It was autograph night for the women's lacrosse team, and fans and friends alike swarmed the members of the team. Yeah, it was that kind of game, as Princeton (5-4 overall, 1-1 Ivy League) rolled to an 18-7 victory over Temple (4-7).
The Tigers outplayed and out-hustled the Owls with ferocious intensity, and they did so largely in the wake of their primary weapons: senior attack Kathleen Miller and junior midfielder Katie Lewis-Lamonica. Together, the two combined for a whopping 12 goals — and they didn't even play the whole game.
Lewis-Lamonica attributed the team's successes to some recent philosophical changes.
"I think one thing our team is trying to change over our last practices is our mentality," Lewis-Lamonica said. "We know we're a very capable team with a lot of potential, and we're not reaching it yet. So that's something we've focused on, and I think that kind of confidence — the confidence that we're able to raise in each other — I think that's really affected me and helped me be as successful as I was today."
The Tigers took no time at all to get on the board, as Miller scored just one minute into the game. Lewis-Lamonica followed Miller's lead and scored only a few minutes later.
It was a sight that would become all too familiar for the Owls.
The Tigers' 7-3 halftime lead only grew after the break. After the Princeton defense forced an Owl turnover, sophomore midfielder Holly McGarvie worked her way inside and was fouled. The shot went off the post, but Lewis-Lamonica was there to pick it up. The offense reset, and Lewis-Lamonica found a twisting Miller, who proceeded to whip the ball into the back of the net for an 8-3 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Katie Cox used her fantastic speed to catch a napping Temple defense after McGarvie won the draw. She drew the defense, found an open Lewis-Lamonica and the Tigers went up 10-3.
"Katie Cox has really great vision, and that's something that she's able to do — seeing how to clear out people, how to feed people, and she makes contributions that way," Lewis-Lamonica said.
The Owls proved unable to get it together. They had several opportunities to set up on offense, but sloppy play and an opportunistic Tiger squad resulted in plenty of turnovers that would translate into goals.
First, sophomore midfielder Kristin Schwab scored, then Lewis-Lamonica followed up with her sixth of the game, tying her career high. She wasn't quite done yet, either. After an errant Miller pass, senior attack Ashley Amo helped force yet another turnover on the Owl goalie. Lewis-Lamonica found the ball in her stick once again, and she found the back of the net for her seventh of the game, a new career high.
The Owls tried to close the gap for pride's sake, finding the back of the net three times to close the lead to 14-6, but it would only serve to stoke the coals of the Tigers' competitive spirit. Miller emphatically won the next draw and lofted the ball into the stick of sophomore attack Christine Cascaceli, who raced down the field and then bounced a beautiful pass in front of the Temple goalie to freshman attack Kristin Morrison, who flicked the ball into the goal.
The game just oozed potential — potential that has, unfortunately for the Tigers, not consistently been realized. While the season has had it setbacks — most notably against Yale last weekend — Princeton is ready to ratchet its game up a gear.
"Before this game, we were 4-4, and that's not a situation that we're used to being in, and it's something we're nowhere near ready to settle for," Lewis-Lamonica said. "In fact, our goal for the rest of the season is to go undefeated and to do our best to fight in every game for a chance to get in the tournament. We're ready to take on the rest of the Ivies and finish the rest of the season playing the way we're capable of playing."
Read More
Preview: Football names captains and looks ahead to their first game
Lily PampolinaPrinceton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
Princeton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
By the Numbers: Goals and medals for the Tigers’ start to the fall
Harrison BlankThis week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
This week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
Late goals lift men’s soccer past University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2–0
Harrison Blank and Matthew YiMen’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.
Men’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.