Three-hundred and sixty-three days ago, the women's lacrosse team met up with Dartmouth in the game that in recent years has determined the Ivy League champion.
There was no Hanover Miracle, however, as the Tigers fell in the yearly matchup that could be compared to the Princeton-Penn game in men's basketball. Unless one of these teams stumbles against an inferior opponent, the head-to head competition between these two schools determines who takes home the title.
Last year, in Hanover, N.H., Princeton was beaten, 8-7, after the Big Green scored with only 14 seconds left on the clock. This year, with both teams once again undefeated in league play, the Tigers will look for revenge.
"I've been looking forward to this game since the beginning of the season," junior midfielder Julie Shaner said. "Winning the Ivy League is always our first goal."
The path to the championship will not be an easy one for the Tigers, who came into the season heavy underdogs to the Big Green. The Tigers, however, have surprised even themselves by going 11-1 on the season — including a 4-0 record in the league — and rising up the polls to their current spot at No. 2 behind Maryland.
Dartmouth has not faltered this season, racking up an impressive 9-1 record with the only loss coming against the top-ranked Terrapins.
"Everybody saw Dartmouth as a heavy favorite this season," head coach Chris Sailer said. "But we've just taken this year one game at a time, and it seems to be paying off."
High scorers
The No. 9 Big Green (9-1, 4-0) is led by two seniors on offense. Attack Jackie Weitzel is currently leading the nation in goals per game at 4.3. She is accompanied by Kate Graw, who is fourth in the nation in points. These two have helped Dartmouth score an average of 13.7 goals per game — good for fifth in the country.
These two players have played well against the Tigers in the past, scoring against last year's Princeton defense — a group that was less cohesive than this year's squad.
"In past years we let their offensive threats get to us," Shaner said. "This year stopping them will be a team responsibility. No one player will be responsible for shutting either of them down — the whole defense will have to come together to stop them."
That Tiger defense is being anchored by senior goalie Laura Field, who this year has played her best season while wearing the orange and black, allowing under seven goals per game.
The one that got away
The Big Green defense is also having a stellar season behind the goaltending of sophomore Sarah Hughes. Hughes, who was recruited by Princeton coming out of high school, has posted the second-best goals against average in the country this season, letting in only 6.11 goals per game.
"We know that Sarah Hughes is a great goaltender," Sailer said. "We definitely can't waste any shots tomorrow, but neither can they with Field in the net."
The Tigers will also have another option on offense tomorrow as sophomore attack Lauren Simone returns from a sprained ankle she suffered in the second half against Temple on April 12. Simone was tied for the team lead in points when she went down two games ago.
"We've missed what she brings to the field," Shaner said. "It'll be good to have another option on the offensive end."
The Ivy title has spent the last two years solely in the hands of the Big Green. This weekend the Tigers may have the momentum from their nine-game winning streak to break their string of back-to-back second place finishes.
"We want to win the league," Sailer said. "We're Princeton, and that's what Princeton is supposed to do."
Read More
By the Numbers: Women’s water polo seniors end strong and track records set
Harrison BlankThis week in By the Numbers, women's track and field shined down in Virginia and the Tigers clinched some conference regular season championships. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over two-thirds of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
This week in By the Numbers, women's track and field shined down in Virginia and the Tigers clinched some conference regular season championships. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over two-thirds of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
No. 2 men’s lacrosse overcomes slow start to defeat Penn, 12–8
Hayk YengibaryanThe Tigers’ 10–2 start is their best start to a season since 2009.
The Tigers’ 10–2 start is their best start to a season since 2009.
Women’s lacrosse earns regular season Ivy title after defeating Brown on senior day
Leila Eshaghpour-SilbermanPrinceton women’s lacrosse became regular season Ivy League champions for the first time since 2022.
Princeton women’s lacrosse became regular season Ivy League champions for the first time since 2022.