The lone blemish on the 2004 women's lacrosse team's 19-1 record came thanks to Virginia's stellar play in the final of the NCAA Championship, when the Tigers lost to the Cavaliers, 10-4. This Saturday, the current No. 3 Tiger squad (4-1 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) will face No. 4 Virginia (5-1) on the Cavaliers home turf in Charlottesville. One might assume Princeton will be looking for revenge, but the team is mostly focused on its own improvement and development.
"I think obviously we remember last year, but we're thinking about this year," senior midfielder Elizabeth Pillion said. "We want to get better as a team."
This season, Virginia started out No. 1 in the polls but was upset by Penn State in its third game of the season. Last week, the Tigers took over the No. 1 spot only to be upset in a 14-13 double-overtime loss on March 19th, a loss to the same Nittany Lion squad that took down the Cavaliers.
"The loss opened up our eyes," head coach Chris Sailer said. "It focused us on what it takes to win at this level."
For Princeton, that means coming out strong and being ready to play at the start of the game. In their past two contests, the Tigers have struggled in the first half, both offensively and defensively. Against Columbia on Tuesday, a strong second half was enough to make up for a mediocre first period, but against Penn State, Princeton allowed too many early goals.
Princeton has been led offensively by Pillion and senior attack Lindsey Biles. Younger players have also stepped up, including sophomore midfielder Kathleen Miller and freshman midfielder Katie Lewis-Lamonica, who have each developed into scoring threats for the Tigers.
Virginia is led by senior midfielder Amy Appelt — last year's consensus Player of the Year — and a pair of other Cavaliers who were named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List. Junior midfielder Cary Chasney, who was a 2003 consensus first-team All-American, returns to the team after sitting out the 2004 season with an injury. Another junior midfielder, Nikki Lieb, earned first-team All-American honors and led the team in ground balls last season.
Last week, Virginia dominated No. 16 William & Mary, 16-7, as Appelt scored four goals and handed out two assists. With just one more goal this season, she will top Virginia's career goal list.
The Tigers, however, are focusing on their own play as they prepare to face the defending national champions.
"We're thinking about playing well," Sailer said. "We need to compete for 60 minutes."
Pillion stressed that it's still early in the season and that the team is focusing on building its communication and chemistry. Though Princeton returned a strong team from last year, the team is still relatively young and learns with each game.
The Tigers have had little time to ease into spring play, as they have had to face some of their toughest opponents in the first few weeks of the season. Since their Ivy League play occupies every weekend in April, they have had to schedule most non-conference teams early in the season.
"It's a tall order, but we want them on our schedule," Sailer said. "We want to play the hardest competition we can find."
Games against nationally-ranked competition will allow the team to prepare for postseason play, and the early struggles are worthwhile in the long run.
"It's a good challenge," Pillion said. "We grow that much faster."
The challenges the Tigers have faced thus far should help them in their rivalry with Virginia, but they can also expect the Cavaliers to be well-prepared, having dominated their early-season opponents. However, Sailer knows the truth about the bearing that previous games will have on the outcome of this one.
"It doesn't matter what Virginia has done in other games," Sailer said. "It only matters what happens Saturday."
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