Women's Lacrosse: Turnovers key to Princeton’s comeback win

The game’s outcome remained unpredictable until the final whistle, with six game-tying goals, four lead changes and a three-goal lead forfeited by each team. Princeton and Temple were similar in most categories on the stat sheet, but the teams differed in the effectiveness of their ball security. In the second half, the Owls coughed up nine turnovers to the Tigers’ three, a statistic that would prove costly in an otherwise even game.

Temple’s sloppiness became particularly problematic in the final 15 minutes, when the Owls committed five turnovers and could only produce one goal. Princeton, on the other hand, became more composed as the game wore on. During this final stretch, the Tigers scored five goals and avoided making a single turnover.

Sophomore midfielder Sarah Lloyd, junior midfielder Charlotte Davis and freshman attacker Erin McMunn all played key roles in the Tigers’ late-game comeback. During the 5-1 run, Davis recorded an assist as well as the game-tying goal, while McMunn added another score along with three of her six total assists.

McMunn’s most important pass of the day came with just over five minutes remaining, when she found a cutting Lloyd for the go-ahead score. Lloyd’s goal helped Princeton regain the lead for the first time in 15 minutes, and she found the back of the net again just two minutes later to put the game out of reach. Lloyd also led the game with six draw controls.

Temple was able to score one more time to cut its deficit to one goal, causing the Tigers to reconvene in the game’s final timeout. Following the team discussion, Princeton went three straight minutes without affording Temple a single shot, and the contest ended in a 14-13 Tiger win.

The lockdown defense that closed out the game was led by senior defender Lindsey deButts, who finished the day with three caused turnovers — as many as Temple’s entire team combined — and four ground-ball pickups.

DeButts accredited the close win to Princeton’s determination to continue fighting after Temple’s discouraging 7-1 second-half run.

“We played a tough Temple team,” she said. “I think it was a testament to our team and our effort that, after trading goals and then going down by three in the second half, we were still able to stay focused and come out with the win.”

On the other end of the field, McMunn led the team with a career-high seven points, while her six assists set a school record. Davis followed with three goals and two assists, and senior midfielder Cassie Pyle chipped in four points of her own.

McMunn, who had two goals during the Tigers’ heartbreaking overtime loss to Cornell last week, noticed a distinct improvement in the offense’s attitude during Wednesday’s similarly tight game.

“The difference between tonight and other close games that we’ve had is that we just felt completely confident in ourselves,” McMunn said. “We knew that we had what it took to win this game, and I think it was huge for us that we got this win.”

McMunn and her teammates will look to take that confidence boost into Saturday afternoon’s home game against Yale, in which the Tigers will try to maintain their winning Ivy League record.