PHILADELPHIA -- Ninth-ranked Princeton can once again call itself the Ivy League’s best, winning the outright conference crown after completing its eighth perfect 7-0 slate in 11 years.
The final obstacle en route to the Tigers' 22nd overall and 19th in the past 20 years Ivy title was Penn. After a brief tie in the score, the Tigers responded with four unanswered goals to win 5-1 against the Quakers on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Princeton will now head to the NCAA tournament for 19th time, including 10th consecutive season. The Tigers await the NCAA Selection Show at 10 p.m. Sunday on NCAA.com for seeding and opening round opponent and location.
Freshman Cat Caro opened the scoring in the third minute, picking up a deflected shot to extend her scoring streak to six consecutive games.
Penn attempted to make things interesting and knotted things up in the 14th minute, connecting on its own rebounded shot off a corner.
With their outright title hopes on the line, the Tigers took control of the game and never relinquished it.
Michelle Cesan responded in the 16th minute, lifting Princeton to a 2-1 lead. She received the ball in the midfield, drove it into the circle and sent a backhanded shot past Penn goalkeeper Carly Sokach.
Princeton added an insurance goal two minutes later, this time on a penalty corner direct piece. Cesan served in the ball to Annabeth Donovan, who stopped it for Amanda Bird to sail it in to the cage from the left side.
The second half saw two more Tiger goals, first from Allison Evans in the 58th minute. She scored following a set piece following a yellow card on Penn's MaryRose Croddick.
Cesan added a final dagger in the 69th minute, scoring on a rebound off a corner. Her first half game-winner marked the third in a four-game span for her, a tri-captain, and seventh goal in seven games.
Princeton held advantages in shots (28-6), shots on goal (19-5), and corners (13-4). Goalie Anya Gersoff made four save.
