NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: Building No. 17 Princeton

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 17 Princeton, a perennial Ivy League threat that could be close to getting back to its former glory.

Princeton is looking to build on last year’s improvements. The Tigers took a step forward in Cook’s second year at the helm, improving their overall record, Ivy League record and qualifying for the NCAA tournament, where they won their first game before falling to eventual champion Boston College.

The Tigers will replace some key players at each level but came away from the fall confident that they can fill those gaps.

“This is a more experienced group,” Cook said. “It was just great to build on the foundation we already have.”

Three of Princeton’s top four scorers return from an offense that ranked 11th last year. McKenzie Blake, Haven Dora and Jami MacDonald are playmakers who will lead an offense that graduated Grace Tauckus.

The midfield will be rebuilt around Sophie Whiteway, who’s also a key on a draw unit that looked stronger this fall, and the defense led by All-Ivy goalie Amelia Hughes and Dylan Allen, Sam Whiting and Abigail Roberts must improve on its 13.17 goals against average.

Many of those hungry for larger roles got significant time last year.

“That is really what has enabled us to come together and gel offensively and add more in terms of our defensive schemes and pressures and different zones,” Cook said.

TOP RETURNERS

McKenzie Blake, A, Sr. (67G, 63DC)
Haven Dora, A, Jr. (29G, 40A)
Amelia Hughes, G, Jr. (.413 SV%)

Blake and Dora are the top returning scorers for the Tigers. Blake is a coach’s kid who sees the field like a coach. She scored almost twice as many goals as any returning Tiger. Dora opened eyes with her play for the U.S. U20 National Team that won gold this summer (MacDonald played for silver-medalist Canada), and her speed and vision have bolstered the three-headed attack.

“They share the ball well,” Cook said. “They’re incredibly unselfish, and it really is about setting them up for the best opportunity to find the back of the net.”

KEY ADDITIONS

Zoe Bye, D, Fr. (10GB, 7CT)
Elizabeth Gonnella, G, Fr. (.770 SV%)
Grace Mulham, A, Fr. (26G, 22A)

Gonnella makes the goalie position four players deep. Hailing from top-flight Darien (Conn.) High School program, don’t be surprised if she’s on the field. She gives the Tigers another option behind returning starter Hughes.

“It’s always nice to see a first-year come in and really be comfortable and be OK with competing,” Cook said. “Our goalie world is so great. They all are super funny and get along and just have really been great at competing with each other in such a healthy way that it just elevates their games.”

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Kari Buonanno, M; Samantha DeVito, M; Sammy Filippi, D; Ellie Mueller, M; Grace Tauckus, A; Abbie Wilhelm, D

Transfers: Samantha DeVito, M (Syracuse)

X-FACTOR

Abigail Roberts, M, Jr. (46DC, 23CT)

While she’s listed as a midfielder, she helps the defense and Princeton in a couple huge areas of need. She took a big step last year and has the second-most draw controls of anyone returning after Blake. Last year, she had more than double the caused turnovers of any Tiger.

“She sets the tone in the midfield, off the draw, and she’s just a workhorse and so competitive in the best possible way,” Cook said. “When she is on and winning those 50-50 balls, it’s just giving us more opportunities on the offensive side of the ball.”

THE NARRATIVE

Princeton’s top wins over Penn State, Rutgers and Penn were enough to land them a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Ivy League is as competitive as ever, and the Tigers’ non-conference schedule that includes Virginia, Loyola, Hofstra, Penn State, Rutgers, Towson and Stony Brook certainly gives them opportunities to impress.

“The next step is to continue to win those key games out of conference and continue to compete and win those games within the Ivy League,” Cook said.

A few more signature wins would be another step forward for the Tigers in 2025, and it will take a balanced approach. Cook had calls from alumni recognizing the special closeness that the Tigers played with last year, something her staff is aiming to foster and duplicate again.

A base of unselfish leaders and veteran returners are setting the tone for another step forward.

“Last year was a really good example of when everybody’s on the same page and everybody wants what’s best for the group and are playing for each other, special things can happen,” Cook said. “I know our group this year is using that to continue to elevate our game and play that unselfish style of play.”