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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Women's Lacrosse 2011 Season Preview
February 21, 2011 | Women's Lacrosse
After graduating a bulk of its experienced and talented players in the Class of 2009, the Princeton women's lacrosse team had some rebuilding to do in 2010. Up against one of the toughest schedules in the country, and a lineup filled with new faces, the Tigers finished the season with more losses than wins for the first time in 23 years. The team battled hard but had trouble maintaining consistency and building on its successes. An opening-day win at Johns Hopkins and an upset over perennial foe Georgetown were highlights for the Tigers. And in its regular season finale, Princeton showed its toughness and determination when it knocked off Dartmouth in overtime to earn a berth in the first Ivy League Tournament.
"For a program accustomed to much success, it was an uncharacteristically tough season," head coach Chris Sailer said. "We were young. It didn't necessarily show in the results, but I think we gained a lot of good experience that should help us this year."
"We're positive and optimistic about 2011. We've put last year behind us. We're a new team, a different team and we're excited about everything that lies ahead."
The Tigers return eight of 11 starters from last year, losing just four seniors, one from each position. More than half the team is underclassmen with five seniors, two of which are three or four year starters. The difference between last year and this year is more experience and better on-field chemistry.
Losing just five of 21 letterwinners, the Tigers return a lot of the pieces of the puzzle necessary to win big games.
"We have a lot of the same kids, but many of them are better players than they were last year, and they play better together as a unit. I think our whole level is going to be raised this year."
"We've added a dynamic freshman class and our sophomores have really stepped up their game. They'll make a big impact as a class this year."
Seventy-five percent of Princeton's point production returns, making for a potent and more experienced offense.
The defense was the squad's biggest weakness in 2010, after a gap was left by the graduating senior class, a core of solid four-year starters. Princeton used new blood and moved some players around, and the 2011 unit is beginning to jell.
GOAL
Princeton returns arguably the best goalie in the Ivy League in All-American Erin Tochihara. Coming off of a 2009 season, in which she finished the year ranked sixth in the nation in goals against average and fourth in save percentage, Tochihara finished last season with a.486 save percentage and a 10.83 goals against average. She posted a career best 2.00 GAA against Yale in April.
"Toch faced a big challenge last year playing in front of a new and unproven defense. But she is the kind of keeper that can make the big save that gives your team a boost. We're glad to have her for one more year."
"This year, we want to see her be more of presence outside of the cage, taking more chances, going for more ground balls and interceptions, staying poised under pressure, and being more vocal and directive. But between the pipes, I think she is as good as they come."
Backing up Tochihara is freshman Caroline Franke. A product of Severn School, Franke amassed a 5.01 GAA and a .555 save percentage during her high school career.
"This is going to be a great year for her to adjust to the pace of the shots and the attack in general at the college level. She has a golden opportunity to learn from such a talented and experience goalkeeper."
DEFENSE
If there one area of the field that's a question mark for Princeton this year, it would be the defense. Injuries have played a factor in the pre-season, but Sailer expects the unit to be full-go by early March.
"If I had to pick an area on the field we're least experienced in, it would be defense. Our defensive focus in the preseason has been on individual fundamentals, aggressive play and teamwork. We are improving with each week."
Junior All-American Lindsey deButts is the team's steady anchor in the back. She led the team in ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls in 2010. A two-year starter, she is also proficient on the opposite cage scoring a goal and an assist last year.
Senior Caroline Markowitz and junior Allison Behringer moved into the back last year, after having spent their careers in the midfield. Markowitz started the first 13 games at defense last year but had to miss the last few games because of an injury. Behringer played in every game last year and started in 10, she had five goals and five assists and picked up 15 ground balls and 10 draw controls.
Junior Cathy Bachur became a starter midway through last year and is one of the team captains, along with Tochihara and Lizzy Drumm. She picked up a career-high three caused turnovers against national champion Maryland in 2010, finishing with eight and 11 ground balls.
Classmate Maggie Hines rounds out the veteran defensive corps. She saw action in three games this season and will push to see more time this season.
Three freshmen will add depth to defense. Liz Cutting from Towson, Md., had a great fall season with the Tigers. Coming off of a 12-2 senior year in which she was captain for the Towson High, Cutting is said to be a very intelligent player, who makes good decisions and is very strong on the field.
One of the more decorated members of the Class of 2014 is Colleen Smith from Loyola Academy. She was captain her junior and senior years, guiding the Ramblers to back-to-back state championships. The three-time All-American finished her career with 77 points, 159 ground balls, 134 caused turnovers and 130 draw controls. She has improved tremendously this fall and plays tough and strong.
The third member of the class on defense is Erin Williams from Upper Arlington in Columbus, Ohio. Her team won a state championship and was runner-up twice. Takkle.com listed her as one of the Top 100 Underclassmen "Sleepers."
"We have three freshmen who are learning a lot from the more experienced players and are improving rapidly. They will challenge the returners and lift the production of the unit as a whole."
MIDFIELD
Primed to lead the midfield is junior and two-year starter Cassie Pyle. Princeton's fourth leading scorer last season, Pyle scored 17 goals and added eight assists, six more points than her freshmen year when she had 19 points. She was third on the team in ground balls with 24, fourth in draw controls with 23 and added nine caused turnovers.
Three solid sophomores return in Jenna Davis, Charlotte Davis and Caroline Rehfuss.
"The sophomore class as a whole is primed for a breakout year, after earning valuable playing time in 2010. As a group they've matured mentally and physically and their skill level and game sense is much more developed. They will be a key force for us this year all over the field, and especially at midfield."
Charlotte Davis started in six games last year and played in all 16. She led all freshmen in scoring with 10 goals and six assists for 16 points, and made an impact right away with four points in her first career game at Johns Hopkins.
Rehfuss played in each game and started in 11. She scored 13 goals and two assists for 15 points. She handles pressure well and scored the game winner in overtime against Dartmouth that would send Princeton to the first Ivy League Tournament.
Jenna Davis also competed in every game and tallied seven goals, two against Yale. She may see more time on defense this season, adding speed and quickness to the unit.
In addition, freshman Sarah Llyod and Kellie Ragg join the midfield. Lloyd is a big player coming out of Severna Park. She was on the 2010 Tewaaraton Watch List and played midfield and defense. She even played a year in goal when stress fractures limited her running. Lloyd handles the transition game well and coming off of a good fall season should make an impact right away. Ragg from William Penn Charter is a quick player who should provide some good minutes for the Tigers.
ATTACK
Leading the attack will be senior All-American and captain Lizzy Drumm. Drumm led the team in scoring last year with 41 points with a team-high 32 goals and nine assists. She scored a career-high six goals and seven points versus James Madison last year and added a career-best four draw controls. A first-team All-Ivy and all-region selection, Drumm has been at the near top of the scoring column since she arrived at Old Nassau and sports 122 career points. A solid defender, Drumm will likely see time at midfield as well this year.
Junior Barb Previ had a breakout year last year and should complement Drumm on attack. She finished third on the team in scoring with 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 points, while adding 24 ground balls and was third on the team in draw controls with 27.
Sophomore Jaci Gassaway was hampered with post-operative complications from a knee surgery. She is now 100 percent and proved that during the fall season. She is playing will some real power and will be a big force on offense. Classmate Sam Ellis is coming off of back surgery but is feeling the best she has felt and should play a more vital role this season.
Senior Maisie Devine started in the bulk of games last year and scored 10 goals and six assists for 16 points. She will challenge for a starting role again this year. In addition, the offense has senior Kaitlyn Mauritz, who saw action in six games last year.
Two freshmen, Mary-Kate Sivilli and Grace Bowen add talent to an already strong offensive unit. Both are solid playmakers with good stick skills and vision on attack.
Sivilli was the MVP of her team at John Glenn all four years, amassing 123 points as a senior, 117 as a junior and 113 as a sophomore. She owns the New York State record for assists in a game with 12 and was ranked as a Long Island top five player all four years, in addition to be an All-America honoree.
Bowen was featured in Lacrosse Magazine as one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets as one of the top five from the "notbeds." A high school teammate of Smith at Loyola, she scored three goals in Loyola's 2010 state championship game as team captain. A multiple All-America honoree, Bowen finished her career with 102 goals and 48 assists.
The Tigers' 15-game 2011 schedule features six home games and eight non-conference opponents including the 2010 national champion Maryland. The Terrapins are one of six teams that reached last year's NCAA Tournament that the Tigers will face this season. Princeton opens the season hosting Johns Hopkins on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.