No. 16 Women’s Lacrosse Falls To No. 13 Virginia In Season Opener
No. 16 Princeton could not sustain its strong start in its 2023 season opener against No. 16 Virginia as the Cavaliers erased an early Tiger lead in a 20-11 win at Class of 1952 Stadium.
Nina Montes tied her career high with six points, scoring four times and adding two assists. Jami Macdonald scored twice in her first collegiate game, while McKenzie Blake and Kari Buonanno each had two goals. Gracue Tauckus had the other goal for the Tigers, adding a helper as well.
First Shot. First Goal!
Welcome to college lacrosse, Jami MacDonald! pic.twitter.com/RrqEduRBYi
— Princeton Women’s Lax (@princetonwlax) February 18, 2023
Amelia Hughes was busy in her first collegiate game in goal, facing 43 shot attempts from Virginia and making 11 saves,
Princeton burst out the gates, scoring the game’s first four goals over the opening 4:01 of play and leading, 5-1, before the opening quarter reached the halfway mark.
Needle…. Threaded!
Nina Montes with a sweet pass to Jami MacDonald for her second score of the afternoon pic.twitter.com/Oa3KxRRV4N
— Princeton Women’s Lax (@princetonwlax) February 18, 2023
Virginia — playing its third game while Princeton was in its season debut — settled in and scored the next four goals to pull even at 5-5 1:08 into the second quarter. A free position goal from Grace Tauckus regained a one-goal lead for the Tigers with 10:59 remaining in the second quarter, but Virginia scored the next four to take a 9-6 lead and never look back.
Out of halftime, the Cavaliers controlled play while outscoring the Tigers, 8-0, to take an 18-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers rallied to outscore Virginia in the fourth quarter, 4-2, with a pair of goals from Montes sandwiched around scores by Blake and Buonanno.
Princeton is on the road next weekend, taking on Temple in Philly on February 25 at noon.
