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Princeton University Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Hosts Ivy Rival Dartmouth in NCAA Quarterfinal Sunday
May 14, 2004 | Women's Lacrosse
May 14, 2004
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The last time Princeton and Dartmouth met in women's lacrosse, an Ivy League championship was on the line. Little did either team know then that they would meet three weeks later, at the same place, with something a little more important at stake.
When the Tigers and Big Green meet Sunday at 2 p.m. at Class of 1952 Stadium (internet broadcast at GoPrincetonTigers.com), it's one of four places in next weekend's NCAA semifinals at Princeton Stadium that's for the taking. For Princeton, a win Sunday offers an opportunity to play for a third-straight national title only a few hundred yards away from its locker room. For Dartmouth, Sunday offers another opportunity at defeating the top-ranked Tigers after last month's chance for an Ivy title slipped away in a 17-8 loss.
Princeton (17-0) and Dartmouth (11-5) have arrived at Sunday's quarterfinal in different ways. The Tigers rolled past Colgate in the first round Thursday, 18-6, behind five goals and two assists from Lindsey Biles, while the Big Green were in a tight game until the final minutes in a 14-12 victory over New Hampshire. Princeton's win was its 26th straight dating back to last year, a program record, while Dartmouth lost three of its final four games of the regular season, albeit all to top 15 teams, before its Thursday win.
In any case, both Princeton and Dartmouth are used to these types of games. Either Princeton or Dartmouth, or both teams, have reached the NCAA semifinals in 10 of the last 12 years.
Both teams have done it with defense in 2004, with each ranking in the top five nationally in goals allowed, but one Princeton player has a chance to set a new offensive record Sunday. Biles is just three goals away from Cristi Samaras's single-season team record of 56 goals, set during the 1998 season.
The Princeton-Dartmouth winner plays the winner of the James Madison-Vanderbilt game in next Friday's semifinals at Princeton Stadium at 6 p.m. Maryland plays Georgetown and Virginia plays Northwestern in other quarterfinal games Sunday.
Today's Note of the Day
At the Quarter Pole...- Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2001, the Tigers have won three NCAA quarterfinal games by a combined score of 38-17.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
The Last Time... - Princeton defeated Dartmouth 17-8 here April 24. The Tigers led just 6-5 with 6:36 left in the first half, but scored 11 of the final 14 goals of the game after that.
Like a Broken Record? - Lindsey Biles (53 goals) needs just four goals to become Princeton's all-time single-season goal-scoring leader. Cristi Samaras '99 had 56 goals in 1998.
Turnaround is Fair Play- Princeton has defeated Dartmouth four straight times. Prior to that stretch, Dartmouth had defeated Princeton five straight times.
We Meet Again - Princeton is 3-0 against Dartmouth in the NCAA tournament. The teams last met in the tournament in the 2001 quarterfinals, with Princeton winning 10-4 in Hanover, N.H.
Streak Facts- Princeton has won 26 games in a row overall, nine straight games in the NCAA tournament and 13 straight games in the NCAA tournament against teams other than Maryland.
More Notes & Anecdotes
We're Honored- Theresa Sherry was named the Ivy League Player of the Year Thursday. Freshman Kathleen Miller was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
Even More Honored- Theresa Sherry is one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy awarded to the nation's top player. The winner will be announced June 3 in Washington, D.C.
More Honors - Nine of Princeton's 12 starters were named as All-Ivy selections. Three of Princeton's first-team All-Ivy picks were unanimous choices (Theresa Sherry, Lindsey Biles, Elizabeth Pillion).
Final Four Fact - Either Princeton or Dartmouth, or both teams, have reached the national semifinals in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
On the Defensive - Princeton has allowed its opponents an average of just 5.6 goals per game and 20.5 shots per game over its last eight games.
Tourney Tested - Princeton finished 7-0 in the regular season against teams that made the NCAA tournament. Four of Dartmouth's five losses this season came to teams that made the NCAA field.
Last Time - Today's game will be the final one at Class of 1952 Stadium this season. The NCAA semifinals and finals will be held at 27,800-seat Princeton Stadium across the street.
We Got Winners - The winner of the Princeton-Dartmouth game plays the winner of the James Madison-Vanderbilt game in next Friday's first NCAA semifinal (6 p.m.) at Princeton Stadium. Gimme 50 - Lindsey Biles is just the third Princeton player to score 50 goals in a season. Cristi Samaras did it twice (1996, 1998), while Lauren Simone scored 50 in 2002.
Gimme 70 - Lindsey Biles needs two points to become the third Princeton player to score 70 points in a season. Samaras had 85 in 1998 and 72 in 1996, while Simone had 77 in 2002.
More Broken Records?- Theresa Sherry (157) needs six goals to pass Lisa Rebane and move into second-place all-time on Princeton's career goals list.
Even More Records - Theresa Sherry (192) needs three points to pass Amore Rowe and mve into third-place all-time on Princeton's career points list.
Doin' it All - Elizabeth Pillion had three goals, four groundballs, four caused turnovers and two draw controls in Princeton's win over Colgate Thursday.
Young Gun - Kathleen Miller, who had three goals against Colgate, had at least two goals in each of her first five games and has at least two goals in 10 of Princeton's 17 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 .607 shooting percentage.
Career Year - Liza Hillenbrand, who may play Sunday against Dartmouth, has 14 goals her senior season after entering 2004 with 14 goals for her career. The Gold Standard - Ingrid Goldberg has scored 14 goals in her past 11 games after scoring six goals in her first two seasons at Princeton. She had two goals against Colgate.
Taking it Away - Katie Norbury leads the Tigers with 23 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 11 NCAA tournament appearances. The last time the Tigers fell in the first round was in 1992, when Princeton lost to Harvard.