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Princeton University Athletics
Power Matchup: No. 3 Princeton Travels to No. 4 Virginia in Women's Lacrosse
March 24, 2005 | Women's Lacrosse
March 24, 2005
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Neither Princeton nor Virginia will enter Saturday afternoon as the No. 1-ranked women's lacrosse team in the nation. But when these two teams that know all about being No. 1 at the end of the season get together, it still makes for a classic matchup.
When the third-ranked Tigers and fourth-ranked Cavaliers meet Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville at 1 p.m., it will be the fifth meeting between the two teams in the past 24 months. Two of those meetings have come in the last two national championship games, and that fact alone is enough to make Princeton-Virginia the best rivalry in the game today.
The Tigers (4-1) and Cavaliers (5-1) both have more than their recent national titles in common. Each team's lone loss this year has come to Penn State, in each case knocking the losing team out of the No. 1 spot in the national poll. Virginia has won three straight since that slip up, including a big win at then-No. 4 North Carolina last weekend, while Princeton got back on track with a 13-4 win over Columbia in its Ivy League opener on Tuesday.
Princeton and Virginia combined for six of last year's 16 first-team All-America selections, and plenty of that talent returns for the 2005 meeting. Virginia's prolific Amy Appelt (the 2004 Tewaraaton winner) and Princeton's Lindsey Biles are two of the favorites for the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy, and each is off to a hot start this season. Appelt has 30 points in six games, while Biles is averaging nearly four goals per game.
Princeton has dominated the regular-season series in recent years. The Tigers have won five of the last six regular-season meetings between the teams, but lost a 13-8 decision in 2003 the last time they headed to Charlottesville.
Today's Note of the Day
The No. 1 Thing -- Both Princeton and Virginia have been ranked No. 1 this season, but each team was knocked out of the No. 1 spot by losing to now-No. 2 Penn State.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
Seen You Before -- Today's game is the fifth game between Princeton and Virginia in the Tigers' last 44 games. The teams have met in each of the last two national championship games.
We're Honored -- Princeton and Virginia combined for six of last year's 16 first-team All-Americas. Four of those six players return in 2005.
Series Facts -- Princeton has defeated Virginia in five of the last six regular-season meetings between the teams. The two teams have played at least once in each of the last 14 seasons.
Pulling Rank -- Today's game is Princeton's third game out of six this season against a team ranked sixth or higher in the IWLCA poll.
Second Chances -- Princeton has outscored its opponents 29-12 in the second half. All five of the Tigers' games have been ties, one-goal games or two-goal games at halftime.
More Notes & Anecdotes
Star Power -- Virginia's Amy Appelt is averaging five points per game through six games. Princeton's Lindsey Biles is averaging better than four points per game through five games.
More Star Power -- Lindsey Biles and Elizabeth Pillion have combined for 30 of Princeton's 57 goals. Amy Appelt, Tyler Leachman and Cary Chasney have combined for 51 of Virginia's 75 goals.
Early Tests -- Princeton will play five of its first seven games against teams that made the 2004 NCAA tournament (Johns Hopkins, Loyola, Duke, Virginia & Georgetown).
Balancing Act -- Seven Princeton players scored goals in a 13-4 win over Columbia on Tuesday. Five players scored at least two goals for the Tigers.
All Good Things Must Come to an End -- Princeton's loss to Penn State last Saturday ended the Tigers' 24-game regular-season winning streak and 20-game winning streak at Class of 1952 Stadium.
Atop the Ivy -- Princeton's win over Columbia Tuesday was its 12th straight victory in Ivy League play. The Tigers have won or shared four straight Ivy League championships.
Trophy Girls -- Elizabeth Pillion, Lindsey Biles and Lauren Vance have all been chosen as "Players to Watch" by the Tewaaraton Award Committee. The Tewaaraton Trophy is annually awarded to the top players in men's and women's Division I lacrosse.
Five in the Four -- Princeton has reached the NCAA semifinals five consecutive years (2000-2004). The Tigers also made the semifinals five straight years during the 1990's (1992-96).
Movin' On Up -- Lindsey Biles is now sixth all-time at Princeton with 138 career goals. Biles needs five goals to pass Kim Smith '02 and move into fifth place.
Near the Top -- Lindsey Biles is on pace to finish second all-time at Princeton in goals behind Cristi Samaras, who scored 189 career goals.
Goal Oriented -- Lindsey Biles has at least two goals in all five of Princeton's games this year and at least four points in four of the team's five games.
Six Shooter -- Elizabeth Pillion scored a career-high six goals for Princeton in the Tigers' overtime loss to Penn State last Saturday.
She Shoots, She Scores -- Elizabeth Pillion has scored her 12 goals this season on just 24 shots (50%).
How Many Final Fours? -- Elizabeth Pillion went to the NCAA final four with the women's lacrosse team last May and with the Princeton women's soccer team this December.
Miller Time -- Kathleen Miller scored a season-high three goals for Princeton in its win over Columbia Tuesday night.
More Miller Time -- Kathleen Miller was named the 2004 Ivy League Rookie of the Year after scoring 32 goals as a freshman.
The Stopper -- Sarah Kolodner is Princeton's all-time leader in goals-against average for a career (6.12 GAA)
More Stopper -- Sarah Kolodner has a 57-6 record as a starter over the past four seasons.
Fresh Faces -- Freshmen Katie Lewis-Lamonica and Alison Murray have each started all five games for Princeton. Lewis-Lamonica has two goals and an assist for the Tigers.
Lewey Lewey -- Katie Lewis-Lamonica is second on the team with seven draw controls. She also has five goals this season.
Iggy Pops -- Ingrid Goldberg has four goals this season, including three against Loyola March 13.
NCAA Facts -- Princeton (2002 and 2003) and Maryland (seven straight from 1995 through 2001) are the only schools to win consecutive National Collegiate or 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.