On a sunny Saturday at Sherrerd Field, Princeton women’s lacrosse (12–2 overall, 5–1 Ivy League) defeated the Brown Bears (10–4, 4–2) 15–13 at home. After a slow start to the game in the first quarter, the Tigers built momentum through a fiery attack backed with strong defense to carry Princeton to a regular-season title and Senior Day victory.
“This senior group wanted it so badly,” Head Coach Jenn Cook told The Daily Princetonian. She attributed this win — and Princeton’s success all season — to the leadership of the team’s seniors. “They just really put in the work to get everyone on the same page. Their leadership has really been amazing this year.”
Unlike in previous games, the Tigers got off to a slow start. The Bears scored a quick goal fifty seconds into the game, but neither team added to the scoreboard for another seven minutes. Sophomore attacker Meg Morrisroe’s curling run from behind the goal eventually equalized the game for the Tigers at 1–1.
After a yellow card was issued to the Tigers, the Bears missed the ensuing free-position shot, but then capitalized on their one-player advantage, scoring twice. Princeton responded quickly thereafter, with sophomore midfielder Colette Quinn smashing the ball into the bottom right net to make it 3–2 to close out the first quarter.
This deficit did not last for long, with the Tigers scoring three consecutive goals at the beginning of the second quarter.
“We just made sure to bring it in, compose ourselves, and then make sure to execute the game plan,” senior attacker McKenzie Blake told the ‘Prince.’
Soon into the second quarter, sophomore attacker Meg Morrisroe fought through three defenders with an over-the-head goal to equalize the game.
Senior midfielder Sophie Whiteway netted the first senior goal of the day less than a minute later, granting Princeton its first lead of the game. The Tigers quickly built on this momentum with consecutive goals by Quinn and junior attacker Jami MacDonald to extend the Tigers’ lead to 6–3.
Strong defense and back-to-back saves by junior goalkeeper Amelia Hughes kept Brown off the scoreboard for most of the quarter.
While the Tigers held Brown off for nine and a half minutes, the Bears finally broke through, scoring their first goal of the quarter to narrow the gap to two.
MacDonald soon followed this up with a no-look shot over her shoulder past the stick of Brown’s goalie, but Brown responded with two consecutive goals, bringing the score to 7–6 Princeton to close out the quarter.
The Tigers returned from the half hungry to secure a Senior Day win. Back-to-back free position conversions by Blake and junior midfielder Maggie Molnar further extended Princeton’s lead over Brown. Halfway into the quarter, MacDonald made a circling run around the goal, whipping the ball into the net to bring the score to 10–6.
Three successive goals by Brown narrowed the Princeton lead to one at 10–9. With one minute left in the quarter, Whiteway drove the ball forward and whipped a far-out shot to end the third quarter with a two-goal lead.
Princeton entered the fourth quarter with a win on the draw and commanding ball possession. Forty seconds into the quarter, a rapid-fire passing combo from MacDonald to Blake brought the ball to Quinn, whose shot from distance earned the Tigers another tally on the scoreboard.
Not 10 seconds later, Blake won a bouncing ball off the draw and sprinted directly at the goal, scoring her second goal of the game. MacDonald continued this momentum with another goal 30 seconds after, extending Princeton’s lead to five over the Bears.
In a deja vu moment, three consecutive goals offered Brown a moment of respite from Princeton’s onslaught. With three minutes remaining, though, Blake juked her defenders, confidently slotting the ball past the goalie to bring the score to 15–12. Brown scored again, but with only a minute remaining, the Bears were unable to recover.
“On Senior Day it’s definitely a day to show out,” Blake told ‘Prince.’ “It’s really fun that everyone got to step up on both sides of the ball.”
“We all came in with big emotions,” MacDonald told the ‘Prince’ after the game. “I think it really showed on the field how much we love each other, because we just played for each other and definitely for our seniors.”
With this win, the Tigers became Ivy League regular-season champions, their first time winning the title since 2022. If the Tigers are able to secure a win next week against Dartmouth (9–5, 2–4) Princeton will host the upcoming Ivy League Tournament as the No. 1 seed.
This senior day win fittingly bookends the Class of 2025’s careers, with championships in both their first and senior years, and marks a continuation of a dominant season for the Tigers.
“We’re definitely going to use these next couple weeks to get better every single day so we can have not only the Ivy League regular season champions, but the tournament champions as well,” MacDonald told the ‘Prince.’
Leila Eshaghpour-Silberman is a staff Sports writer and contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com
Read More
Attendance at annual campus rec dodgeball tournament drops by half
Luke GrippoThe annual Princeton Campus Rec dodgeball tournament held on Thursday, April 17 received half its usual turnout.
The annual Princeton Campus Rec dodgeball tournament held on Thursday, April 17 received half its usual turnout.
Students meet with alumni at Capitol Hill for Whig-Clio Careers in Government Day
Elisabeth StewartAt the first Whig-Clio Careers in Government Day, Princeton Whig-Clio members travelled to Washington D.C. for conversations with public servants on Capitol Hill.
At the first Whig Clio Careers in Government Day, Princeton Whig Clio members travelled to Washington D.C. for conversations with public servants on Capitol Hill.
Ivy League mental health conference, flexible pathway policy discussed at penultimate USG meeting
Devon RudolphDuring this week's Undergraduate Student Government meeting, mental health chair Allen Nieva ’26 discussed an upcoming Ivy League Mental Health Conference and finding ways to help students decide on their major even if they do not begin taking prerequisite classes at the beginning of their first year.
During this week's Undergraduate Student Government meeting, mental health chair Allen Nieva ’26 discussed an upcoming Ivy League Mental Health Conference and finding ways to help students decide on their major even if they do not begin taking prerequisite classes at the beginning of their first year.