No. 10 Women's Lacrosse Edged By No. 7 Loyola, 16-15

Wednesday, March 23

Baltimore, Md.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

6-1

Loyola (MD)

8-0

Princeton

Loyola

Photo by: Brian McWalters

No. 10 Women's Lacrosse Edged By No. 7 Loyola, 16-15

March 23, 2022 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

BALTIMORE – It was everything you want from a game, besides the rain and – if you are a Princeton fan – the result.

No. 10 Princeton spotted No. 7 Loyola a 4-1 lead early in the first quarter and the Tigers could not get over the comeback hump in a 16-15 loss to the Greyhounds at a soggy Ridley Athletics Complex.

In a driving rain, the two teams put on a show befitting of a NCAA Tournament game, with the game in the balance until the final 90 seconds. The loss is the first of the season for Princeton (6-1), while Loyola (8-0) remains undefeated.

Kyla Sears had four goals, including a second-quarter hat trick. Sophie Whiteway was all over the field, scoring three times while adding eight draw controls two caused turnovers and two ground balls.

Princeton opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the game, Kari Buonanno finishing off a Sophie Whiteway pass right off the opening draw. That was the only lead the Tigers would have in the first half, though, as the Greyhounds rattled off the game's next four goals on their way to a 7-3 lead after the first quarter.

Loyola was beyond efficient in the first half, scoring 10 goals on 11 shots. Princeton's defense stepped up, forcing Loyola into eight turnovers in the opening thirty minutes and giving the attack a chance to claw back into the game.

In the second quarter, Princeton settled in on offense, scoring six goals on nine shots. Kyla Sears had three goals in the second quarter, scoring twice on free positions. After Loyola scored a pair of goals to take a 9-5 lead with 8:23 remaining in the second frame, the Tigers responded with five of the final six goals of the half to get to the break trailing by only one.

Sears scored with 3:22 remaining in the second, running by multiple Loyola defenders en route to a diving goal. Next up was Nina Montes who stutter-stepped by a defender at the top of the arc before slicing through two more and firing on the run with 0:45 left in the half.

Loyola regrouped to open the second half, scoring four goals in a row to begin the third quarter and build a 14-9 lead. Grace Tauckus and Kate Mulham dialed up goals for the Tigers 2:02 apart to stop the Greyhound run and get Princeton within three entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Princeton did everything it could to extend the game, but came up one goal short.

At one point, the Tigers faced a 4-v-7 situation after two green cards and a yellow were issued to Princeton within a span of 14 seconds. All the Tigers did was successfully kill that player advantage without conceding a shot and then go down the field where Sophie Whiteway scored to make it a 14-12 game early in the final frame.

With under 5:00 to play, Kyla Sears would score a free position goal while the Tigers were again a player down to make it a one-goal game.

Loyola would answer on the same man-up situation with a free position of their own from Jillian Wilson with 3:27 left in the game to regain a two-goal lead.

The Tigers would not back down, though. After a caused turnover by the defense, Princeton eventually would get the clear via a long Buonanno pass to Montes who launched a sidewinder on the run to bring Princeton back within one with 1:34 remaining.

The Greyhounds would win the ensuing draw, and one final yellow card was issued to the Tigers in the process, allowing Loyola to all play keepaway and run out the clock.

The Tigers return to Ivy League action on Friday night, taking on Columbia in New York City at 7 p.m.