Princeton University Athletics
Semi Tough
May 26, 2001 | Men's Lacrosse
May 26, 2001
Piscataway - Sean Hartofilis scored four goals, including the game-winner with 2:02 remaining, to lead Princeton to a thrilling 12-11 win over Towson in the NCAA semifinals in front of 21,103 at Rutgers Stadium.
Princeton has now won nine straight NCAA tournament games decided by one goal, a streak which dates to a 1991 triple-overtime loss to Towson in the quarterfinals and includes both of the Tigers' NCAA games this season. Princeton is also 7-1 all-time in national semifinal games.
Hartofilis' four goals give him nine in two NCAA semifinal appearances after he scored five last year against Virginia.
Princeton advances to Monday's championship game (11:06, ESPN), where it will face Syracuse, a 12-5 winner over Notre Dame in the other semifinal. Syracuse defeated Princeton 14-8 earlier this season and 13-7 in last year's championship game. Before Princeton (13-1) could think about the Orangemen, it first had to withstand an amazing fourth-quarter comeback by Towson (14-4). Princeton led 10-6 with 2:09 gone in the fourth quarter, but Towson erupted to pull even at 11-11 on Brad Reppert's goal with 2:33 to play.
Towson's Justin Berry then won the ensuing face-off and tried to pass it back to goalie John Horrigan, but Princeton's Ryan Mollett checked it away from Horrigan. B.J. Prager picked up the loose ball and gave it back to Mollett, who found Hartofilis in front. Hartofilis then cashed it in on a low shot that gave Princeton the lead again.
The game was far from over, however. Towson won the next face-off and called a timeout with 1:51 to play. From that point, Towson had three shots, forcing two big saves from Trevor Tierney. The last opportunity came in the final 10 seconds, but a big defensive play by Damien Davis in front of the net prevented Towson from getting off a final shot.
Princeton fell behind 2-0 early and trailed 3-2 at the end of the first quarter, but a 5-1 second qaurter made it 7-4 Princeton at intermission. The teams split goals in the third quarter, making it 8-5 and setting the stage for the wild fourth quarter.
Hunter Lochte scored his second goal 18 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Hartofilis and B.J. Prager answered to make it 10-6. Towson, though, scored two goals in 41 seconds and then two more in 36 seconds later in the quarter to make its move.
Prager, whose 31-game scoring streak was snapped in last week's 8-7 win over Loyola in the quarterfinals, had three goals against Towson. Matt Bailer, Rob Torti, Chris Harrington, Jason Doneger and Matt Striebel scored one goal each, while Ryan Boyle had two assists.