Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/2/22
From Press Release
Just another game? Not quite.
Just another season? Nope.
Just another championship? No way.
With generations of alumnae lining the stands, a singularly-focused team on the field, and an unrivaled “goat” on the sidelines, the Princeton Tigers capped a storybook ending to the 2022 regular season Saturday with Chris Sailer’s 16th Ivy League championship and a 17-14 win over visiting Yale.
Where this season goes from here is to be determined. What can never be taken away are the moments and memories from a beautiful, sunny day at Class of 1952 Stadium in Princeton.
There were giveaways – posters, bobbleheads and t-shirts for the fans during the game and an Ivy League trophy for the Tigers after.
The occasion was the final regular-season Ivy League game for Sailer, the Haverford High grad whose legendary career at Princeton will end after 36 years sometime this month.
For the 2022 squad, the usual pre-game walk over Streicker Bridge to Sherrerd Field turned into a mass of Orange and Black with 350+ alumnae of the program as well as family, friends and classmates lining the path to ’52 Stadium.
The game itself was befitting the occasion. The Ivy League’s two best teams during the regular season entered with perfect Ancient Eight records and showed why each can make a run in May.
While the Tigers never trailed in the game, they also were never truly comfortable until the final few minutes. A four-goal Princeton lead at halftime shrunk to just one 4:18 into the third quarter and was only two as the final frame began. A McKenzie Blake (Haddonfield High) goal – assisted by Kyla Sears who had a memorable day of her own – with 1:21 to play regained a four-goal lead for the Tigers and allowed the Princeton portion of the 1,223 fans in attendance to officially start the celebration.
And what a celebration it was. First, the Ivy League trophy was presented to Princeton for the seventh season in a row and 16th time overall. Up next, was Senior Day for the 10 members of the Class of 2022 – who had just finished hoisting their third Ivy League championship.
Finally, a smiling army of women impacted by Sailer during her three and a half decades as head coach formed the most spirited of spirit tunnels to honor their mentor.
Sailer would make her way down that path as high fives and hugs flew from all directions. She started with her treasured alums, those who helped her form the identity of the program. Next was the current team, a group who embraced the challenges of the past two years and rallied around doing everything they could to ensure this day – and this final season for Sailer – was highlighted with a championship. Finally, Sailer would meet her family who had been with her every step of the way from her storied scholastic and collegiate career, to three NCAA championships, and everything in between.
It was a lot. It was everything.
Speaking of everything, how about Kyla Sears? She did a little bit of everything on Saturday, including some rewriting of the Princeton record books. Her seven points on five goals and two assists gave her 285 points for her career – tying the Princeton program record. Her first assist of the game placed her in sole possession of the program record for assists in a career, she now has 93 as she enters the postseason.
Sears’ classmate Sam Fish also had a Senior Day to remember. She made a career-high 17 saves in the game, including six in the second quarter as her team extended a lead it never relinquished. She kept Yale to 3-for-8 on free position attempts, helping the Tigers negate a decisive possession edge for Yale built on a 25-9 advantage in draw controls. The Tigers also had 12 caused turnovers, including four from Maria Pansini and two from Mary Murphy. Ellie Mueller (Radnor) had a goal and an assist and a groundball.
Blake, the standout freshman, finished with two goals and an assist and defender Maria Pansini (Agnes Irwin) had four caused turnovers and two groundballs to lead the defense.
With the regular season complete, the Tigers turn their attention to the postseason. Up first is the Ivy League Tournament which will be hosted by Princeton May 6-8 at Class of 1952 Stadium
Semifinals – May 6
No. #2 Yale vs. No. #3 Cornell (4 p.m.)
No. #1 Princeton vs. No. #4 Harvard (7 p.m.)
Final – May 8
Semifinal Winners (12 p.m.)
