.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
UCLA (NCAA Semifinals)
Princeton Falls To UCLA In NCAA Semifinals
December 03, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Dec. 3, 2004
Final Stats
Cary, N.C. - It's hard to call it a magical season, because magical implies trickery and deception and there was none of that. It's hard to call it a dream season, because a dream has connotations of the unattainable.
Instead, the 2004 Princeton women's soccer season was very real and very legitimate, and when it ended Friday afternoon one game short of the final prize, it immediately took its place as one of the great accomplishments in Princeton athletic history.
Princeton's bid for an NCAA women's soccer championship ended Friday afternoon with a 2-0 loss to UCLA in front of an overflow crowd at the 7,000-seat SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. UCLA, the 14th seed, scored twice after intermission to advance to the championship game Sunday against the winner of the second semifinal between Notre Dame and Santa Clara. Princeton, the seventh-seed, ended its season as the first Ivy League school to reach the Final Four of a 64-team NCAA tournament and the first Ivy League women's soccer team to reach the Final Four. Along the way, Princeton spent most of the year in the national Top 10 and won more games than any Ivy women's soccer team ever before.
"Despite the fact that we lost, I feel like we had a great season as a team," said Princeton defender Elizabeth Pillion. "No matter what, we are always going to remember the fun we had and how hard we played together and how much chemistry we had. We played some brilliant soccer together, and although that obviously didn't happen today, we are still going to remember the good times."
The Princeton-UCLA matchup had several subplots, including the matchup of Princeton coach Julie Shackford and her best friend, UCLA coach Jill Ellis. Shackford and Ellis won a club national championship together in 1984 and were college teammates together at William & Mary.
"Julie is my dearest friend, and we're both super competitive, but that's why we are in the position that we are," Ellis said. "We realize taht one of us had to walk away withtout the result we wanted. Our hat goes off to Princeton. I thought they were a tremendous team, one of the best we played this year."
UCLA controlled the play in the first half and had several good scoring opportunities, but the first 45 minutes ended 0-0. Princeton, who had outshot its first four NCAA tournament opponents 89-19, did not manage a shot in the first half, while UCLA had five. Tiger goalkeeper Madeleine Jackson made two first-half saves and was able to come out of the net to cut off many other chances.
"Their defenders overall were very athletic and quick," said Princeton midfielder Diana Matheson. "They closed down space and marked up tight, and it was hard to get through."
It took the Bruins 2:44 after intermission to break through, as Iris Mora led Danesha Adams with a perfect pass, and Adams drilled a low shot past Jackson for the first score. The Bruins then doubled their lead when Bristyn Davis hammered in a long shot with 25:35 remaining.
Princeton had a few chances and took three second half shots, but the Tigers could not get the ball in the net.
"They did a great job of stopping our special players," said Shackford. "They were the better team today. I thought we were a little tight, and I think part of that was not having been in this environment before."
Princeton was in its first Final Four; the other three teams combined had 17 Final Four appearances.
Still, Princeton's season was extraordinary, beginning with an 11-day trip to Germany in August. The Tigers went 19-3 and 7-0-0 in the Ivy League, outscoring its league opponents 24-3 en route to the first perfect league season in program history. They set 21 school records, including most goals in a season with 58.
Princeton defeated Central Connecticut, Villanova, Boston College and Washington to reach the Final Four. Along the way, Princeton drew huge crowds to Lourie-Love Field and established that it was a team that could compete with any in the nation.
"This program has come leaps and bounds," said senior defender Brea Griffiths. "Just to go to the tournament and hope to win a game was the goal. This year, we expected to go and keep winning."
Griffiths is one of 10 seniors who graduate, a group that includes two-time Ivy Player of the Year Esmeralda Negron, who finished her career as the Tigers all-time leader in goals in a career, points in a career, goals in a season, points in a season and assists in a season. Four-year starters Griffiths and Janine Willis also graduate, as do veterans such as Pillion, Kristina Fontanez, Rochelle Willis, Catherine Byrd and Sylvia Morelli.
The Tigers will return Matheson, the Ivy Rookie of the Year, as well as fellow first-team All-Ivy selections Romy Trigg-Smith and Emily Behncke. Maura Gallagher and Maija Garnaas will be seniors next year, as will goakeepers Jackson and Emily Vogelzang.
"I don't know if the goal at Princeton every year can be the Final Four," Shackford said. "Having the experience of being here should help our program and the kids coming back. Our team had a phenomenal season. I think the accomplishments they achieved can't be underestimated at a place like Princeton where academics come first and there are no scholarships. I laud our seniors for what they've done together. It's been a great season, one we'll cherish forever."
UCLA (18-6) 0-2 -- 2 Princeton (19-3) 0-0 -- 0
scoring UCLA: Danesha Adams (Iris Mora) 47:44, UCLA Bristyn Davis 64:25.
Shots UCLA 9, Princeton 3
Saves UCLA Valerie Henderson 0, Princeton Madeleine Jackson 4