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Princeton University Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Faces Virginia In National Championship Game
May 17, 2003 | Women's Lacrosse
May 17, 2003
Syracuse, N.Y. - The Princeton women's lacrosse team handed out t-shirts before the season started that read "2003 Princeton Lacrosse - Different Team, Same Dream." The Tigers are one win away from realizing that dream and back-to-back national championships. Princeton plays Virginia in the 2003 NCAA Championship Game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University.
The Tigers bring a 15-4 overall record to the table against the No. 3 seed Cavaliers. Virginia is 17-4 this season and handed Princeton it's worst defeat of the year back on March 16 in Charlottesville. The Tigers are a different team and are riding an eight-game win streak into the NCAA Final.
Both teams bring championship game experience to the table and the winner will have a third national title to its credit. The Tigers advanced with a win over top-seeded Loyola while Virginia advanced with a 9-8 win over No. 2 seed Maryland.
Junior Theresa Sherry leads the Tigers in scoring this season with 49 points, senior Whitney Miller is second with 48 total points. Sophomore Elizabeth Pillion, who scored two goals in Princeton's 5-3 win over Loyola has 43 points and leads the team in draw controls (40) and game-winning goals (4). The Tiger defense is anchored by Ivy League Player of the Year Rachael Becker, who has 55 caused turnovers this season. Princeton has allowed an average of four goals-per-game during this postseason, far better than any other team.
Sunday's game will be televised live on Empire Sports and re-broadcast on CSTV. The game can also be heard live on WBUD AM 1260 and Online at www.GoPrincetonTigers.com.
Championship Notes
This One's For All The Marbles - Princeton and Virginia meet in the NCAA championship game for the second time in tournament history. The two teams met in 1993 and the Cavaliers won 8-6 in overtime at College Park
Back-to-Back - Princeton looks to become only the second program to ever win back-to-back NCAA titles. Maryland won seven straight between Princeton's two titles (1994 and 2002).
Three Cheers For The Winner - The winner of Sunday's championship game will become only the second program to win three NCAA titles. Maryland is obviously the other program.
Final Comfort - Princeton is playing in its third NCAA Final in four seasons. The Tigers have played in nine previous NCAA final rounds. Virginia is also playing in its 10th final round as a program and the two teams are only behind Maryland in most final round appearances. The Terrapins have been in 15 title games.
Streaking - The Tigers have the nation's longest current win streak at eight games. They also have a seven-game NCAA tournament win streak. Only Maryland has had a longer tournament win streak when it won 21 straight from 1995-2001.
Getting By In Syracuse - Princeton and Virginia won by a combined three goals in the NCAA Semifinals on Friday night. The Tigers defeated Loyola 5-3 while the Cavs beat Maryland 9-8.
Getting By With Five - The last time Princeton won a game with five goals was its 1995 defeat of Virginia. The Tigers won 5-4 in Charlottesville that year.
Getting By The Greyhounds - No.1 seed Loyola finished the year with a 17-2 overall record. It's two losses came the two teams playing in Sunday's championship game (Princeton and Virginia).
Getting Even - Last season, Princeton avenged it's only loss of the year with a 12-7 win over Georgetown in the national championship game. This year the Tigers have four losses and avenged it's first loss of the year with a 5-3 win over Loyola in the Semifinal. The Tigers second loss of the year came to Virginia and they look to get even.
Cavs After Hounds - Princeton played Loyola and Virginia in back-to-back games earlier this season. The Tigers lost both and started the season at 1-2.
Princeton and Virginia Round One - The first time these two teams met this year, Virginia handed Princeton's its worst defeat of the year. Whitney Miller scored three goals for Princeton and Sarah Kolodner registered 11 saves but the Cavaliers won 13-9 behind three goals apiece from Amy Appelt, Lauren Aumiller and Cary Chasney.
Pillion For Two - Sophomore Elizabeth Pillion, who scored a team-high two goal for Princeton in the NCAA Semifinal vs. Loyola on Friday night, has now scored in 11 straight contests and has had nine multiple-goal games during that stretch.
Kolodner in Charge - Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Kolodner has now won all seven of her postseason games in goal. She is 33-4 as a starter in her two years at Princeton.
Fiore's Fire - Senior Alex Fiore, who had seven ground balls in Princeton's win over Loyola, has a team-high 82 ground balls this season. To put that in perspective: Lauren Simone led the national champion Princeton Tigers with 57 ground balls last season.
Becker's Point - Senior Rachael Becker, who is Princeton's defensive leader, registered an assist against Loyola to give her five points this season. The Tiger are 4-0 when Becker scores a point this year.