May 2, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Krista Pellizzi scored with four seconds left in the third overtime to lead the No. 5 Maryland women's lacrosse team past No. 11 Princeton, 13-12, on Senior Night at Ludwig Field. Pellizzi's game-winner was her career-high sixth of the day and 50th of the season.
Pellizzi also added two assists for eight points, also a personal best. She converted three of her four free position attempts of the night. Junior Dana Dobbie contributed with a hat trick and an assist while also causing five turnovers, securing five draw controls, and picking up four ground balls. Classmate Lauren Cohen dished out three assists.
This was Maryland's first overtime game since May 2, 2005 when it also beat Princeton 13-12. The last four regular season meetings between the two teams have resulted in one-goal games. Both squads have won two of those contests.
After an even first half in which the teams were tied 5-5, Princeton gained the early edge in the second by scoring the first goal as Kathleen Miller scored on an unassisted tally a little less than two minutes in. The Tigers did not hold the lead for long as Pellizzi won the next draw and found junior Kelly Kasper for a score 30 seconds later to tie the game at 6-6.
Princeton eventually built an 8-7 advantage with 23:38 left in the game but Maryland scored twice in a row to take its first lead since the 3:29 mark in the first half. Dobbie found the back of the cage for her second goal of the game and then Pellizzi connected on her third free position to give the Terps the 9-8 lead with 19:50 to go.
The Tigers came roaring back, though, and scored three unanswered goals to retake the lead, 11-9. Princeton put an end to the Maryland run by scoring 23 seconds after Pellizzi's free position. Kristin Schwab collected the draw and then got credit for an assist when she found Holly McGarvie for the score to make it 9-9.
The two teams went scoreless during the next eight minutes before Katie Lewis-Lamonica converted a free position opportunity with 11:38 left in the game to give the Tigers a 10-9 lead. The Tigers continued their run 30 seconds later when McGarvie set up Kathleen Miller to make it 11-9, the first multi-goal lead of the night for either side.
Following a Maryland timeout, the Terps started to regain momentum as freshman Caitlyn McFadden won the first draw. A minute and a half later, the Terps put an end to the Princeton run as Pellizzi found Dobbie for a goal to make it 11-10 at the 9:34 mark. That was Dobbie's 50th goal of the season as well.
McFadden then scored her lone goal of the game five minutes later to tie the game with just 4:42 to go in regulation. Cohen was credited with the assist. Pellizzi gave Maryland the lead again on an unassisted goal a little over a minute later to make it 12-11 with 3:27 remaining on the clock.
Dobbie won the ensuing draw for the Terps but Maryland eventually turned the ball over to Princeton. Kasper returned the favor as she forced Lewis-Lamonica into an error, returning possession to the Terps. As the Terps tried to run down the clock, they turned it over again and the Tigers converted it into the game-tying goal. With 55 seconds left, Miller scored on a breakaway to make it 12-12, the 11th tie of the game.
Kasper won the opening draw of the extra session and Maryland was able to fire off a pair of shots. Junior Casey Magor had an attempt go high, but Cohen nailed the left post, missing the game-winner by inches. Caitlin Reimers picked up the loose ball following the shot, but Princeton only got one shot off as time expired that sailed wide.
The Terps' defense held again in the second overtime as Princeton spent the entire time with possession. Miller won the only draw of the frame and the Tigers steadily went through their offense. The visitors got just two shots off in three minutes as Lewis-Lamonica shot wide with 12 seconds left and then junior Allie Buote came up big with a save as time expired on Lewis-Lamonica's second attempt at goal.
Princeton won the draw in the third extra session but Lewis-Lamonica turned the ball over with 1:25 left. Maryland cleared but the offense turned it over back to Princeton. Miller, with her five goals on the night, raced down the field and cleared the ball. She continued her run to the goal, but junior Katie Pumphrey slapped her stick and jarred the ball loose, picking up the ground ball to end the Tigers' threat.
Maryland cleared the ball with 14 seconds left and Kasper handled it with under 10 on the right side behind the cage. Kasper made the easy pass to Pellizzi to the left side and she found an opening as she made a move around the cage. She slipped a shot between the goalie and the pipe with four seconds left to lift the Terps to the victory.
Princeton (9-6) was led by Miller with her five goals and an assist. McGarvie recorded a goal and three assists while Lewis-Lamonica earned a hat trick.
Maryland, which finished the regular season 15-3, will learn its postseason destiny on Monday, May 7 at 8:00 p.m. The selection show can be viewed live online at ncaasports.com
