'Pills' still a force on the bench

Sometimes the greatest decisions in life are made unknowingly. When Elizabeth Pillion '05 decided to pick up lacrosse, she hadn't put too much thought into it. Little did she know that her decision would lead to an illustrious playing career at Princeton, followed by a coaching career with the Tigers.

"For some reason, I just decided [to play lacrosse]," Pillion said. "I started freshmen year of high school. It seemed interesting, and I tried out."

Having played soccer and basketball all her life, Pillion commented that "there were a lot of similarities in the concept of the game" that helped her adapt to lacrosse quickly. She cemented her abilities as a player three years later, when she scored a stunning goal on a fast break against Georgetown in the 2002 national championship game as a freshman. The Tigers went on to claim the national crown that year.

"That play exemplifies Pills," women's lacrosse head coach Chris Sailer said. "It was a key moment in the first half, and Pills chased down the ball and got it at the endline. Then she started the fast break, and she passed the ball and sprinted all the way down the field, got the ball back and scored. She had no fear. She just went all out, a freshman. In a national championship game."

That year was one of the finest years for the women's lacrosse team, as the Tigers clinched their second NCAA title with a ruthless 19-1 overall record and a perfect Ivy mark. Pillion broke into the starting lineup halfway through her freshman season.

She then etched her name into the history books at Old Nassau as she racked up 104 goals and 150 points during her Princeton career. She finished ninth all-time at Princeton in career ground balls with 167. Pillion was also given national honors as she was selected as a first-team All-American in 2004 and 2005.

It wasn't just lacrosse that kept Pillion busy at Princeton, however. She continued juggling sports throughout her Princeton career as a two-sport star, complementing lacrosse with soccer. In 2004, Pillion was part of the women's soccer team's run to the NCAA Final Four, a campaign that saw the Tigers set a team record with 19 wins and the No. 1 rank in the nation in scoring defense, as they allowed a mere 11 goals in 22 games.

One of the major reasons she was able to accomplish so much was the simple fact that she always played her heart out.

"She's the epitome of heart and hustle and guts," Sailer said. "She was a kid that gave everything every single moment, and she came through for the school many times. She's got this passion, and it's really infectious. I think that's really when she's at her best. When she's sharing her joy."

Pillion was given the opportunity to share her love of the game, becoming an assistant coach for her former team. The decision came as she reflected on how much she loved having "assistance from someone that necessarily wasn't a main coach but still had the same responsibilities," when she was a player.

When asked whether the fact that Pillion played alongside current seniors and juniors might weaken her authority as a coach, Sailer replied that that it would not be a problem, because "the kids who played with her really looked up to her." If anything, Pillion's past experience has helped forge a bond with the players.

"[In] her senior year, she was captain," senior attack Kathleen Miller said. "She's somewhere in between a coach and a friend or player. She knows better what it's like to be a teammate, and she can relate from our point of view," Miller said. "It's easy to identify with her because she was there."

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As a former athlete who always enjoyed every minute of the game, Pillion ultimately hopes to instill more confidence into a Princeton squad that has lost some very close games this season.

"My goal for them is to realize they have all the ingredients," Pillion said. "They were really close [in those games]. I expect them to come out with a confidence about them. And the work ethic. It's really just a matter of that mentality that they can put it all out there."

If her infectious passion for the game continues to guide the Tigers from the sidelines, it will only be a matter of time until that mentality forms.