With half of her college field hockey career still in front of her, Ally Evans has already accomplished more than most players could hope for in a four-year collegiate career.

The 2011 Emmaus graduate helped her team to a national title last year while making an All Ivy League team for the second straight year at Princeton University.

The junior striker heads into her third season hoping to continue the success she's enjoyed over her first two years.

"I'm definitely satisfied with my first two years," Evans said. "It's more than I ever could have asked for."

Evans left Emmaus as the state's all-time leading goal scorer with 158. She also holds the Emmaus single-season record of 55.

She made an immediate impact at Princeton.

Several Tiger players missed the 2011 season while playing with the national team, which allowed Evans to move into a starting spot and lead the team in goals in her first college season.

She scored 12 goals and assisted on five while earning the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and First Team All-League honors.

She took little time adjusting to the higher level of play in Division I.

"It didn't feel like that much of a transition because Emmaus has such a good program and plays such a long season," she said. "It was definitely an adjustment, but when I left high school I was ready for this phase of life."

When her teammates returned from the national team, Evans remained a starter. She played the front line with Princeton's all-time leading scorer, Kathleen Sharkey, who led the nation in scoring in 2010 and 2012.

Evans and her teammates knew in preseason that their team was as good as any in the nation. They won their first seven games, including a 5-2 season-opening victory over No. 5 ranked Duke. A midseason loss to No. 2 Syracuse would be their only loss of the year.

"That was a wake-up call," Evans said of the loss. "We knew then if we didn't play well, we could get beat. That was important for us."

Princeton won its first three NCAA playoff games by a combined score of 16-2, but needed overtime to beat Maryland 3-2 in the national semifinal.

The Tigers trailed No. 1 ranked North Carolina 2-1 in the NCAA title game before Evans' goal in the 56th minute tied the score. Less than three minutes later they scored the game-winner on a penalty stroke.

Evans finished the season with 12 goals (second on team), five assists, 29 points (second on team), 33 shots on goal (second on team) and three game-winning goals (second on team).

She earned a spot on the All Ivy League Second Team and was an All Region selection.

The national championship was the first in the history of the program. Evans looks forward to competing for another title or two over her final two seasons.

"I think another national title is something we would love to work for," she said.

With Sharkey and several other seniors graduated, Evans plans to take more of a leadership role on this year's team, especially on the front line.

"For me, a big goal is to be more vocal," Evans said. She feels that is part of her role as one of the team's most experienced players. "It's our responsibility to be leaders. It's our team."

The Tigers and their Ivy League counterparts won't begin practice until Friday, over a week later than most Division I teams. They open play September 6 with a home game against Duke.