Princeton didn't start the season -- or the championship game -- looking as though it could become the second school in Division I women's lacrosse history to repeat.

But the Tigers did just that after an 8-7 overtime victory over Virginia May 18 in Syracuse's Carrier Dome.

The champions, who finished the season 16-4, limped to a 1-3 record to start the year, including a 13-8 loss to the Cavaliers at Virginia, before winning 14 of their next 15 games. So maybe it was natural that the Tigers fell behind, 3-1, in the early going of the championship game two days after knocking then-No. 1 Loyola (Maryland) out of the tournament in the semifinals, 5-3.

"I'm so proud of everything our team accomplished this season," Princeton coach Chris Sailer said. "We lost seven seniors from last year. It took us a while to get it going, but it really came together for us down the stretch. I give Virginia a lot of credit. They stretched us to the limit, but I couldn't be more proud of what our kids accomplished."

Tigers junior midfielder Theresa Sherry scored the game-winner with 1:29 remaining in overtime to cap a comeback in which Princeton scored four of the last five goals after trailing, 6-4, with 23:37 left in regulation.

Virginia, which finished the season 17-5, fashioned a 3-0 lead 6:48 into the contest behind two goals from Cary Chasney and one by Morgan Thalenberg, with Lauren Aumiller assisting on all three.

Sherry then notched the first of her team-leading three goals with 22:33 left in the half and scored again at two minutes later to pull the Tigers to within one goal, 3-2. The Cavaliers led, 4-3, at the half.

Aumiller recorded her fourth assist of the game when she set up Courtney Young 2:30 into the second period to give Virginia a 5-3 lead, but Princeton came back within one goal again on Elizabeth Pillion's second goal of the afternoon.

Virginia's Caitlin Banks pushed her team's lead back to two goals, 6-4, 1:38 later with an unassisted score.

Princeton tied the contest at 6-6 with back-to-back goals by Lindsey Biles.

After Chasney gave the Cavs a 7-6 edge with 13:51 remaining in regulation, Virginia tried to shave time off the clock, but Princeton got a steal and got the ball to Whitney Miller, who sprinted up the middle of the field uncontested to tie the score with 1:39 remaining in regulation.

With less than 30 seconds remaining, Virginia worked for a game-winning shot. The Cavaliers cleared out for an isolation play designed for Appelt, drove in from the right and sailed a shot wide right.

In overtime, Pillion had the best look at the goal for either team before Sherry's game-winner, but the shot was tipped away by Virginia goaltender Andrea Pfeiffer.

Maryland, which was knocked out in the semifinals, 9-8, by Virginia, is the other team to win back-to-back titles, having won seven straight from 1995 to 2001.

Sherry, Pillion and Miller were named to the all-tournament team from Princeton, along with Sarah Kolodner and senior defender Rachel Becker, who was named most outstanding player. Others honored included Suzanne Eyler and Marianne Gioffre from Loyola (Maryland), Kelly Coppedge and Alexis Venechanos from Maryland, and Tiffany Schummer, Laurie Kenis and Caitlin Banks from Virginia.

Championship summary

First round

Loyola (Md.) 18, UMBC 3; Yale 12, Syracuse 7; Ohio St. 10, Duke 7; Princeton 19, Le Moyne 1; Maryland 26, Temple 6; Dartmouth 9, Boston U. 7; Virginia 19, American 3; Georgetown 9, James Madison 5.

Second round

Loyola (Md.) (16-1) vs. Yale (14-3); Ohio St. (14-3) vs. Princeton (13-4); Maryland (17-3) vs. Dartmouth (11-4); Virginia (15-4) vs. Georgetown (13-3).

Semifinals

Maryland scoring: Sonia Judd 2, Kelly Coppedge 2, Kristie Leggio 2, Jessica Dorney 1, Acacia Walker 1.

Virginia scoring: Cary Chasney 2, Amy Appelt 2, Caitlin Banks 2, Courtney Young 1, Lauren Aumiller 1, Meredith Lazarus 1.

Shots: Maryland 16, Virginia 28. Saves: Maryland -- Alexis Venechanos 8; Virginia -- Andrea Pfeiffer 5.

Loyola (Md.) scoring: Suzanne Eyler 2, Krisiti Korrow 1.

Princeton scoring: Elizabeth Pillion 2, Whitney Miller 1, Theresa Sherry 1, Leigh Sloanaker 1.

Shots: Loyola (Md.) 10 , Princeton 19. Saves: Loyola (Md.) Kim Lawton 5, Cindy Nicolaus 4; Princeton: Sarah Kolodner 3.

Championship

Princeton scoring: Theresa Sherry 3, Lindsey Biles 2, Elizabeth Pillion 2, Whitney Miller 1.

Virginia scoring: Cary Chasney 3, Amy Appelt 1, Caitlin Banks 1, Morgan Thalenberg 1, Courtney Young 1.

Shots: Virginia 24, Princeton 23. Saves: Princeton -- Sarah Kolodner 9; Virginia -- Andrea Pfeiffer 10.