Women's lacrosse earns home win against Terps

The first twenty minutes gave no indication of what was to come.

Down 5-0 with ten minutes left in the first half, the women's lacrosse team looked, perhaps, star-struck by its opponent, Maryland — the Maryland that eliminated the Tigers from the tournament last year and went on to win the national title.

The reigning champions jumped ahead just 45 seconds into the match, as the Tigers struggled to maintain — or even to gain — possession of the ball.

Following a tricky save by freshman goalkeeper Sarah Kolodner seconds after the first Maryland goal, Princeton (14-1 overall, 6-0 Ivy League) tried to take advantage of the turnover and was able to transition smoothly into its usually unstoppable offensive set-up. But the Terrapin defense was all-too prepared, as it remarkably regained control of the ball and left the Tigers scrambling all the way back down the field and utterly helpless to put a stop to Maryland's second goal.

Three goals, two stalls to repair unraveled knee tape, and plenty of sloppy turnovers later, however, the momentum swerved back into Princeton's hands.

If there was ever any doubt that this year's team deserves its No. 1 ranking, last night's comeback obliterated it all as the team came back from a five-goal deficit to win, 14-9.

With ten minutes remaining in the first half, freshman defender Elizabeth Pillion scored the home team's first goal, which set off an eight-goal explosion by the Tigers interrupted by only one from Maryland in the rest of the period.

If the Terrapins thought their five goals in 20 minutes was impressive, try eight goals in ten.

With each additional score, the Tigers visually grew more confident. Two minutes after senior attack Kim Smith netted the team's second goal off an assist from senior attack Lauren Simone, the third senior attack Charlotte Kenworthy not only forced a turnover on defense, but she then went on to plow her way down the entire length of the field and finish with an elegant shot right past the Maryland goalkeeper.

"The defense at first had trouble getting the ball back out, clearing and transitioning into offense," Kenworthy said. "But coming back from 5-0 gave us a lot of confidence — just knowing that when we were down we could come back like that."

"We were really able to show our true style [last night]," Simone said. "Whether we're down five or up five, we just play our game."

To come back from a five-goal deficit behind the returning champions, only to lose momentum in the second half, indeed would not have been part of Princeton's style. On the contrary, not only did the Tiger defense hold the Terrapins to three goals in the entire second period, but the offense doubled that score with six more of its own.

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Kenworthy had two more goals to round off her hat trick, as did Simone. Junior midfielder Alex Fiore and senior midfielder Mimi Hammerberg also added one goal apiece to the scoreboard.

Another impressive feat came from Kolodner, who recorded 13 saves to the Maryland goalie's nine.

Last night's win was particularly sweet for the Tigers in more ways than one.

As Simone said, "It's amazing to feel like the No. 1 team in the country now."

Although the team has certainly grown accustomed to winning this season, it could not be sure of its No. 1 standing until it could scare the Terrapins back into their shell.

Even though Maryland's record going into the match was an unimpressive 9-7, the memory of Princeton's season-ending loss to the same team last year has never left.

Now, however, with Maryland added to its list of victims, there seems to be few obstacles left on the road to the national title.

In the words of Simone, "This is our year."