Wednesday, February 26
Villanova, Pa.
2:00 PM
Princeton University
2-1
18
at
13
Villanova
2-2
1
2
F
Princeton
11
7
18
Villanova
8
5
13
Photo by: Greg Carroccio
No. 13 Women's Lacrosse Rebounds With 18-13 Win At Villanova
February 26, 2020 | Women's Lacrosse
VILLANOVA, PA. – No. 13 Princeton overcame a slow start to topple Villanova, 18-13, on the Main Line as the Tigers improved to 2-1 overall in 2020.
Freshman Grace Tauckus had six goals in the game, tying for second-most in a game by a Princeton freshman all-time behind the seven scored by Joanna McNeil in 1978.
The player Tauckus tied for second with – Kyla Sears (who had six against Brown in 2018) – also had a standout day with five goals and two assists for seven points. Senior tri-captain Katie Reilly had two goals and three assists for a career-high five points.
Sears now ranks No. 9 all-time in points by a Tiger with 196. Her 65 assists rank No. 7 all-time by a Princeton player.
Junior defender Marge Donovan had nine draw controls, tying her career-high which is No. 4 all-time in a single game by a Princeton player.
The Wildcats started fast, scoring three of the game's first four goals to build a 3-1 lead 5:18 into the contest. From there, the Tigers settled in and scored the next four goals to take a 5-3 lead 10:35 in.
Overall, Princeton's run in the middle of the first half was an 8-2 advantage as the Tigers took control. The big swing was a pair of goals in 0:17 to build the 5-3 lead as Shannon Berry and Jordan Marcus scored in succession.
Katie Reilly had two goals and two assists in the first half, while Kyla Sears added three goals over the opening period.
After the Wildcats clawed back within one at 6-5 with 13:45 left in the first half, Princeton rattled off the next three goals to build a 9-5 lead. Kyla Sears scored first on the free position, followed by Katie Reilly 1:45 later. Grace Tauckus followed 1:40 later.
'Nova countered with three consecutive goals of its own in a span of 2:28 to again get within one at 9-8. Princeton dialed up a pair of goals before the first half as Tauckus spun and fired for her second goal of the half followed by Sears who blew by a pair of defenders with 2:18 left in the opening period. Her hat trick gave the Tigers an 11-8 lead at the break.
Princeton's lead was never less than two goals the rest of the way.
A pair of Wildcat goals early in the second half closed Princeton's lead to 12-10, but the Tigers scored the next three goals and never looked back. Annie Cory, Tauckus and Sears scored the three goals on that run to build a 15-10 lead with 14:55 remaining. Another three-goal run – including a highlight reel goal by Sears who went behind-the-back – gave the Tigers a comfortable 18-11 lead and their second win of the season.
Princeton returns to action on February 29, opening Ivy League play at Columbia. Opening draw with the Lions is set for noon in the Big Apple.
Freshman Grace Tauckus had six goals in the game, tying for second-most in a game by a Princeton freshman all-time behind the seven scored by Joanna McNeil in 1978.
Tauckus With A Twist!
— Princeton WLAX (@princetonwlax) February 26, 2020
Sweet spinner for a 10-8 Tigers lead! pic.twitter.com/nwjsViVDQA
The player Tauckus tied for second with – Kyla Sears (who had six against Brown in 2018) – also had a standout day with five goals and two assists for seven points. Senior tri-captain Katie Reilly had two goals and three assists for a career-high five points.
5:16 (2H) KYLA SEARS!
— Princeton WLAX (@princetonwlax) February 26, 2020
A gorgeous behind-the-back goal for the Tigers!@NCAALax #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/gtlyY95M2R
Sears now ranks No. 9 all-time in points by a Tiger with 196. Her 65 assists rank No. 7 all-time by a Princeton player.
Junior defender Marge Donovan had nine draw controls, tying her career-high which is No. 4 all-time in a single game by a Princeton player.
The Wildcats started fast, scoring three of the game's first four goals to build a 3-1 lead 5:18 into the contest. From there, the Tigers settled in and scored the next four goals to take a 5-3 lead 10:35 in.
Overall, Princeton's run in the middle of the first half was an 8-2 advantage as the Tigers took control. The big swing was a pair of goals in 0:17 to build the 5-3 lead as Shannon Berry and Jordan Marcus scored in succession.
Katie Reilly had two goals and two assists in the first half, while Kyla Sears added three goals over the opening period.
After the Wildcats clawed back within one at 6-5 with 13:45 left in the first half, Princeton rattled off the next three goals to build a 9-5 lead. Kyla Sears scored first on the free position, followed by Katie Reilly 1:45 later. Grace Tauckus followed 1:40 later.
'Nova countered with three consecutive goals of its own in a span of 2:28 to again get within one at 9-8. Princeton dialed up a pair of goals before the first half as Tauckus spun and fired for her second goal of the half followed by Sears who blew by a pair of defenders with 2:18 left in the opening period. Her hat trick gave the Tigers an 11-8 lead at the break.
Princeton's lead was never less than two goals the rest of the way.
A pair of Wildcat goals early in the second half closed Princeton's lead to 12-10, but the Tigers scored the next three goals and never looked back. Annie Cory, Tauckus and Sears scored the three goals on that run to build a 15-10 lead with 14:55 remaining. Another three-goal run – including a highlight reel goal by Sears who went behind-the-back – gave the Tigers a comfortable 18-11 lead and their second win of the season.
Princeton returns to action on February 29, opening Ivy League play at Columbia. Opening draw with the Lions is set for noon in the Big Apple.
Team Stats
PRIN
VU
Shots
44
33
Turnovers
14
12
Caused Turnovers
8
7
Draw Controls
23
9
Free-Position Shots
16
2
Ground Balls
19
11
Game Leaders
G
6
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
2
G
5
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
1
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
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