5/20/2002  

Baltimore, Md. - Princeton's seniors led the Tigers to a 12-7 win over Georgetown in the 2002 Women's Lacrosse National Championship Game. Tiger seniors scored seven goals as Princeton won the national title in front of a capacity crowd at Curley Field in Baltimore, Md. on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Championship game jitters were apparent at the start and for the first time since Princeton's season opener versus Georgetown, it did not possess a halftime lead. After the Hoyas scored two goals to open the contest, freshman Lindsey Biles cut the lead in half with a goal at the 7:40 mark. Georgetown responded, but back-to-back goals by freshman Elizabeth Pillion and Biles tied up the score at 3-3. The Hoyas went ahead again, this time on Wick Stanwick's second goal of the day, but Lauren Simone's goal at 25:41 sent the Tigers and Hoyas into the lockeroom all tied up at 4-4.

"There was never a doubt in my mind that we would win this," says Simone. "We proved in the Maryland game that even a five-goal deficit is not too much to overcome. I think the whole team had complete confidence in out ability to come back and win this game."

If it was freshmen play that kept Princeton close in the first half, it was senior leadership that took over and won the game in the second half. Simone traded goals with Stanwick and the game was nodded at 5-5. The Tiger seniors make sure that was the last time the game would be in question.

Senior Mimi Hammerberg broke the 5-5 tie with consecutive goals and started a 5-0 Princeton run. Simone scored her third goal of the game and senior Charlotte Kenworthy scored to push Princeton ahead 9-5. The Tigers went up 10-5 on Whitney Miller's goal and finished the game with the same five-goal advantage.

"Only seven seniors in the country can say today that they ended their collegiate lacrosse careers as national champions," says Simone. "It's such a great feeling to be a part of this."

Simone was named tournament MVP after finishing the game with three goals and an assist. She totaled four goals and six assists in the Final Four. Biles also finished today's game with three goals and an assist while both Kenworhty and Pillion finished with two goals.

Today's win over Georgetown avenged Princeton's lone loss, a 15-13 overtime defeat to the Hoyas in the season opener back on March 3. Princeton finished the year as winners of its last 19 games with a 19-1 overall record and an Ivy League championship.

"When we had our first team meeting this year you could tell this was a fantastic group of individuals," says Sailer. "They have come together to form the most special group I've ever been around. It's a great day in Princeton lacrosse history, but it's just one of many great days this season."

 

Princeton 12  Georgetown 7

 

 

                           1       2     Final

Princeton (19-1)           4           8           12

Georgetown (17-2)           4           3     7

 

Princeton Scoring (goals-assists) Lauren Simone 3-1, Lindsey Biles 3-1, Charlotte Kenworthy 2-0, Elizabeth Pillion 2-0, Mimi Hammerberg 1-1,Whitney Miller 1-1, Theresa Sherry 0-3, Jess Nelson 0-1

Georgetown Scoring (goals-assists) Wick Stanwick 4-0, Kate Ahearn 1-0, Erin Elbe 1-1, Anouk Peters 1-0

 

Goalies

Princeton - Sarah Kolodner 60 minutes, 7 goals-against, 9 saves

Georgetown - Chandler Vicchio 60 minutes, 12 goals-against, 5 saves

 

 

 

Team       Time           Goal              Assist             Score

Gtown      5:42           Erin Elbe           unassisted         Gtown, 1-0

Gtown      6:41           Wick Stanwick       unassisted         Gtown, 2-0

Prin       7:40           Lindsey Biles        Theresa Sherry           Gtown, 2-1

Gtown      10:24           Kate Ahearn         unassisted         Gtown, 3-1

Prin       11:57           Elizabeth Pillion   Jess Nelson              Gtown, 3-2

Prin       13:55           Lindsey Biles        Theresa Sherry           Tied, 3-3

Gtown      16:52           Wick Stanwick       Erin Elbe          Gtown, 4-3

Prin       25:41           Lauren Simone         unassisted         Tied, 4-4

Prin       34:29           Lauren Simone         Theresa Sherry           Prin, 5-4

Gtown      34:57           Wick Stanwick       unassisted         Tied, 5-5

Prin       36:44           Mimi Hammerberg     Lindsey Biles           Prin, 6-5

Prin       37:29           Mimi Hammerberg     Whitney Miller           Prin, 7-5

Prin       41:57           Lauren Simone         unassisted         Prin, 8-5

Prin       45:16           Charlotte Kenworthy unassisted         Prin, 9-5

Prin       45:53           Whitney Miller       Mimi Hammerberg           Prin, 10-5

Gtown      53:00           Wick Stanwick       unassisted         Prin, 10-6

Gtown      57:21           Anouk Peters         FP                 Prin, 10-7

Prin       57:54           Charlotte Kenworthy Lauren Simone           Prin, 11-7

Prin       59:54           Elizabeth Pillion   unassisted         Prin, 12-7