Women's Lacrosse Drops Drexel To Open NCAA Tournament

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The big stage saw a big effort.

Princeton found itself down early to Drexel after conceding the first four goals of the game, but a furious Tiger rally had the game even by halftime and a shutout performance from the defense in the third quarter provided an emphatic halt to any Drexel momentum en route to a 14-9 win for the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament First Round at Boston College.

With the win, the Tigers advance to take on No. 2 Boston College on May 12 at noon at Alumni Stadium.

High 5?s!

McKenzie Blake gets her 5th goal and Haven Dora dishes her 5th assist and we lead, 14-8!

The assist for Dora is her 40th this season -- tying the program record for assists in a season! pic.twitter.com/TNo5jAgs8Y
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 10, 2024

Haven Dora had a seven-point game, scoring twice and dishing out five assists which gives her 40 helpers on the season – tying the Princeton single-season record set by Kyla Sears in 2019.

McKenzie Blake led all scorers with five goals – netting four of those in the second half to give the Tigers a comfortable lead.

Jami MacDonald had two goals, as did Maggie Molnar – netting her first two collegiate goals in the process.

What A Way To Get Your First!

How about Maggie Molnar's FIRST CAREER GOAL coming in her first career NCAA Tournament game?!?!@USALacrosseMag | @ILWomen pic.twitter.com/GBJkBzj7rI
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 10, 2024

Princeton had an 18-9 edge in draw controls, the margin exactly the output of Ellie Mueller who had nine to tie her single-game career high.

Massachusetts native Abigail Roberts had a breakout game minutes from where she grew up, causing six turnovers and winning five draw controls

Amelia Hughes made eight saves in goal, including four in the fourth quarter to halt any chance of a comeback from the Dragons.

The Tigers spotted the Dragons the first four goals of the game, falling behind by a score of 4-0 before first quarter was halfway done. Drexel scored on each of its first four shots, including two goals from Anna Maria Gragnani.

Princeton responded with the next four goals to level the game at 4-4.

Maggie Molnar was first, scoring her first collegiate goal with 3:37 left in the opening period off an assist from Jami MacDonald.

The next goal came off the stick of MacDonald who finished off the hard work of Kari Buonanno who charged down the field in transition and dished at the right moment to an open MacDonald with 1:55 left in the first quarter.

Princeton scored one more before the end of the period, with McKenzie Blake slipping open right at the goal circle and taking a lofted pass from Haven Dora and firing it home.

Kari Buonanno tied the game at 4-4 just over three minutes into the second quarter, circling around to center hash and charging right down the middle before bouncing home a shot 3:19 into the period.

The Tigers Tie It Up!

Four in a row from Princeton and we're back even in Boston! pic.twitter.com/1WgDDJRya6
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 10, 2024

Drexel regain the lead with 6:04 left in the first half when Corinne Bednarik finally got on the board for the Dragons to end a run of 17:04 of shutout defense for the Tigers.

The lead was short-loved however, as Molnar scored her second of the afternoon 1:15 later to again bring the game even at 6-6 which is how the first half ended.

The third quarter was all Princeton. The Tigers scored all six of the goals to find the back of the net in the third quarter, building a 12-6 lead. McKenzie Blake had three of those goals, while Haven Dora had a goal and two assists as the Tigers took control of the game with an 8-1 edge in shots on goal during the period.

Them: "No One's Going To Stop Her 1v1"

McKenzie Blake: "Yup!"

She puts her defender on skates and spins for a two-goal lead! pic.twitter.com/C3m7HpKEcW
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 10, 2024

Drexel final got on the board in the second half 0:36 into the fourth quarter via an Alex Wall goal which ended an 18:24 stretch of shutout defense from Princeton which covered the final 2:48 of the second quarter and the entire third period before conceding the early marker in the fourth quarter. Princeton's defense clamped down again, not allowing Drexel to score again until there was 6:56 left to play. After that goal, which cut Princeton's lead to 12-8, the Tigers scored the next two and stymied the Dragons once and for all.

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