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Princeton University Athletics
No. 1 Women's Lacrosse Hosts Colgate in NCAA First Round
May 12, 2004 | Women's Lacrosse
May 12, 2004
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The Princeton women's lacrosse team has been simply dominant in the NCAA first round since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2001, a trend the Tigers hope to continue Thursday when they host Patriot League champion Colgate at 7 p.m. at Class of 1952 Stadium (GoPrincetonTigers.com, WHWH-AM 1350).
In a 2001 win over Cornell and wins the past two seasons against Le Moyne, Princeton has outscored its opponents 58-8 in the first round, including a then-NCAA record 25 goals against Le Moyne in 2002 and a near shutout of the Dolphins (19-1) last season on the way to a second straight national title. The Tigers handled the Big Red easily, 14-4, in the 2001 first round.
Maybe the only thing uncertain about the 2004 Tigers, the only team in women's or men's Division I lacrosse to finish the regular season undefeated, is whether Princeton's 11 days of rest between games will have any effect. Colgate, which won the Patriot League title two weekends ago, did play this past weekend, falling to Cornell to end the regular season.
The teams have played just once before, a 12-7 Colgate win in 1986, the year before Chris Sailer became Princeton's head coach. The Tigers have now made 13 NCAA appearances in Sailer's 18 seasons as coach, while the Raiders are making their first NCAA appearance.
The winner of the Princeton-Colgate game faces the winner of the New Hampshire-Dartmouth game in the quarterfinal round Sunday afternoon. The complete NCAA tournament bracket can be accessed above.
Today's Note of the Day
Let's Go First? Princeton has outscored its opponents 58-8 in three first-round games since the NCAA tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2001.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
Top of the Charts ? Princeton is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time. The Tigers won the national title as the No. 2 seed in 2002 and as an unseeded team last season.
Top of the Charts II ? Princeton was the only Division I women's or men's lacrosse team to finish the regular season without a loss.
Top of the Charts III? Princeton was the No. 1-ranked team in the IWLCA poll in all 12 polls this season. The Tigers were the unanimous No. 1 team the last nine weeks of the season.
Top of the Charts IV ? Princeton is the top-ranked team in NCAA Division I in scoring defense. The Tigers allowed just 99 goals in 16 regular-season games (6.2 goals per game).
Top of the Charts V? Princeton had a 7-0 record against NCAA tournament teams this season, including wins against the teams seeded No. 2 (Virginia), No. 3 (Maryland) and No. 4 (Loyola).
More Notes & Anecdotes
Streak Fact 1? Princeton has won 25 consecutive games since losing at Yale on April 13, 2003. The 25-game winning streak is a program record.
Streak Fact 2 ? The Tigers have won 31 of their last 32 games dating back to last year and 51 of their last 56 games over the past three seasons.
Streak Fact 3 ? Princeton has won its last eight NCAA tournament games overall and its last 12 NCAA tournament games against teams other than Maryland.
Time Off for Good Play ? Princeton hasn't played since defeating Brown May 1. The Tigers had played three games in seven days before that.
What's in a Name? ? Brianne Tierney, the daughter of Princeton men's lacrosse coach Bill Tierney, is a sophomore attacker for the Raiders.
Long Time No See? Princeton and Colgate have played just once. The Raiders defeated the Tigers 12-7 in the first game of the 1986 season.
Youth vs. Experience ? Princeton has played in 14 of the 23 NCAA tournaments. Colgate is making its first NCAA tournament appearance.
Tewaaraton Tracker ? Princeton had three players among the 20 finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy?Theresa Sherry, Lindsey Biles and Elizabeth Pillion. No other school had more than two finalists.
Up the Charts ? Theresa Sherry is now third all-time at Princeton with 155 career goals and fifth all-time at Princeton with 190 career points.
Keeping Score ? Lindsey Biles needs nine goals in the NCAA tournament to break Cristi Samaras's single-season team record of 56 set in 1998.
40-40 Players ? Lindsey Biles and Theresa Sherry are the second Princeton pair in the last four seasons to score 40 goals in the same season. Lauren Simone and Kim Smith did it in 2000.
The Brick Wall ? Sarah Kolodner leads the nation in goals-against average (5.93). Kolodner is 50-4 in four seasons as a starter in goal for Princeton.
Versatility ? Elizabeth Pillion ranks first on the team in draw controls (41), second on the team in assists (14) and third on the team in goals (26).
Star Power ? Freshman Kathleen Miller had at least two goals in each of her first five games and has at least two goals in nine of Princeton's 16 games this year.
When She Shoots, She Scores ? Tara Hardiman's 17 goals this season have come on just 27 shots. Hardiman leads all Princeton regulars with a .630 shooting percentage.
Career Year ? Liza Hillenbrand has 14 goals her senior season after entering 2004 with 14 goals for her career.
The Gold Standard ? Ingrid Goldberg has scored 12 goals in her past 10 games after scoring six goals in her first two seasons at Princeton.
Taking it Away ? Katie Norbury leads the Tigers with 22 caused turnovers this season. Norbury was a second-team All-America in 2003.
Reimers & Reason ? Freshman Caitlin Reimers has started every game this season at either midfield or attack.
Experience Counts ? Princeton starts five seniors and three juniors this season. Five of those eight players were also full-time starters last season.
NCAA Facts ? Princeton (2002 and 2003) and Maryland (seven straight from 1995 through 2001) are the only schools to win consecutive National Collegiate of NCAA Division I championships.
More NCAA Facts ? Princeton has reached at least the quarterfinal round in each of its last 10 NCAA tournament appearances. The last time the Tigers fell in the first round was in 1992, when Princeton lost to Harvard.