Chris Sailer was coaching in her 27th NCAA tournament. It’s Kayla Treanor’s first as a head coach. On Sunday, youth won out as fifth-seeded Syracuse defeated Princeton 13-9 in a second-round game at Class of 1952 Stadium.
The loss ends Sailer’s legendary 36-year career. She produced a 433-168 record, including a 15-4 mark this season, and led the Tigers to national titles in 1994, 2002 and 2003.
Tewaaraton finalist Meaghan Tyrrell scored a game-high five goals, and freshman Olivia Adamson netted a hat trick for Syracuse (15-5). Kimber Hower made 11 saves.
Kyla Sears tallied three goals in the final game of her collegiate career and leaves Princeton as the all-time leader in points (307), goals (209) and assists (98). Sam Fish stopped 12 shots in her finale.
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 first-quarter lead on goals by Kari Buonanno, Sophie Whiteway and Grace Taukus. The Orange scored seven of the next 10 goals and took a 7-6 lead when Jenny Markey found the back of the cage at 1:17 of the second quarter.
Sears opened the third-quarter scoring with a free-position goal at 13:41.
Syracuse appeared to take the lead less than a minute later when Emily Hawryschuk scored, but it was waved off for a crease violation. But a foul on Maria Pansini gave Hawryschuk a free-position shot. She missed but got to the center hash on a check to the head call on Sammy Filippi. The third time proved to be the charm for Hawryschuk, who converted the free position to put the Orange ahead 8-7 at 12:10 of the third quarter.
Tyrrell bounced a shot around Princeton All-American defender Marge Donovan and Fish, the Ivy League Goalie of the Year, at the 10:04 mark. Adamson followed with a flip shot with 8:58 left in the third, and Natalie Smith buried a free position at 5:16 to put the Orange up four goals, 11-7.
The Tigers broke through again when Ellie Mueller found Sears in front at 2:52, ending a nearly 11-minute goal drought and getting the Tigers within three.
But Princeton couldn’t regain its momentum from early in the game. Tyrrell scored woman-up goals at the 13:34 and 5:08 marks of the fourth quarter, and the Tigers didn’t get back on the board until Buonanno found the back of the cage with 2:10 left.
Despite being the unseeded team, Princeton hosted the first and second rounds because Syracuse couldn’t meet NCAA requirements for lodging. The university held commencement ceremonies this weekend. Princeton hadn’t lost at home in the NCAA tournament since falling to Virginia in the 2004 national title game.
Syracuse will play Michigan or fourth-seeded Northwestern in Thursday’s quarterfinal.
SU and Northwestern have met in the last two NCAA tournaments. The Wildcats won in the 2019 quarterfinals and Syracuse took last year’s semifinal game.