Women’s Lacrosse Heads To Temple Saturday

Game #2: No. 17 Princeton (0-1, 0-0 Ivy) at Temple (3-1, 0-0 AAC)
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Tigers And Owls Set To Meet For 35th Time
Princeton enters this weekend’s matchup with a 25-9 all-time record against the Owls in a series which dates back to 1980. Princeton is 11-5 all-time in games against the Owls in Philly, with wins in eight of their last trips the North Broad Street. The last time the two teams met in Philly was a 16-14 win in the 2020 season opener.

Tauckus Takes Over In 2022 Meeting With Temple
Grace Tauckus had four goals in last year’s 14-10 win for the Tigers at Class of 1952 Stadium, scoring four times in the first half. Kyla Sears had an eight-point game, scoring six goals and adding two assists. Neither team led by more than two goals until a 6-2 run from Princeton saw the Tigers pull away. Kari Buonanno scored with 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give Princeton a 9-8 lead they would not relinquish – despite Temple drawing level at 10-10 with 12:19 remaining in the game. That was the last goal the Owls would score as Sears scored three times the rest of the way and assisted on another as Princeton secured the victory.

Princeton Looking To Rally After Loss In Opener
The Tigers came out on fire in their 2023 debut, scoring five of the game’s first six goals last Saturday against No. 13 Virginia. The Cavaliers responded, netting the next four to tie the game at 5-5, and outscoring the Tigers, 14-2, over the second and third quarters to pull away. Nina Montes tied her career high with six points, scoring four goals and adding two assists. McKenzie Blake, Kari Buonanno and Jami MacDonald each had two goals — MacDonald scoring on her first two career shots on goal.

Let’s Cook!
Jenn Cook is in her first season as head coach of the Tigers and 11th overall on staff at Princeton. The 2007 North Carolina grad takes over for Hall of Famer Chris Sailer after serving 10 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach. During her 10 previous years with the Tigers, Cook has been part of seven Ivy League championships during the eight seasons contest around COVID-19 pauses. She has helped guide the Tigers to eight NCAA appearances in those eight full seasons, reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals three times. A three-time All-American and two-time Tewaaraton Award nominee as a player, Cook was the 2007 Inside Lacrosse Defender of the Year and graduated as the Tar Heel’s all-time leader in ground balls (200) and games played (76).

Whiteway Wins Draws
Sophie Whiteway is the top returning draw specialist for the Tigers with 57 DCs during the 2022 season and 61 overall entering this weekend. Her 57 draws last year are tied for No. 7 in a season by a Tiger and her nine wins at USC in 2022 are tied for No. 6 in a game by a Princeton player.

Keeping Track Of Kari
Kari Buonanno has 54 career points in 20 career games entering this weekend, with 41 goals and 13 assists. She has scored at least one goal in all 20 games she has played as a Tiger.

Kate The Great!
Kate Mulham missed all of the 2019 season with an ACL injury, but returned to form in the 2020 season with eight points in five games. She enters her senior season with 56 points in 24 career games, scoring 41 goals and adding 15 assists. Last year was a breakout season for Mulham with 35 goals and 48 points in 19 games — including five-goal games against Maryland and Penn.

Say Grace!
Grace Tauckus is the leading scorers among returning players with 75 career points over her first two seasons and 77 total entering this weekend. The second-team All-Ivy selection last season has 65 career goals entering this weekend, scoring her 65 goals on 85 shots on goal — scoring on 76% of her shots on goal over her career. She has at least one goal in each of her 25 career games, and has scored 2+ goals in 20 of her 25 career appearances.

Mueller Time!
Junior Ellie Mueller had 24 points in 18 games last season in her first year of college lacrosse, scoring 14 goals and adding 10 assists while also scooping up 24 ground balls. Her father, Kit, played basketball at Princeton, graduating in 1991 after a career which saw him twice be named Ivy League Player of the Year and win three Ivy League championships. Scoring runs in the Mueller family, as Kit ranks No. 4 all-time in scoring by a Princeton men’s basketball player with 1,546 points.

Know The Name Nina
Sophomore Nina Montes had 23 points in 17 games last season, playing mostly in the second line of attack. She had a six-point game at San Diego State (5g, 1) last season and matched that career-high with a 4g, 2a outing against No. 13 Virginia in the 2023 season opener.

Blake Rakes
McKenzie Blake was third on the team in goals last year as a first-year player, scoring 36 and adding 10 assists for a 46-point debut season. In addition, she led all field players with 34 ground balls and pitched in 12 caused turnovers. She is playing more of a centralized attack role this season, and had a two-goal game to open 2023 against No. 13 Virginia. She has scored at least one goal in 19 of 20 career games, scoring five in a game once in 2022 and netting four goals twice last season.