Princeton Defeats Syracuse in 2OT to Advance in NCAAs

Friday, May 11

at Boston College

4:00 PM

Princeton University

13-5

Syracuse

9-10

OT 1

Syracuse

Princeton

Photo by: Patrick Tewey

Princeton Defeats Syracuse in 2OT to Advance in NCAAs

May 11, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Natick, Mass., native senior Colby Chanenchuk was the hometown hero as she scored the game winner in double overtime to give Princeton a 12-11 win over Syracuse. The victory advances the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face host Boston College on Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m.

No. 12 Princeton (13-5) took a six-goal lead in the first half before No. 19 Syracuse (9-10) went on an 8-2 run to tie the game, 11-11, at 6:25 of the second half.

Both teams had opportunities to win the game in overtime. Senior Elizabeth George won the opening draw of the first overtime, but a shot by Princeton went wide and backup goalie Hannah Van Middle, who came in on relief of Asa Goldstock in the first half, got the ground ball. Just after the play George took a cross check in the back, forcing Syracuse to give the ball right back. Sophomore Tess D'Orsi received a free-position attempt but Van Middelem came up the stop. Senior Camille Sullivan was able to pick off a turnover after the Orange cleared and before the buzzer sounded.

George again won the next draw but an errant pass gave Syracuse possession. Mary Rahal had a chance to win it for the Orange but Princeton goalie Sam Fish came up her biggest save of the game to end the first six-minute overtime.

Syracuse's Julie Cross took the next draw but an offensive charge was called on Neena Merola, and Princeton cleared with 4:50 remaining. Junior Allie Rogers held the ball behind the cage and Chanenchuk broke free from her defender and cut towards the goal to grab the pass and slice it home at 4:25 in the walk-off win.

The game began with turnovers plaguing bother teams with Taylor Gait finally breaking the stalemate at 22:22. It would be the last time Syracuse would have the lead until 6:57 of the second half.

Senior Ellie McNulty's free-position goal at 21:13 started the Tigers on a four-goal run. George added back-to-back goals, the first as she charged in from the top of the fan getting taken down while firing one home. After winning the next draw, George left her defender in the dust to give Princeton a 3-1 lead. Junior Kathryn Hallett pushed the Tigers ahead on a quick-transition goal, forcing Syracuse to call a timeout at 17:13.

Merola converted on Syracuse's first free-position attempt at 16:00 to halt the run, briefly, before Princeton added the next four tallies. Chanenchuk got a ground ball off a D'Orsi shot that ricocheted off the pipe to make it 5-2 at 12:47.

Fish made a big stop on leading scorer Emily Hawryschuk to put Princeton back on offense where Annie Cory converted on the first assisted goal of the game at 11:19 on a feed from D'Orsi.

Fish answered the bell again on a Rahal shot, and after D'Orsi gave the Tigers a 7-2 edge at 9:48 Syracuse pulled Goldstock and replaced her with Van Middelem.

Van Middelem didn't have an answer for freshman Kyla Sears on the first shot she faced, as Sears buried a Rogers pass for the six-goal cushion at 7:22.

Merola ended the run once again but Rogers answered right back 28 seconds later.

Sam Swart got a ground ball off a blocked shot and made it 9-4 and Nicole Levy inched the Orange closer with a tally with 21 seconds left in the first half, 9-6.

Sears tallied her 70th point of the season from D'Orsi at 26:07, the final strike for the Tigers for the next 19:42 as the Orange net five straight goals to take an 11-10 lead at 6:57, their first lead since it was 1-0.

Just after checking into the game for the first time senior Haley Giraldi feed McNulty to knot the game at 11-11 with 6:25 remaining in regulation.

Eight different players scored for Princeton with McNulty, Sears, Chanenchuk and George scoring twice. D'Orsi and Rogers both had a goal and two assists apiece. George had a game-high five draws, freshman Marge Donovan had four draws and two caused turnovers. Fish made 13 saves in her 10th victory of the season.

Merola and Nicole Levy both had three goals, while Rahal and Riley Donahue had one goal and two assists apiece. Goldstock made four save on eight shots, while Van Middelem made six saves on 11 shots in the final 51:58.

Nearly every statistical category was decided by one, with Princeton leading in shots 32-31 while Syracuse had a 14-13 draw control differential and a 16-15 ground ball advantage. Both teams caused seven turnovers each.

Princeton faces No. 4 Boston College (19-1) for the first time in program history, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m.