March 22, 2008
by Justin Feil, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
PRINCETON, N.J. - Kaitlyn Perrelle was thrilled to celebrate her first win in the Princeton-Virginia rivalry.
The Princeton sophomore made six saves, including one in the final three minutes, to help the No. 4 Tiger women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 win over the No. 2 Cavaliers on Saturday at Class of 1952 Stadium. It put last year's losses to Virginia behind Perrelle.
"This win is great," she said. "We've lost five out of the last six times we've met them. For my freshman year, we lost both games to them. This is really big for our class and for our seniors and everyone. Everyone really wanted it. Our heart and desire really came through today."
Princeton improved to 6-0 while Virginia fell to 6-2. The teams have met in each of the last 18 years. The Cavaliers had won the last three regular-season meetings, and they made last year's NCAA Tournament opener a forgettable day for Perrelle. She was pulled after allowing the first 13 goals in the Tigers' 19-10 season-ending loss.
"This year," Perrelle said, "I feel so much more comfortable and more poised in the goal than I did last year. I feel a lot more confident, not only in myself but in our team."
The Tigers got a pair of goals from Lizzie Drumm, and Drumm hit a cutting Christine Casaceli in front of the cage for the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left Saturday. Princeton had regained possession when Katie Lewis-Lamonica intercepted a pass with 31 seconds left.
"I think it's great for our confidence to finish up the early part of our season 6-0 before we start our Ivy season," said Princeton head coach Chris Sailer, whose team hosts Cornell next Saturday in its Ivy League opener.
"With a number of big wins in there, it really puts us mentally in a good place. Now our focus is all on the Ivy League. We are determined to get that trophy back."
Ashley Amo had a pair of assists and seven different Princeton players scored goals. All-America Blair Weymouth had three goals and senior co-captain Megan O'Malley had two for the Cavaliers. Princeton never trailed after scoring the first three goals.
"This game was really something big for us," Perrelle said. "We were really ready for this game. Our mindset showed in the first three minutes of the game. It was a big first impression."
Added Sailer: "I think they may have underestimated us coming in. I think we had that work to our advantage. I think that really fired us up. We had something prove out there today."
Each of Weymouth's three goals tied the score, at 3-3, 6-6, and finally 7-7 with 11:03 left. But Perrelle and the Tigers defense did not allow a Virginia attack that had been held under 13 goals only one other time this season any more.
"I thought she did a great job today in the cage," Sailer said. "She really played strong and backed us up. She's making great plays around the cage all the time. She's been playing solid all year. She's such a good voice back there, so strong and in command in the cage."
The Tigers are enjoying this win over Virginia, but know there could be a rematch in another month and a half. The teams have met 10 times in the last six seasons, and have played each other in the NCAA first round in each of the last two years.
"We've seen them four out of the last five years," Sailer said, "so chances are we'll see them at some point."
She added, "It better not be in the first round."
