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Princeton University Athletics
Automatic NCAA Berth on the Line as No.3 Tigers Meet No. 4 Big Green in Women's Lacrosse
April 21, 2005 | Women's Lacrosse
April 21, 2005
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No matter what happens Saturday afternoon, both the Princeton and Dartmouth women's lacrosse teams will likely hear the names of their schools called when NCAA tournament selections are announced May 8.
But don't think for a second that Saturday's meeting, at Scully-Fahey Field in Hanover at 3:30 [CSTV (DirecTV Channel 610) live broadcast], doesn't mean much to the teams involved.
Most importantly, the game will decide the league's automatic NCAA bid. Undefeated and fourth-ranked Dartmouth (12-0) would finish a perfect 7-0 in the league with a win, earning its first outright league title since the 2000 season. Third-ranked Princeton (10-2) would move to 6-0 with a victory and have the head-to-head win needed to earn the automatic bid no matter the result of its April 30 game against Brown.
The Tigers enter the game having won a team-record 16 consecutive Ivy League games and five straight games against the Big Green. Princeton defeated Dartmouth twice in 2004, including a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 win in overtime in the NCAA quarterfinals at Class of 1952 Stadium.
As big as the game is between the two teams that have now combined to win the last 13 Ivy League titles, it's actually the third game this year for Princeton against a team ranked in the top five at the time of the game. The Tigers, who have played all but two of their 13 games this year against ranked teams, defeated No. 5 Duke 7-4 March 16 and lost to No. 4 Virginia 8-4 March 26.
Princeton moved to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in league play with a 21-12 win over Harvard last Saturday. Lindsey Biles scored a career-high nine points (six goals, three assists) as the Tigers scored their highest number of goals in a regular-season game since a 21-10 win at Delaware in 1995.
Dartmouth moved within one win of a perfect Ivy season with a 13-4 win over the Crimson Wednesday night.
Saturday's game, features the Ivy League's top two goal scorers (Biles and Dartmouth's Katieanne Christian) and four of the league's top five goal scorers (Biles and Elizabeth Pillion from Princeton, Christian and Whitney Douthett from Dartmouth).
Today's Note of the Day
To The Victor Goes The Spoils -- The winner of today's game between Princeton and Dartmouth will earn the Ivy League's automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
One or the Other -- Either Princeton or Dartmouth, or both teams, have won the Ivy League championship in each of the last 12 seasons (1993-2004).
Shooting for Six -- Princeton has won five straight games against Dartmouth, including NCAA tournament victories in 2004 and 2001.
League of their Own -- Princeton has won a school-record 16 straight Ivy League games. Dartmouth won 22 straight league games from 1997-2000. Harvard holds the league record for consecutive league wins (36), set from 1986-93.
Pulling Rank -- Dartmouth is the 11th nationally-ranked Princeton opponent (out of 13) this season and the fourth Princeton opponent this year to be ranked in the top six at the time of the game.
By the Numbers -- Since the beginning of the 1997 season, Princeton has a 54-6 Ivy League record. In the same time period, Dartmouth has a 53-7 record in Ivy League games.
More Notes & Anecdotes
Extra, Extra -- Princeton defeated Dartmouth in overtime in last year's NCAA quarterfinals. The Tigers trailed 5-3 in that game with 6:49 left in the second half before forcing overtime.
Title Town -- Princeton has earned at least a share of the last four Ivy League titles (2001-04).
Stats Freaks -- Today's game features the Ivy League's top two goal scorers (Lindsey Biles, Katieanne Christian) and four of the league's top five point scorers (Princeton's Biles and Elizabeth Pillion, Dartmouth's Christian and Whitney Douthett).
Milestones -- Lindsey Biles became just the fourth Princeton player to score 200 career points with her six goals and three assists in the win over Harvard. Biles now has 160 goals and 40 assists.
Keeping Score -- Princeton's 21 goals against Harvard Saturday were its most in a regular-season game since a 21-10 win at Delaware in April 1995.
Streakin' -- Princeton has won six consecutive games. The Tigers now have at least a six-game winning streak in each of the last seven seasons.
Trophy Girls -- Elizabeth Pillion and Lindsey Biles were named as two of 18 nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy last week. The award will be announced June 2 in Washington, D.C.
On the Defensive -- Princeton has allowed just 34 goals in five Ivy League games (6.8 per game).
More Defensiveness -- Princeton has allowed just three first-half goals in its last two games.
Up the Charts -- Lindsey Biles is now fourth all-time at Princeton with 160 career goals. Biles needs three goals to pass Theresa Sherry and Lisa Rebane and move into second place.
To The Point -- Lindsey Biles needs six points to pass Lauren Simone and move into third place all-time on Princeton's points list.
Multiple Choice -- Lindsey Biles has at least two goals in 11 of 12 games this year and at least two points in all 12 of Princeton's games.
Doing it All -- Elizabeth Pillion leads the Tigers in draw controls (23), caused turnovers (22) and groundballs (28).
Two-Fers -- Elizabeth Pillion has at least two points in each of Princeton's last 11 games.
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 past December.
Miller's Back -- Kathleen Miller did not play at Penn due to a bad back, but started against Harvard and had two goals and two assists in that game.
Balancing Act -- Kathleen Miller (14 goals) is one of five Princeton players with at least 14 goal and one of seven Princeton players with at least 11 points.
I'm Honored -- Kathleen Miller was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2004. Miller had 32 goals and 13 assists as a freshman.
Iggy Pops -- Ingrid Goldberg has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in her last six games after scoring with five points (four goals, one assist) in Princeton's first six games.
The Stopper -- Sarah Kolodner has a 63-7 record as a starter over the past four seasons.
The Stopper 2 -- Sarah Kolodner ranks second all-time at Princeton in career goals-against average (6.17 GAA). She has an 7.76 GAA this season.
Fresh Face -- Freshmen Katie Lewis-Lamonica, who has 15 goals, is the only Princeton freshman to have started every game.
Amo on Attack -- Freshman Ashley Amo scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Georgetown and then led the Tigers with three goals at Cornell.
Sing a Song -- Senior attacker Leigh Slonaker sings the national anthem before Princeton home games.
Goal Oriented -- Sophomore Colleen O'Boyle has started the second half in goal in each of Princeton's last three games. O'Boyle had eight second-half saves in an 11-5 win at Yale April 9.
Back in Black -- Jamie Sundheim, who scored the OT game winner against Dartmouth last season, has played in Princeton's last three games after knee surgery kept her out of the lineup.
Freedom! -- Princeton has 45 free-position shots this year compared to just 29 for its opponents.
Road Warriors -- The Tigers play three of their final four games on the road, all against ranked teams.
Ivy Fact -- Princeton has lost just once in the last 12 seasons to an Ivy League team other than Dartmouth (Yale in 2003).
NCAA Fact -- Princeton is one of only two schools (Maryland is the other) to win consecutive NCAA Division I or National Collegiate championships).