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Princeton University Athletics
Too Tough To Tame
May 21, 2000 | Women's Lacrosse
May 21, 2000
EWING, N.J. - Despite a three-goal performance from Lauren Simone (So., Delran, N.J.) and a 4-3 halftime lead, the Princeton women's lacrosse team came up on the short side of a 16-8 decision in the 2000 NCAA championship game to the University of Maryland, which won its six-consecutive national title, Sunday at Lions Stadium at the College of New Jersey.
The Tigers finish a spectacular season with a 15-4 overall record that included a 10-game winning streak earlier in the year. It was the first 15-win season for the Tigers since 1994, and the 231 goals tie the 1994 squad and the University record for goals in a season.
A free-position goal by Courtney Hobbs put the Terrapins on the board just 2:13 into the opening half. Princeton would reel off three unanswered goals over a four-minute span to take a 3-1 lead at the 17:37 mark. Simone opened the scoring for Princeton when she took a pass on the left side of the field, cut across the goal face and put home her 44th goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, Julie Shaner (Jr., Gwynedd Valley, Pa.) used her speed to beat several defenders and her shot, low and in the left corner, gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Kim Smith (So., Baltimore, Md.) gave Princeton the two-goal advantage on a low shot that sneaked between Maryland goalie Alex Kehoe and the right post. Maryland's Christie Jenkins and Allison Comito each scored free-position goals to knot the score at 3-3 with less than four minutes remaining in the half, but Shaner put the Tigers on top again with four ticks on the clock for a 4-3 lead at halftime.
Experience, from both upperclassman leadership and having been in a very familiar position, took over in the second half. A few defensive lapses allowed the Terrapins to score three quick goals and take a 6-4 lead only 3:33 into the second half. Charlotte Kenworthy (So., Frazier, Pa.) drew the Tigers within one on a goal at the 35:06 mark, but Maryland preceded to score four unanswered goals to take a 10-5 lead midway through the second half.
Off the draw, Kenworthy connected with Simone for her second score of the game and cut the deficit to four goals. Three goals by Allison Comito ignited a five-goal outburst by the Terrapins over a five-minute span for a 15-6 lead with less than eight minutes to play. In her final game as a Tiger, Hilary Maddox (Sr., Chestnut Hill, Mass.) took a pass from freshman Rachael Becker (Broomall, Pa.) and scored her 59th career goal, and the 21st this season, with 5:15 on the clock. Despite losing the game, Simone was determined to have the last word, punching in her third goal of the day with eight seconds remaining for the 16-8 final score.
Simone led the Tigers with three goals, while Kenworthy had one goal and two assists. Shaner scored twice, and Maddox and Smith each scored one time. Becker had one assist.
Shaner, Simone and Brooke Owens (So., Paoli, Pa.) were selected to the All-Tournament team.
Senior goalie Laura Field (Mystic, Conn.), who tallied seven saves on the day, ended her career with 449 career saves, fourth best total all-time at Princeton.