

The 2-0 victory marked the official opening of the field, which replaced the old Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium that was torn down to accommodate the construction of Princeton’s new residential colleges, Yeh and New College West. Located on the eastern edge of campus, near newly-renovated Clarke Field (home to Princeton baseball) and Strubing Field (home to Princeton softball), the stadium and field are named for Thomas S. Roberts ’85, a former Princeton goalkeeper and the lead donor behind the construction of the original Roberts Stadium (in which Princeton soccer played from 2008-2019), and Robert H. Myslik ’90, a former player and assistant with the program. 

Construction was completed over the past two years as part of a significant slate of building and renovation projects in the southern and eastern parts of campus. Both the men’s and women’s teams played their home games at Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium while their permanent home was being built. An athletics department spokesman did not return emails seeking additional information about the project, including the cost.

Head coach Sean Driscoll said he appreciates the University’s commitment to its athletics programs, saying the new stadium “is a symbol of what athletics mean to Princeton University,” and that he was “blown away by the environment, the facility, the setting.” The women’s team had not even practiced at the new field until just before their first game, Driscoll said, and when the team walked in for the first time, “No one wanted to leave. When we first got out there, everyone was in awe.”

Driscoll said there are a lot of little things that set the stadium apart, from the fact that it is enclosed on all sides to how, unlike Sherrerd, Myslik is all grass with soccer lines only. It can hold more than 2,000 spectators. Driscoll called it a “captivating place — everyone who walks in has that same kind of jaw-dropping experience.” 

As for the game itself, the Tigers continued to pepper the opposing goal for 80 minutes following Tordin’s opening goal, outshooting Dartmouth 25-7 and forcing Big Green goalkeeper Charlotte Cyr into 10 saves. The Tigers finally doubled their advantage just over two minutes from full time, through sophomore Heather MacNab ’25, who rattled in the second goal following a scramble at the edge of the box and touches from Tordin and Lily Bryant ’25. 

Driscoll said that opening day was not tainted by the conditions, reflecting on the experience as “all really, really positive. Rain was what it was, it didn’t affect us in any other way, especially because everyone was so excited.” With the end of Ivy League season nearing, the Tigers will have the chance to put any newfound home-field advantage to test as they search for an 11th Ivy League title.