NCAA Tournament Run Ends For Women's Lacrosse In 13-9 Loss To No. 5 Syracuse

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A magical 2022 season concluded for the Princeton Tigers with a 13-9 loss to No. 5 seed Syracuse at Sherrerd Field, and with it came the conclusion of a legendary career for Hall of Fame head coach Chris Sailer who had previously announced the 2022 campaign would be her last.

Kyla Sears and Kari Buonanno each had three goals for Princeton. Marge Donovan had five caused turnovers and four ground balls to go with four draw controls. Sam Fish added 12 saves in goal.

Notes To Know

Chris Sailer coached her 601st -- and final -- game as head coach of the Tigers. She retires with an overall record of 433-168 over her 36 seasons as head coach at Princeton.
Sailer's 433 wins are the fifth-most all-time by a women's lacrosse head coach, second-most in Division I, and most by a coach at one school.
Sailer won 16 Ivy League championships and three NCAA championships as head coach of the Tigers.
Sailer coached her teams to 27 NCAA Tournaments, compiling a record of 38-24 in NCAA games. Her 38 career NCAA Tournament wins are the most of any coach.
Kyla Sears' three goals give her at least one goal scored in all 63 career games she has played -- the fifth-longest streak of games with a goal all-time in Division I Women's Lacrosse.
Sears will graduate as Princeton's all-time leader in goals (209), assists (98) and points (307).
Sears finished 2022 with 100 points, second-most in a season all-time by a Princeton player. Her 70 goals this season are also second-most in a season by a Tiger.
Marge Donovan will graduate No. 1 all-time in career draw controls by a Tiger (214) and her 112 draw controls this season are No. 1 in a season by a Tiger.
Donovan's 83 career caused turnovers rank No. 8 all-time by a Princeton player.
Sam Fish will graduate ranked No. 3 all-time in saves by a Princeton keeper with 577. Her 192 saves in 2022 tie her career high and rank No. 5 in a season by a Tiger.

The Tigers put forth an effort worthy of the setting, building a 3-0 lead 4:23 into the game on the strength of goals from Kari Buonanno, Sophie Whiteway and Grace Tauckus. The Orange finally got on the board with 1:17 remaining in the first quarter, utilizing five first-quarter saves from goalkeeper Kimber Hower to stay within range.

Q1: Princeton 1, Syracuse 0

Kari Buonanno gets the party started for Princeton! pic.twitter.com/4FI4paY7rm
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 15, 2022

Buonanno struck again 2:07 into the second quarter to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead, but the tide then turned in Syracuse's favor with a 4-0 run as Princeton was held off the scoreboard for 7:17 and the Orange took a 5-4 lead following a goal from Tewaaraton Award finalist Meaghan Tyrell with 6:20 left in the half.

Q2: Princeton 6, Syracuse 6

Ellie Mueller drives hard to the net and rips it past the goalie! pic.twitter.com/4pxVmITUFV
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 15, 2022

Princeton was unable to regain the lead the rest of the way despite tying the game on three occasions. The final tie in the game came via a Kyla Sears goal early in the third quarter which made it a 7-7 game. After that score, Syracuse rattled off four in a row to build an 11-7 lead and never look back.

Sears would score the 209th -- and final -- goal of her stellar Princeton career with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter to cut Princeton's deficit to 11-8, but that was as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way.

Q3: Syracuse 11, Princeton 8

What an effort! It's a ?????? for Kyla Sears! Tigers within three. pic.twitter.com/gbvsBPgwtv
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 15, 2022

Sears was called for her second yellow card of the game with 8:25 remaining in the game, stacking the deck even more against the Tigers as they searched for a comeback. Princeton killed off that player advantage, but a pair of extra-player goals from Syracuse in the fourth quarter from Tyrell added extra insurance for Syracuse.

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