Tauckus Scores Six; Tigers Go Toe-To-Toe With No. 2 BC In NCAA Tournament Loss

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For most of its Second Round game against No. 2 seeded Boston College, Princeton showed it could go toe-to-toe with one of the nation's top teams, but a furious close to the second quarter and open to the third from the Eagles was too much to overcome in a 21-16 loss at Alumni Stadium.

That's Six!

Grace Tauckus ties her career high with her 6?th goal of the game! pic.twitter.com/sTYh2jc6Cc
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 12, 2024

The Tigers never led in the game, but gave the Eagles fits throughout and did work to tie the game on five occasions in the first half before the Eagles closed with four consecutive goals over the final 5:52 of the second quarter – three coming in the final 0:30 – for a 13-9 halftime lead. The third quarter opened in similar fashion as BC scored three goals in the first 3:11 of the period to widen their lead to 16-9 which was a large enough cushion to overcome a feisty Princeton rally before the close of the third which brought the Tigers back to within three.

The Eagles proceeded to counter that Princeton four-goal run with one of its own to start the fourth quarter and put the game away.

Princeton scored nine times in the first half – surpassing the average goals allowed in an entire game by the Eagles over their first 20 games (7.84 gpg) in just 30:00 of play. The final tally of 16 goals scored by Princeton is the highest total scored by an opponent against Boston College this season.

Six of those 16 goals came from senior captain Grace Tauckus who tied her career high in what was her final game as a Tiger. McKenzie Blake netted four goals of her own – also winning four draws, while Haven Dora added two. Jami MacDonald had a four-point afternoon, dishing out three assists while scoring once.

WHOOP!

Haven Dora gets shifty and drops a defender en route to her 2nd goal of the day!@ILWomen | @USALacrosseMag | @NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/NZL1ceUHhp
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 12, 2024

Sophie Whiteway won five draws as the Tigers fought on the circle to win 19 to 21 for the Eagles.

The team stats were all but even throughout the game as the Tigers battled the 2023 national finalists up and down the field. In addition to the 21-19 draw control margin, shots were 42-37 for BC, shots on goal were 31-26 and each team made 10 saves. The two teams went a combined 31-for-32 on clears and Princeton committed 13 turnovers to 11 by the Eagles.

The two teams combined for 13 goals in the first quarter, the Eagles ending up with the slight better of the scoreboard with a 7-6 lead after one period of play.

The Eagles led by as much as three in the opening period, building a 6-3 lead despite a pair of early goals from Haven Dora.

Off The Iron & On The Board!

Haven Dora goes lefty from behind the cage and we're off and running! pic.twitter.com/C0aWbFUH4s
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 12, 2024

After the Eagles had built their 6-3 lead, the Tigers countered with three goals in a span of 1:12 to tie the game at 6-6.

Meg Morrisroe had the first goal in the run, scooping up the rebound after McKenzie Blake's original shot clanged off the post and right to Morrisroe with 2:44 left in the first period.

Blake found the back of the net just 0:37 later to get the Tigers within one, going low with an underhand laser off a pass from Jami MacDonald.

Blake Takes A Big Swing!

What a low ?? from McKenzie Blake!@USA_Lacrosse | @ILWomen | @NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/N3xWYAHDrD
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 12, 2024

Grace Tauckus then brought the game level with a free position goal with 1:32 remaining in the opening quarter. Rachel Clark would net the final goal of the period, scoring for the Eagles with 0:17 left.

The second quarter was more of the same as the teams went back-and-forth trading goals until a four-goals Boston College run to close the half sent the game to the break with the Eagles in front, 13-9. The dagger to end the half was a three-goal run for BC in a span of 0:26 in the final half-minute of play as Rachel Clark, Kayla Martello and Emma LoPinto scored in quick fashion to turn a one-goal Tigers deficit into a four-goal cushion after the first half.

The Eagles would extend their run into the second half, scoring three times in the opening 3:11 of the third quarter to widen their advantage to 16-9 before Grace Tauckus took a Kari Buonanno pass and scored to end the drought with 10:29 left in the third.

Princeton had a counterpunch, however, scoring the final four goals of the third quarter to claw back to within three headed to the fourth period. Grace Tauckus took over in that run, scoring three goals in a row before Maggie Molnar tacked on the fourth with 3:03 remaining in the quarter.

Blake Takes A Big Swing!

What a low ?? from McKenzie Blake!@USA_Lacrosse | @ILWomen | @NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/N3xWYAHDrD
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) May 12, 2024

Boston College responded with four more goals of its own to open the fourth quarter, halting Princeton's rally and opening a 20-13 lead.

The Tigers showed their fight down the stretch, scoring three of the final four goals in the game. Blake and Tauckus scored in a span of 1:13 to get the Tiger back within five and in shouting distance, but that was as close as the Tigers would get.

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