Hoyas squeak past w. lacrosse, 15-13, in double overtime game

The women's lacrosse season opener yesterday at 1952 Stadium against No. 4 Georgetown was a tiebreaker in more ways than one.

Not only did the Hoyas break a 13-13 tie in overtime to win, 15-13, but it also broke the 3-3 all-time record in the Georgetown -Princeton series.

What distinguished the game was an alternating slew of scoring streaks, as first the No. 3 Tigers and then the No. 4 Hoyas would net multiple goals in a row.

After the Hoyas' preliminary goal four minutes into the game, the Tigers pounded them with four goals in under 11 minutes. The last eight minutes of the half, however, were in Georgetown's hands. The Hoyas answered Princeton's streak with five consecutive goals, and finished the half ahead by two.

The second half started the same way as the first, with an opening goal by the Hoyas followed by five Princeton goals in five minutes. The tone of the rest of the game, however, turned into a neck-and-neck scramble to grasp and hold on to the lead.

The leading scorer of the game was Georgetown's attack Erin Elbe, who had six goals. For Princeton, the scoring was more spread out. Three players – senior attack Kim Smith, senior attack Lauren Simone, and sophomore midfielder Theresa Sherry each contributed three goals. Junior attack Whitney Miller, junior midfielder Alex Fiore, junior attack Sarah Small and senior attack Charlotte Kenworthy added one each.

Solo

The majority of the goals scored by both teams were unassisted. In fact, only three of Princeton's 13 were created by assists.

Free shots were an important source of both teams' unassisted scoring opportunities. Smith put in all her goals after being fouled and sprinting directly to the goalie for a one-on-one shot. With one minute, 40 seconds left in regulation, Theresa Sherry tied the score with a free shot, sending the game into overtime.

Georgetown scored its first tie-breaking goal with 47 seconds remaining in the first three-minute period. The Princeton defense could not stop Elbe's quick fake to the left, allowing her to fire her sixth goal into the net.

In the second overtime period, the Tiger defense frantically attempted to gain control of the game. With two minutes remaining, Fiore leapt in the air, her stick raised high, hoping to intercept the yellow ball, but a yellow card was the only reward she received for her aggression.

A foul on Princeton gave the Tigers a chance to close the gap, but Georgetown's junior goalkeeper Claire Foster made her first of two incredible overtime saves to prevent the advance.

With 10 seconds left, Foster caught Princeton's last shot on goal and sealed the 16-14 victory for the Hoyas.

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Despite the loss, the Tigers will have a chance to redeem themselves this Wednesday against Lafayette at Class of 1952 Stadium.

Princeton returns ten starters from last year's Final Four squad as well as 25 of 35 letterwinners, indicating that the Tigers have the potential to live up to their No. 3 ranking.