Samaras leads women's lacrosse through strong first half of year

As the women's lacrosse team reaches the midway point of the season, the Tigers are intent on looking ahead to the Ivy League portion of their schedule.

The first half of the season has answered quite a few questions, however. Princeton is clearly back among the elite teams in the country, despite losses to Virginia and Temple. Without further adieu, here is a look back at the first half of the 1998 women's lacrosse season:

MVP: Is there any question? Despite a recent "slump" during which she scored six goals in three games, junior midfielder Cristi Samaras is in the midst of one of the finest seasons in the history of the program. With 25 goals and 16 assists thus far, she should continue her assault on her own school records for points and goals in a single season. Samaras's true value to the team can be measured with a single stat comparison. With her in the lineup, Princeton has a two-and-a-half year record of 33-8. Last year, however, the Tigers were without their offensive star and struggled to a 7-7 record.

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE: It is rare for a first-year player to make a significant impact, especially in a program as perennially strong as Princeton. Freshman midfielder Julie Shaner, however, has been an exception to this rule. In the first 15 minutes of her college career, Shaner lit up then-No. 4 Duke for three goals and two assists. One of the quickest players on the team, she hasn't slowed down since then and currently ranks second on the team in goals with 12. Head coach Chris Sailer likened Shaner to Lisa Rebane '96 – Princeton's all-time leading scorer – as freshmen that have made major impacts. This is impressive company, but so far, Shaner appears deserving.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Although junior defenders Lucy Small and Johanna Deans have helped bolster the Princeton defensive corps, it is junior attack Jen Alexander that has made the most strides since last year. With nine goals and nine assists so far this season, she has already doubled her point total from last year. In fact, she has more points this season than she did in her first two combined. If she continues to improve at this rapid pace, her senior year should be outstanding.

KEY PLAYER DOWN THE STRETCH: While Samaras is clearly the most irreplaceable member of the team, the play of senior attack Melissa Cully may determine Princeton's eventual success this year. Last season, in Samaras's absence, Cully led Princeton in scoring, recording 22 goals and 10 assists. This year, however, her production has declined. With Samaras in the lineup, Cully does not need to produce at last season's pace. Still, a few more performances like her four-goal, one-assist effort at Penn State wouldn't hurt. Cully is still a major part of the Tigers' offense; clearly, she is still capable of making a significant contribution to the Princeton attack. If she can regain some of the consistency she showed last year, the Tigers would have a fearsome one-two punch and could force other teams to give Samaras some much-needed space on offense.

OUTLOOK: Princeton has had an excellent first half of the season. However, the events of the last week have shown that the Tigers can be frustrated by teams which play slower, more defensive styles. Opponents that attempt to get Princeton into a high-scoring shootout often end up well behind by the final buzzer. In order for the Tigers to string together a significant run in the postseason, however, they must be able to adjust to different styles of play. It is likely that Princeton will eventually play another defensive-minded team, possibly with a championship on the line. The Tigers' ability to maintain their poise will determine whether their season ends in disappointment or euphoria.