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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton, Top Seed Northwestern Meet with National Semifinal Berth on the Line
May 13, 2005 | Women's Lacrosse
May 13, 2005
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It was only a year ago that the Princeton women's lacrosse team found itself as the undefeated, top-seeded target of every other team in the NCAA tournament. Sunday afternoon just outside Chicago, the shoe will be squarely on the other foot.
This year, the top-seeded and undefeated team is Northwestern, the story of the 2005 season in NCAA Division I women's lacrosse. The challenger is the No. 8 seed Tigers, the big story for much of the previous three years. The two teams meet at Northwestern's Thomas Athletic Complex at 2 p.m. ET Sunday for a berth in the national semifinals.
The Tigers (13-4) appear to be heading to Evanston playing their best lacrosse of the 2005 season, if Thursday's impressive 16-8 victory over Maryland in the NCAA first round is any indication. Princeton's top three scorers--Lindsey Biles, Kathleen Miller and Elizabeth Pillion--combined to score 12 of the team's 16 goals as the Tigers routed the Terps in the second half.
But the challenge for Princeton will certainly be a stiff one. 18-0 Northwestern has been every bit as dominating as Princeton was in its undefeated 2004 regular season, if not more so. The Wildcats are the national leaders in both scoring offense and scoring defense, outscoring their opponents by more than 10 goals per game, and feature four players who have scored 40 or more goals.
The Wildcats defeated Mount Saint Mary's 16-3 in a first-round game Thursday, getting a career-best seven goals from Aly Josephs.
Even though the Tigers haven't played Northwestern since the Wildcats reestablished their program in 2002, Princeton certainly has recent history on its side. The Tigers have won five straight NCAA quarterfinal games on the way to their five straight appearances in the national semifinals.
Princeton will be in a bit of an unusual place on Sunday, and not just because the Tigers will be playing their first-ever game west of Pennsylvania. The Tigers will be hitting the road for an NCAA tournament game for the first time since the 2001 season. Princeton has played its last 14 NCAA tournament games either at home or at a neutral site.
Today's Note of the Day
At the Quarter Pole -- Princeton has won its last five NCAA quarterfinal games and 12 of its last 13 NCAA tournament games overall dating back to 2002.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
Nice to Meet You -- Princeton hasn't played Northwestern in women's lacrosse since the reestablishment of the Wildcat program in 2002, but the teams did play in 1990 (a 6-4 Tiger win).
On Schedule -- Today's game is Princeton's fourth this season against a team ranked in the top five at the time of the game, though it is the first game for the Tigers this season against the No. 1-ranked team.
Breaking Away -- Princeton is playing its first NCAA tournament game on an opponent's home field since 2001. The Tigers have played their last 14 NCAA games either at home or at neutral sites.
Been There, Done That -- Like Northwestern this year, Princeton finished undefeated in the regular season in 2004 (16-0). The Tigers were 19-0 before losing to Virginia in the NCAA title game.
Big-Time Win -- Princeton outscored Maryland 14-3 in a 29-minute stretch Thursday, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 16-6 lead with 7:33 left in the game.
More Notes & Anecdotes
More On Schedule -- Princeton has nine victories this season against nationally-ranked teams, and two of its four losses to nationally-ranked teams came in overtime.
We're Honored -- Lindsey Biles was named the Ivy League's Co-Player of the Year this past Tuesday, while Katie Lewis-Lamonica was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Half a Century -- Lindsey Biles (53 goals) needs four goals to surpass Cristi Samaras's 56 goals in 1998 and set a Princeton single-season record. Biles finished last season with 55 goals.
Five in the Four -- Princeton has reached the national semifinals in each of the last five seasons (2000-2004) and 10 times in the last 13 seasons.
Two Left Standing -- The Tigers have played in the national championship game three straight years and four times in the last five seasons.
The Big Three -- Princeton's three leading scorers (Lindsey Biles, Kathleen Miller, Elizabeth Pillion) combined for 12 of Princeton's 16 goals and three of the Tigers' six assists in the win over Maryland Thursday.
Shooting Stars -- The Tigers have scored 91 goals in their last six games, an average of better than 15 goals per game.
On Schedule -- Princeton played 13 of its 16 regular-season games against teams that were ranked in the IWLCA Top 20 at the time of the game.
Poll Positions -- Princeton dropped from No. 5 to No. 9 in the final IWLCA poll that was released on Monday, its lowest position in the polls in four years.
More Honors -- Both Elizabeth Pillion and Lindsey Biles are among the 18 nominees for the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy honoring the national player of the year.
Multiple Choice -- Lindsey Biles has at least two goals in 14 of 17 games this year and at least two points in all 17 of Princeton's games.
To the Point -- Lindsey Biles is now second all-time at Princeton with 173 career goals and third all-time at Princeton with 218 career points. She needs three points to pass Lisa Rebane `96 and move into second place on the points list.
Back in Black (& Orange) -- Elizabeth Pillion returned from a hamstring injury that forced her to miss three games and had three goals, three caused turnovers and three draw controls against Maryland Thursday.
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.
Thanks for the Help -- Kathleen Miller has a team-high 16 assists this year. She is second on the team with 41 points behind Lindsey Biles' 68 points.
Honors Again -- Kathleen Miller, who had five goals against Maryland, earned honorable mention All-Ivy accolades this season for the Tigers.
Second to None -- Ingrid Goldberg earned second-team All-Ivy League honors this season.
Iggy Pops -- Ingrid Goldberg has 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in her last 11 games after scoring with five points (four goals, one assist) in Princeton's first six games.
Winning Numbers -- Sarah Kolodner's 65 career wins in goal are a Princeton record. She surpassed Erin O'Neill (58) earlier this year.
Stop Right There -- Sarah Kolodner ranks second all-time at Princeton in career goals-against average (6.38 GAA).
Great Saves -- Sarah Kolodner's 488 career saves rank fourth all-time at Princeton.
Goal Oriented -- Katie Lewis-Lamonica scored on all five of her shots against Maryland May 4 and had two goals Thursday.
She's A Freshman? -- Katie Lewis-Lamonica is second on the team with 28 goals this season.
Sing a Song -- Senior attacker Leigh Slonaker sang the national anthem before Princeton home games this season.
Come On In -- Sophomore Colleen O'Boyle saw in action in goal for Princeton in six straight games from April 9-April 30.
It's Unanimous -- Junior defender Lauren Vance was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection.
Take it Away -- Lauren Vance leads Princeton with 35 caused turnovers and leads field players with 45 groundballs. She had seven ground balls and three caused turnovers against Maryland Thursday.
All Over It -- Caitlin Reimers, who has started all 17 games, has played defense, midfield and attack this season. Reimers has two assists this year.
Ivy Facts -- Princeton has finished the Ivy League season with one loss or fewer in each of the last 13 seasons. The Tigers were 6-1 in league play this year.
NCAA Fact -- Princeton is one of only two schools (Maryland is the other) to win consecutive NCAA Division I or National Collegiate championships).