MAKING STRIDES: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Ellie McNulty races upfield in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore midfielder McNulty tallied a career-high four goals to help No. 11 Princeton defeat Yale 16-5. The Tigers, now 8-2 overall and 3-0 Ivy League, host No. 1 and defending national champion Maryland (12-0 overall) on April 13 and No. 20 Cornell (9-1 overall, 4-0 Ivy) on April 16. (Photo by Beverly Schaefer, Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

Ellie McNulty got derailed early in her freshman year as she started her career with the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team.

The midfielder tore her ACL in the fall of 2014 and only hit the practice field late last spring.

Coming into this season at full speed, McNulty is looking to make up for lost time.

“It is is amazing, I am so excited to be out on the field again,” said McNulty, a 5’8 native of Arnold, Md.

“I am not taking it granted at all, I love the opportunity to play. Getting game experience is really important. As the season has gone on, I have gotten comfortable with my teammates and playing as a team.”

Last Saturday, McNulty took advantage of her scoring opportunities, tallying a career-high four goals as 11th-ranked Princeton rolled to a 16-5 win over Yale, improving to 8-2 overall and 3-0 Ivy League.

McNulty credited her breakout game to the Tiger attack being in synch.

“I think we really clicked on offense, we were seeing each other really well,” said McNulty, who now has 13 goals and three assists on the season. “We really played as a team today; it was a great team win.”

The Tigers clicked from the start against Yale, jumping out to an early 6-0 lead.

“We really wanted to get a fast start; play our offense and our defense and play the way we like to play at both ends of the field,” said McNulty, who also had three ground balls, two draws, and one caused turnover in the win over Yale. “I think we really had that opportunity to do that.”

Princeton head coach Chris Sailer, whose team had won three straight one-goal games coming into the contest on Saturday, was looking for the Tigers to produce a better all-around performance.

“We wanted to put together a really good game at both ends,” said Sailer. “We have been playing really well at either end in stretches but we were hoping to really get on track and be able to put some big numbers today and play well all over the field.”

Surveying the score sheet showed seven different players scoring goals and three others contributing assists, Sailer smiled.

“I think that is one thing that I am really happy about, having such balanced scoring and having so many different kids stepping up,” said Sailer, whose team outshot Yale 50-25.

“Seeing Elizabeth George with three goals, that was great. Seeing Kathryn Hallett get two goals and having our middies scoring some more was really nice.”

The Tigers got a very nice contribution from McNulty as she led the way with her four goals.

“Ellie is a fast kid, she can get up and down the field,” said Sailer.

“She has a nice stick and I think she has really come along well this year for us. She was able to find the net. I think she is continuing to improve and grow. She is good on the draw and has played nice defense for us so it is good to see her having a game like that.”

The team’s battle-tested defensive unit had another big game as it stifled the Bulldogs.

“The line defense is so experienced and Ellie (DeGarmo) is playing so well behind them,” said Sailer, whose defense is led by seniors Liz Bannantine and Maddy Lynch, along with juniors Madeline Rodriguez and Amanda Leavell.

“Jen Cook, our defensive coordinator, does a great job with them and they have great systems. They are very solid.”

Princeton will look to keep up its solid play as it hosts No. 1 and defending national champion Maryland (12-0 overall) on April 13 and No. 20 Cornell (9-1 overall, 4-0 Ivy) on April 16.

“It is a great opportunity to play the best team out there, the defending national champions,” said Sailer.

“It is always exciting when you can challenge yourself at that level and see what you can do. You are playing the No. 1 team, you want to compete, that is the main thing for us. We just have to believe in ourselves, go hard, play well and see what happens.”

In McNulty’s view, the Tigers are up for that challenge. “We are really excited for Maryland; it is a good test for us,” said McNulty. “We are looking forward to it, they are a great team.”