.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
No. 12 Princeton Hosts vs. No. 4 UVA in Women's Lacrosse Opener
February 18, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse
| Game 1: No. 4 Virginia at No. 12 Princeton |
|
| Gametime | Saturday, Feb. 20 at 12 p.m. l Sherrerd Field at Class of 52 Stadium |
| Game Coverage | Live Video l Live Stats |
| Twitter: @PUTigers_Live | |
| Series Info | Virginia leads 18-16; Streak: 2 Virginia wins |
| Records | Princeton (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); Virginia (1-0, 0-0 ACC) |
| Princeton | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @princetonwlax |
| Virginia |
Roster l Schedule l Stats l @UVAWomensLax |
PRINCETON, N.J. (2/17/16) - The reigning Ivy League champion Princeton women's lacrosse team opens the 2016 season this Saturday, Feb., 20 when it hosts No. 4 Virginia at noon at Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium.
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton was just one game away from making the NCAA final four last year, reaching the quarterfinal round and eventually falling to No. 5 Duke, 7-3. The Tigers finished the season 16-4 overall and was a perfect seven-for-seven in the Ivy League en route to winning its second straight Ivy League title.
The Tigers return 10 starters including their entire defensive unit. Anchoring the defense is captain senior Liz Bannantine. Surrounding her are senior Maddie Lynch, junior Madeline Rodriquez and junior Amanda Leavell. Bannantine and Leavell each had 14 caused turnovers and 18 caused turnovers apiece last year. Behind them is junior Ellie DeGarmo. DeGarmo played in all 20 games and posted an 8.71 goals against average and a .467 save percentage with 23 ground balls.
Offensively the team faces key losses in the All-America duo of Erin Slifer and Erin McMunn. The pair combined for 119 points, 49 draw controls, 38 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers. However, junior Olivia Hompe, the team's leading goal scorer looks to keep her hot hand going this year. She had 54 goals and last and 16 assists for 70 points and tied for first in ground balls with 27. Seniors Stephanie Paloscio, junior Anya Gersoff and junior Anna Doherty will also provide an offensive spark as the upperclassmen put together 64 goals last year. Paloscio herself had 41 points on 21 goals and 20 assists, while Gersoff had 22 goals and six assists and Doherty had 23 goals and three assists. Gersoff and Doherty were the team leaders in draws last year with each have 30+. Camille Sullivan led the freshman in scoring last year with 13 points, and sophomore Abby Finkelston had a breakout year with 11 points.
The Tigers also have the No. 10 ranked recruiting class in the nation of seven freshmen. Some are expected to make significant contributions right away.
THE SERIES
Virginia holds a two-game edge in the all-time series 18-16. The Cavaliers have won the last two meetings including an 18-11 win in Charlottesville last year and a 13-11 game in the 2014 NCAA tournament that ended the Tigers season. Princeton however won the last game to be played here in town, a 15-13 win on March 15, 2014. Olivia Hompe and Anya Gersoff are the leading scorers against the Cavaliers, with seven points Liz Bannantine has seven ground balls and four caused turnovers in the series, while Anna Doherty has seven draws. Ellie DeGarmo has faced Virginia just once, last season.
SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
Virginia returns six starters from last season including the ACC Freshman of the Year goaltender Rachel Vander Kolk. Vander Kolk posted a .419 save percentage and a 10.35 GAA starting in all 19 games last year. The team adds 10 freshman to make up for seven losses due to graduation. Three of those are the teams top three scorers from last season: Casey Bocklet, Courtney Swan and Lisa Blue who combined for 197 points - not to mention big detriments to the team's draw control, ground ball and caused turnover categories.
In one game this season, those developments did not seem to have any effect on the Cavaliers as they topped No. 4 Northwestern 10-8 to improve six sports in the IWLCA rankings from 10th last week to fourth this week. Besser Dyson led the team with four points on a goal and three assists, while Kasey Behr had three points on two goals and an assist, while Posey Valis and Kelly Boyd added two goals apiece. Maggie Prease and Mary Alati each caused three turnovers, while Vander Kolk had a team-high five ground balls and made 12 saves on 20 shots. Three players: Behr, Preas and Meghan Heick tied for three draws each.