While on May 19 most Princeton students were finishing up their final exams or wondering what to take back home with them for the summer, the women's lacrosse team was finishing off Georgetown, taking home the coveted title of NCAA champion.
The 2002 season could be seen as a palindrome in two ways. For one, the championship victory ends the seven-year reign of powerhouse Maryland, which began the year following Princeton's last championship season in 1994. What's more, the ultimate victory over Georgetown crowned a season that both began and ended with a Hoya-Tiger matchup.
In the season opener, Georgetown just barely pulled ahead and beat Princeton in overtime at 1952 Stadium, 15-13. That would be the Tigers' only loss for the season, as they went on to amass a 19-game winning streak that culminated in a vengeful 12-7 victory over the same Georgetown team — this time for the national championship — May 19.
The game started out slowly for the Tigers, who fell behind by two goals almost immediately. Seven minutes and 40 seconds in, however, Lindsay Biles '05 broke the ice with a goal that was followed by a second from Elizabeth Pillion '05 and then another from Biles. By halftime, after attack Lauren Simone '02 nailed her first of three goals at 25:41, the Tigers had erased the gap, tying the game at four.
Something magical must have gone on in the locker room between the halves, because when the Tigers retook the field for the last and decisive thirty minutes of their season, they showed no signs of nervousness.
Following a second goal by Simone and another from Georgetown, Mimi Hammerberg '02 broke the tie and launched the Tigers on a 5-0 run, with goals from Biles, Simone, attack Charlotte Kenworthy '02 and attack Whitney Miller '03, that left the top-seeded Hoyas shell-shocked and helpless.
The 2002 NCAA champs razed all kinds of records, not just in Princeton's history, but in the all-time record books of national collegiate lacrosse.
The 25 goals the Tigers netted in the first round to crush Le Moyne were the most any team has ever scored in a NCAA tournament game. The Tigers also broke records for the largest margin of victory (22 points) and fewest goals allowed in a Final Four game (two against North Carolina in the semifinal).
As if that doesn't say enough, the team set new school records for most points, goals and wins in a season as well as the longest winning streak in program history.
What seemed to be the Tigers' strategy in most of their games this year was to take an aggressive offensive stance for the first half, firing shots mercilessly at the other team. Then, once they had gained a sure advantage, they would enter the second half focusing more on maintaining rhythm through controlled passing across the entire field.
Whether this trend reflects a solid team's unique style of play or a generous effort not to just humiliate a hapless opponent remains to be decided. But regardless of why they did it, it worked.
In the team's sixth win over Columbia, for example, the Tigers scored 13 goals in the first half alone and then eased into a more settled offense for the last 30 minutes on the way to a 17-1 win.
Perhaps the sweetest victory for the Tigers, besides of course the championship, came against Maryland — the team that had eliminated Princeton from the tournament last year and went on to win the title. The Tigers not only rebounded from an early 5-0 deficit but pulled ahead to drop the Terrapins, 13-9, in a game that perhaps confirmed their No. 1 status more than any other.
Although no single player stood out among this team of giants, co-captains Charlotte Kenworthy and Lauren Simone, both on the attack, fulfilled their leadership roles impressively.
Both were named to the All-Ivy and Mid-Atlantic teams. Simone, a first team All-America selection, led the Tigers in goals, assists and ground balls, and she was named the NCAA tournament MVP. Kenworthy, for her part, placed third in scoring on the year and was second-team All-America.
Joining them with first-team honors were midfielder Theresa Sherry '04, midfielder Brooke Owens '02 and defender Rachael Becker '03. Sherry and Becker were named first-team All-America, while Owens made the second team. Senior Mimi Hammerberg made both the second-team All Mid-Atlantic and All-Ivy teams, while Ivy League honorable mentions went to two freshmen — goalkeeper Sarah Kolodner and attack Lindsey Biles.
Behind all this talent in the players themselves lies the catalyst of it all — head coach Chris Sailer. The 19-win season brought her career win total to 199, and her .950 win percentage was the nation's best.
She led the Tigers to their last national championship victory in 1994, and she will continue to do in the future what coaches are meant to do — help the team improve.
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