Princeton women's lacrosse faced a significant challenge on Wednesday, going up against Maryland, a team they had not defeated in 17 consecutive games. Despite their best efforts, Princeton was unable to break this streak, ultimately losing to the Terrapins, 15-12, at Sherrerd Field.
This game followed Princeton's successful qualification for the Ivy League Tournament last weekend, scheduled for May, adding to the importance of the match.
The Game
The first quarter was intense as Maryland scored first less than one minute into the match. Not long after, Grace Tauckus tied the game for the Tigers, as this would be only the first of many moments where the game stayed undecided. The quarter saw four ties and ended tied at five. Kari Buonanno, Samantha DeVito, and Jami MacDonald scored goals for the Tigers and the second goal of the game for Grace Tauckus.
The second quarter mirrored the intensity of the first. However, it was Princeton who seized the initiative, taking the lead with a goal from Kari Buonanno. The Tigers extended their advantage with two more goals, both courtesy of McKenzie Blake. The teams went into the intermission deadlocked at eight, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.
The third quarter was when things started going wrong for the Tigers. The Terrapins scored first with less than 30 seconds on the starting clock. They continued their torrid pace, scoring five more goals. Princeton stayed scoreless for the whole period as Maryland held a 14-8 advantage.
The fourth and final quarter saw Maryland extend their lead with an early goal, bringing their tally to 15. However, Princeton refused to be defeated, mounting a spirited comeback. The Tigers found the net four times, with goals from Meg Morrisroe, Kari Buonanno (her third of the game), and a brace from McKenzie Blake. This late surge demonstrated the team's resilience and fighting spirit, despite the eventual loss.
Princeton had a real opportunity to break the streak in this game; however, they could not finish the comeback. Even though Princeton outshot Maryland by 33-29, the Tigers weren't able to create opportunities from the opposite team's turnovers and errors. Apart from that, Princeton had six out of the eight penalties of the game, three green cards and three yellow ones. These errors were essential for the Terrapins to get the hang of the game and defeat the New Jersey-based team.
Up Next For Princeton
The Tigers will face Ivy League opponent Dartmouth on Saturday at Sherrerd Field. This will also be Senior Day, during which Kari Buonanno, Caroline Burnett, Taylor DeGroff, Samantha DeVito, Sammy Filippi, Olivia Koch, Ellie Mueller, Grace Tauckus, and Abbie Wilhem will all be honored.
- Princeton women's lacrosse unable to break streak against Maryland - April 18, 2024
- Princeton eliminated in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament - March 24, 2024
- Princeton Tigers eliminated from the ECAC tournament - March 5, 2024
