W. lacrosse begins quest for three-peat against Colgate

If today marked the end of the season for the women's lacrosse team, most observers would declare the results a resounding success. After securing the first undefeated regular season in team history, garnering the distinction of being the only undefeated Division I men's or women's lacrosse team, annexing an uncontested Ivy League title to their resumé, and boasting 25 straight wins, the Tigers (16-0 overall, 7-0 Ivy League) deserve their many accolades. Still, such excellence is not sufficient to satiate this Princeton team's drive.

"I think we've had an amazing season," junior attack Lindsey Biles said. "But we have such team chemistry, I think we'll be disappointed if we don't win the national championship because we have so much potential."

On Thursday, the Tigers commence their defense of the national title they have held for the past two years. Princeton enters the tournament as the top seed for the first time. Its journey to re-coronation will be challenged initially by Colgate (13-6), which received its ticket to the championship courtesy of an automatic berth from the Patriot League. The Raiders finished undefeated in league play and clinched the championship with a closely contested 11-10 win over rival American.

Big game inexperience will undoubtedly hurt Colgate's chances at pulling off the upset. While the Tigers have made NCAA tournament appearances in 13 of the past 14 years, winning the title three times, the Raiders enter the tournament for the very first time. Although any team luckless enough to face this dominant Princeton squad on its home turf confronts a daunting challenge, Colgate will not have the luxury of time to overcome any early jitters. The Tigers are too proficient to fail to capitalize on their opponents' initial lapses.

"We have a lot of momentum from the season," Biles said. "We've been in pretty tough situations a couple times during the regular season, but we have the ability to pull through. We really know what it takes to dig down deep and win, and that's going to be huge in the postseason."

Be assured, however, that the Raiders will show up for the game and employ the team speed and general talent that has contributed to this breakout season. Colgate is led by midfielders Katie McVeigh, who holds the top spot on the team in both goals and assists, with 48 and 21 respectively, and Kelly Winning, who scores in the name category and has also notched 41 goals and 13 assists.

Princeton has two talented 40-plus goal scorers of its own in Biles and senior attack Theresa Sherry. Notching 48 and 42 goals respectively, they have sparked the team's offense in each game and deserve the praise they have received.

But the greatest beauty of the Tiger team is its depth and myriad offensive threats and defensive stalwarts. In games in which Biles or Sherry have been momentarily shut down, another Princeton player has inevitably stepped up. Six other players have recorded double-digits in goals, and senior attack Tara Hardiman has been lethal when given an opening in front of the net.

The teams' only previous meeting was in 1986 when the Raiders pulled out a 12-7 win. This is an outcome, however, a determined squad in orange and black pledge not to repeat on Thursday night. Princeton has soundly defeated teams with much better records and much more experience, and many believe that this season's championship already belongs in the Tigers' trophy case. The players themselves do not engage in such overconfident speculation, nor do they expect their opponents to hand the victory to them uncontested. They will prove they deserve the championship one game at a time.

"We're going to make sure we're focused on the game we're playing," junior goaltender Sarah Kolodner said, "and not looking ahead to the next round."