Samaras '99 returns, scores four against women's lacrosse

Five minutes, 54 seconds into Saturday's women's lacrosse game a familiar sound came out of the public ad-dress system.

.."Goal scored by Crista Samaras," the announcer boomed.

This time, however, Samaras was not wearing orange and black. Instead, she was wearing the red, white and blue of the United States.

Samaras, a member of the Class of '99, had returned to 1952 Stadium as a member of the United States National team as the U.S. defeated Princeton 11-3 in an exhibition game. Her classmate, defender Lucy Small '99 also started for the U.S.

Samaras led the national team with four goals and an assist in the fall exhibition as the U.S. team played its final game this fall after winning the World Cup this summer.

"This field has always made me more comfortable," Samaras said. "Today I just tried to show I can still play a little bit."

While the national team controlled the scoreboard for almost the entire game, the playing was extremely similar for most of the match. Princeton's offense was alive in the first half as the Tigers got eight shots off on the goaltending tandem of Sue Heether and Alex Kahoe.

The national team was up to the challenge, however, as it held the Tigers to a single goal in the first half. Princeton got its tally when junior midfielder Whitney Miller fired a shot over the goalie's shoulder just under six minutes into the game.

"We looked fast and I saw a really good work ethic out there," Princeton head coach Chris Sailer said. "We got off some good shots, but just couldn't finish."

While the Tiger offense struggled at times and looked a little rusty in the transition game, the defense was in fine form.

Sophomore goalie Meghan McInnes had one of her best games, stopping a number of very good opportunities for the national team, including a save on a breakaway with 10 minutes left.

"The defense was phenomenal," Sailer said. "This was also one of the best games Meg has played here."

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The performance was even more impressive considering Princeton was missing defender junior Rachael Becker who was playing for the field hockey team, junior Alex Fiore of the soccer team and senior attack Kim Smith who is not currently enrolled.

But the competitive aspect of the game was secondary to both the experience Princeton players gained playing against the best in the world and the exhibition of great lacrosse the fans witnessed.

In fact, Small and Samaras spent two days last week, not figuring out the strategies of their Princeton counterparts, but instead working with the team and helping them through their fall practices.

"I got to meet the girls that I hadn't already met and talk to the whole team," Samaras said. "They really look awesome this year."

Sailer was also thankful for the help her former players brought to the team.

"We're a little shorthanded early on, so having them there let us play a full-field scrimmage," the coach said.

While her summer was taken up primarily by work with the national team, Samaras, the all-time leading scorer for Princeton, is pursuing other lines of work while living in New York City.

In addition to working out every day to stay in shape for lacrosse, since the team only practices together for a few times each year, Samaras is attempting to become an actress. She performed in an Off-Broadway show earlier this year and just recently started her own theater company.

"It's hard being both a tough athlete and also a skinny actress at the same time," Samaras said with a smile. " But so far it's been a really great time."

Despite all of the great times that Samaras and Small had at Princeton there was one part of the national team experience that was even better.

"The one thing I regret about Princeton is the fact I was never able to win a national championship," Samaras said. "I have my ring from the world championships and it's so neat."