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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Ohio State (NCAA Quarterfinal)
Next Stop: Final Four
May 11, 2003 | Women's Lacrosse
May 11, 2003
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Eight unanswered Tiger goals broke open a one-point game and Princeton cruised to a 17-8 victory over Ohio State in the NCAA Quarterfinals at Class of 1952 Stadium on Sunday. The Tigers advance to the Final Four and face No. 1 seed Loyola on Friday.
The game was very tight with three lead changes and four ties in the opening 12 minutes. Junior Theresa Sherry score first for the Tigers and after relinquishing a 1-0 lead, sophomore Lindsey Biles scored back-to-back goals to give Princeton the lead once again. The Buckeyes battled back to tie the score and after Mary Beth Hogan gave Princeton its third lead of the day, Ashley Evans scored two straight to give OSU a one-point lead. "We knew they were going to come out strong," says Princeton tri-captain Whitney Miller. "I felt like we were prepared to handle what they threw at us, it was just a matter of executing."
Down by one, senior Rachael Becker took the ball into the offensive zone and dished to Leigh Slonaker for the game-tying goal. Sherry scored the next two and the Tigers were up 7-5. The Buckeyes didn't go away and with Regina Oliver's second goal of the game, it was only a one-point margin with 4:28 remaining in the first period.
The Tigers received a little breathing room when sophomore Elizabeth Pillion knocked in two goals in the final 32 seconds of the half. Pillion came back with her third straight goal to open the second period and Princeton led 10-6.
The Tigers kept scoring with Miller, Biles, Sherry and Alex Fiore all hitting the cage for Princeton. An 8-0 run resulted in a commanding 15-6 advantage for the Orange and Black with 15 minutes left in regulation.
"We are playing so well as a team," says Biles. "Everyone is contributing so much and I think that is the biggest reason for our success today and this season."
The Buckeyes mustered two straight goals to make it 15-8 before Princeton put the game away with two goals of its own. Sherry led the way with five goals, Biles scored four and Pillion finished with three on the day. Becker had two assists and led the defense with four caused turnovers.
Princeton advances to the Final Four for the fourth straight season. It is the only team to make the NCAA Semifinal round each of the last four years and it faces Loyola on Friday night at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
"I'm excited to play Loyola," says Becker. "We played them in our second game of the year and lost in double overtime. I'm looking forward to playing them again."
The Tigers dropped that early season meeting 9-8. The Greyhounds finished the year ranked No. 1 in the national polls and received the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament. They defeated Yale 13-7 in today's Quarterfinal game.
"It's great to be back in the Final Four," says Princeton head coach Chris Sailer. "We lost a lot of key scorers from last season's national championship team and we asked for people to step up all year-they did. It really says a lot about this senior class to be here all four years."
Friday's Semifinal game is at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, call the Syracuse box office at 1-888-369-3849 or 315-443-2121.