The last two times the women's lacrosse team met Virginia in the NCAA tournament, in 2003 and 2004, a national championship was on the line.
But when the Tigers (11-5 overall, 6-1 Ivy League) and the No. 2-seeed, ACC champion Cavaliers (15-3) face off Sunday in Charlottesville, Va., in the first round of the 2006 NCAA tournament, a national title will still be four games away. And unlike in past years, a Princeton championship would represent a sizeable upset, as the Tigers enter the tournament unseeded for the first time in recent memory.
The Tigers only have themselves to blame for their unfamiliar position, the result of their early season struggles. No game was worse than their March 25 loss to Virginia at Class of 1952 Stadium, in which the Cavaliers scored 11 unanswered goals en route to a dominating 16-3 victory.
The Tigers have undeniably improved in the ensuing weeks, regaining their stride in time to end the season as Ivy co-champions, but they will still need their best effort of their year to upset Virginia on Sunday.
In March's debacle of a game, the Virginia offense managed to run wild on an experienced Princeton defense. The Tigers must look to contain the Cavaliers' two fourth-year Tewaaraton Trophy candidates, Tyler Leachman and Nikki Lieb, who combined to score five goals and register eight points in the team's previous meeting this season.
Leachman leads the Cavaliers in goals (56) and assists (30) and ranks second on the team in draw controls (40). Lieb paces Virginia in caused turnovers (23) and draw controls (41).
Aiding these two seniors on offense has been freshman standout Blair Weymouth, the ACC Rookie of the Year and another candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy. Weymouth tallied four goals in the Cavaliers' win over Princeton and can be found among the top five in all of Virginia's major offensive categories.
Even with this potent attack, however, it is possible that the Cavaliers' strength lies in their defensive unit — a unit which ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 7.56 goals per contest.
In March, Virginia held Princeton off the scoreboard for the final 32 minutes of the game as the Cavaliers pulled away in the second half. Princeton only mustered eight second-half shots to Virginia's 20 and lost the ground ball battle, 27-17.
But it is not surprising that the Tigers struggled in the offensive half of the field. With senior Ginger Miles in goal and junior defender Julie Hauser shutting down opponents on the field, the Cavalier defense has held its opponents under 10 goals in all but three of its 18 games. Miles boasts a goals-against average of under eight and Hauser has picked up 38 ground balls and caused 12 turnovers. Both Hauser and Miles were named to the ACC All-Tournament team.
Senior midfielder Kim Connors, sophomore midfielder Claire Bordley and freshman midfielder Jen Holden also contribute to the vaunted Virginia defense. Holden leads the team in groundballs (46) and the trio has combined for 30 caused turnovers on the season.
But this Virginia team will find itself facing a fierce Tiger team that has saved its best lacrosse for last.
The Princeton defense, led by senior Tewaaraton Trophy nominee Lauren Vance, who leads Princeton in caused turnovers (26), has held its last 10 opponents to a combined 28 second half goals.
And the Tigers have been able to come out of the locker room with much more energy as of late, as was evidenced by the team's final three regular-season games against Delaware, Brown and Maryland in which they won the battle for groundballs and draw controls in all three contests.
Sunday's game will mark the first first-round tournament game that Princeton has played on the road since the 2001 post-season.
The winner of this match-up will face the winner of the Dartmouth-Boston University game in the quarterfinals on May 20.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.