.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
No. 6 Women's Lacrosse Gets Big Test in No. 2 Duke
March 10, 2006 | Women's Lacrosse
March 10, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Princeton women's lacrosse team always challenges itself with difficult games in the early season. Perhaps the biggest challenge for the young Tigers comes Sunday when No. 2 Duke visits Princeton Stadium. (11 a.m., ESPNU, internet broadcast at GoPrincetonTigers.com)
Duke is 5-0 after a 10-8 win at No. 3 North Carolina Wednesday, while the Tigers rebounded from a season-opening defeat at Johns Hopkins with an impressive 12-7 win at Loyola, also on Wednesday.
Princeton has never lost to Duke at home, winning four games by a combined score of 52-32. The Tigers have won six of the eight games between the teams since the series began in 1998, including an impressive 7-4 victory in Durham last season.
The Tigers will play at Princeton Stadium for the first time since hosting the 2004 NCAA semifinals and championship game. The women's game will be followed by a men's lacrosse game between No. 5 Princeton and No. 2 Virginia beginning at 2 p.m.
Including the Duke game, Princeton will play its next four games against teams ranked in the top 10 in the current IWLCA poll.
Today's Note of the Day
On the Defensive -- Princeton limited Duke to four goals in last season's meeting; the Blue Devils came into that game averaging 15.5 goals per game. Duke is averaging 15 goals per game in five wins this season.
Five More Things You Can't Live Without
Welcome to the Big Show -- Seven Princeton players have started for the first time in the team's first two games, including both goalies on the roster as well as four freshmen. On Schedule -- Including today, Princeton's next four games all come against teams ranked in the top 10 in the current IWLCA poll (Duke, Penn State, Georgetown, Virginia).
Quick off the Draw -- Princeton scored three times in the first four minutes at Loyola Wednesday, then had four goals in a four-minute span late in the half.
Home, Sweet Home -- The Tigers are 4-0 against Duke in games played in Princeton, outscoring the Blue Devils 52-32 in those four wins.
The Big House -- The Tigers last played a game at Princeton Stadium in 2004, losing to Virginia in the NCAA championship game. At that time the stadium had a natural grass surface; FieldTurf was installed following the 2005 football season.
More Notes & Anecdotes
The 250 Club -- Princeton head coach Chris Sailer is two wins away from 250 for her career. She ranks second behind Maryland coach Cindy Timchal (324) among active Division I coaches.
On Target -- Alex Gangler scored on her first three shots of the season against Loyola after scoring on all five of her shots as a sophomore in 2005.
Also on Target -- Freshman Kristin Schwab has scored on all four her shots this season. Schwab started at Loyola after coming off the bench at Johns Hopkins.
Nice Beginning -- Sophomore Katie Atkins had three assists against Loyola in her first career appearance. Atkins did not play last season due to injury.
Another Nice Beginning -- Sophomore Meg Murray had eight saves in her first career start Wednesday. Murray played just 27 minutes as a backup as a freshman.
Going National -- Two Princeton players (Kathleen Miller, Katie Lewis-Lamonica), as well as assistant coach Elizabeth Pillion, are members of the U.S. Developmental Team.
Tourney Tested -- Princeton has reached the NCAA tournament eight years in a row and 13 times in the last 14 years. The Tigers reached the final four five straight years from 2000-04.
Winning Numbers -- Princeton has averaged 15 wins per season since 1998 and 16 wins per season since the 2000 season. By The Numbers -- Princeton has a 68-12 record since the beginning of the 2002 season, including a 37-3 record in home games.
Ivy Facts -- Princeton has no more than one loss in Ivy League play in each of the last 13 seasons. The Tigers' Ivy League record in that time is 77-9.
Back to Back -- Princeton (2002, 2003) is one of only two teams to win consecutive national championships in NCAA Division I women's lacrosse (Maryland is the other).
We're Honored -- Princeton has had the Ivy League Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in each of the last two seasons.
To The Point -- Junior Kathleen Miller has 93 points (61 goals, 32 assists) in 38 career games. Miller had three goals and an assist at Loyola Wednesday.
I'm Honored -- Kathleen Miller was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman and an honorable mention all-league pick as a sophomore. She leads Princeton with five points through two games this year.
Young Gun -- Katie Lewis-Lamonica was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2005. Lewis-Lamonica has four goals this season, including three in Princeton's victory against Loyola Wednesday.
Leadership -- Senior defenders Lauren Vance and Caitlin Abidin and junior midfielder Caitlin Reimers are Princeton's team captains in 2006.
All-American Girl -- Lauren Vance is Princeton's lone returning All-America. She was a second-team choice after leading Princeton with 49 ground balls and 36 caused turnovers.
Start Me Up -- Lauren Vance is the only current Princeton player that started in the 2003 NCAA championship game against Virginia.
Two-Sport Stars -- Both Holly McGarvie, who has started the first two games, and Kristin Schwab also started for the Ivy League champion Princeton field hockey team in 2005.
In the Lineup -- Caitlin Reimers has started all 40 games in her two seasons at Princeton.
She's Got Experience -- Colleen O'Boyle, who started in goal at Johns Hopkins, saw action in goal in six consecutive games last season. She earned a win in a victory over Loyola a year ago.
Goal Oriented -- Jamie Sundheim scored the game-winning goal in overtime for Princeton in the 2004 NCAA quarterfinals against Dartmouth.
Nice Start -- Freshman Christine Casaceli scored a goal on both of her shots in Princeton's season-opening loss at Johns Hopkins last Saturday.