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NCAA First Round Recap

NEWTON, Mass. – Princeton senior Colby Chanenchuk grew up Natick, Mass., 10 miles west of Boston College’s campus, and went to high school at Noble and Greenough, eight miles south of it. Friday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Syracuse at the neutral site, therefore, was always going to be a homecoming of sorts.

It turned out extra sweet, as Chanenchuk scored the game-winner with 1:35 left in the second overtime period to book a second-round matchup for the Tigers against host school BC. Heading into the game, Chanenchuk had scored four times all season.

"It was awesome. We had team dinner at my house last night, so that was really fun and my whole family is here," Chanenchuk said. "It was definitely special that [the game] was here."

While Princeton was left celebrating, the second half was all Syracuse’s. They went on a five-goal run at one point, even holding the Tigers scoreless for nearly 20 minutes.

But when Ellie McNulty evened the score at 11 following a go-ahead strike from Cara Quimby, matters again tilted in Princeton’s favor. From there on out, it was a game of who’d capitalize on the first mistake.

"We were getting some looks and were getting some opportunities, but we were just making some bad decisions and taking some bad shots," said Princeton coach Chris Sailer. "It wasn’t as if we didn’t have any offense and weren’t getting any looks at all. We had some turnovers in front of the cage, had some shots right at the goalie, had some things were forced. We just had to get back into playing our game and being confident in our game."

The Tigers had a blueprint for what that game could look like, too, as they led 9-5 at halftime and went on two separate four-goal runs in the first half.

That prompted head coach Gary Gait to making a goalie change, pulling goalie Asa Goldstock for Hannah Van Middelem. She offered some calm to an on-edge Orange group, which snuck into the NCAA Tournament after a 1-6 record in ACC play, even dropping four of five their last games.

"I don’t know if it was a goalie change or what it was, but we just needed to get some change in flow and get some people making some plays," Gait said. "That’s what the game is about, stepping up and having opportunities to make plays and trying to get that last one. We didn’t get it."

On the comeback road, Nicole Levy and Neena Merola both netted hat tricks for Syracuse, finding holes in Princeton goalie Sam Fish’s game. The freshman from San Diego, Calif. finished with 13 stops on 24 shots.

It wasn’t enough in the end, though, with Gait calling 2018 the “weirdest year I’ve ever had.” He felt they didn’t lack anything in particular, but admitted a 9-10 record is territory Syracuse isn’t used to.

"It started early with fall ball being cancelled (mumps outbreak on Syracuse campus) and it moved forward with a crazy schedule due to the potential [Carrier] Dome renovations and injuries," Gait said. "Even today one of your starters (Molly Carter) gets sick and can’t make the game. It’s crazy how things happen, but this year was a year for anything."

Now all eyes now are on Sunday’s matchup vs. No. 4 seed Boston College, who lost in 2017’s national title game to Maryland and captured 2018’s regular-season ACC title.

Sailer said she’s already broken down some film on the Eagles, but pointed to one specific area for cooking up an upset.

"They have a really great ride," Sailer said. "I think we’re going to have to clear the ball well and expect a lot of pressure. They tend to face guard one or two kids, and that tries to get you out of your offensive rhythm."

The Ivy League Tournament champions’ game plan, therefore, is to have a light practice on Saturday, get their legs back, walk through game scenarios, and spend time in the video room.

"We played a lot of lacrosse today, so being ready for Sunday afternoon is going to be a priority," Sailer said.