Women's Lacrosse: No. 17 Big Red spoils Princeton’s Ivy mark

Prior to an 11-8 defeat in 2010, Princeton had won 22 consecutive games against Cornell. However, a 13-12 overtime heartbreaker in 1952 Stadium, coupled with the 2010 loss, means that the Tigers have now lost two of their last three games against the Big Red (7-2, 3-1).

A seesaw first half ended 7-7 after neither team could put some distance between itself and its opponent. After Princeton scored two quick goals to go up 5-3 following a close-range save by freshman goalie Annie Woehling, the momentum seemed to be shifting in the home team’s favor. But Cornell hit back with three consecutive goals to flip the advantage.

The Big Red procured an 11-9 lead with six minutes remaining in regular time, courtesy of a brilliant pass by attacker Jessi Steinberg — arguably the player of the game — which was finished off comfortably by midfielder Katie Kirk. The goal marked only the second time that either team had led by more than a point in the match, but the game veered back to its dominant trend, as the Tigers equalized to send the game into overtime.

“We knew she’s a quick kid; she’s so quick. She has such a good stick,” head coach Chris Sailer said of Steinberg after the game. “You try and prepare for it; you know what her moves are, but she beat us a couple of times — just a little miscommunication. She takes those low-angle shots; she drops that stick, and it’s just a really good move.”

Two quick goals for Cornell, sandwiching an injury to junior attacker Jaci Gassaway, seemed to have eliminated Princeton’s chances. Previ’s goal with three-tenths of a second on the clock restored hope, but the Big Red kept its nerve to see off the Tigers in the final overtime period.

“It was back and forth the whole game,” Sailer said. “We actually did make the plays to tie it up and force overtime and to get that goal at the end of the first overtime — we just weren’t able to pull it out.”

Seven Tigers scored in the match, with senior midfielder Cassie Pyle leading the 18 with three goals — although she converted only one of three free position shots. Pyle now has 19 goals in her last five games and will play an important role in ensuring the Tigers make it to the Ivy League Tournament this spring.

“I thought she had a nice game,” Sailer said. “She came through for us on the attack, and she had a big job because she was guarding Steinberg and was able to get some goals of her own. She’s been consistent; she’s a tough kid.”

Though Gassaway gingerly hobbled off the field after her collision with an opposing player in overtime, she returned for the final three minutes and should recover before the Tigers’ next Ivy League game this upcoming weekend.

“She’ll be all right,” Sailer said. “She’s banged up, not anything major.”

Exactly two shots, turnovers, ground balls and draw controls separated the two teams at the end of the game, indicating how close the Tigers were to victory. The Tigers have now lost all three games decided by a single goal this season, and Sailer recognizes this as both the need for mental focus and toughness and a sign of the potential of her team.

“We’ve now lost four games by a total of six goals, two of them in overtime, so I said to the kids, ‘That tells me two things: It means we’re right there; we could be 8-0. We’re competing in all of these games against all of these opponents, but we’re not making the plays when it happens and having the confidence in the clutch to pull out the wins.”