Princeton University
Rutgers
Fast-Starting Tigers Race Past Rutgers 16-6
March 26, 2002 | Men's Lacrosse
March 26, 2002
Princeton scored twice in the first 19 seconds and Sean Hartofilis broke out of an early-season slump with four goals and two assists to lead Princeton to a 16-6 win over Rutgers at damp Class of 1952 Stadium Tuesday night.
The defending NCAA champion Tigers improved to 2-3 with the victory, while Rutgers slipped to 2-6. Princeton's three losses have come to the top three teams in this week's USILA poll.
Princeton took home the Meistrell Cup, given to the winner of the Princeton-Rutgers game, for the 13th straight time.
"It's been frustrating for me," Hartofilis said. "This was a good game for our team, and now we're looking forward to the rest of the season."
Drew Casino won the opening face-off for Princeton and pushed the ball to Kyle Baugher, who raced in and scored nine seconds into the game. Casino then won the next face-off to Baugher, who fed Hartofilis for the first of his goals 10 seconds later. "It was good to come right back after Saturday," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney, whose team lost 11-8 to Syracuse Saturday in a rematch of the last two NCAA championship games. "I think the guys wanted to get back and play. We were disappointed with the way that game went, and it helped to play right away on Tuesday."
Princeton led 4-0 at the end of the first quarter and 11-3 at intermission. Hartofilis, a third-team All-America a year ago who had three goals and one assist for the first four games, had his four goals and two assists before intermission against the Scarlet Knights.
B.J. Prager and Brad Dumont scored three goals each for Princeton. The Tigers scored their 16 goals on 31 shots. Jeff Duca was the only Rutgers player with more than one goal.
Princeton opens pursuit of its eighth straight Ivy League title Saturday (3 p.m.) against Yale. The Tigers have won 37 straight league games, two off the all-time league record set by Cornell from 1972-79.
Princeton Scoring (goals-assists)
Sean Hartofilis 4-2, B.J. Prager 3-1, Brad Dumont 3-0, Ryan Boyle 1-2, Owen Daly 1-0, Greg Golaszewski 1-0, Dan Clark 1-1, Drew Casino 1-1, Kyle Baugher 1-1, Brian Lieberman 0-1, Brendan Tierney 0-1
Rutgers Scoring (goals-assists)
Jeff Duca 2-0, Nick Schmidt 1-2, Tim Horgan 1-0, Ken Springer 1-1, Leif Blomquist 1-0, Timothy White 0-1
Goalies
Princeton - Julian Gould 30 minutes, 3 goals-against, 4 saves, Matthew Larkin 26 minutes, 3 goals-against, 4 saves, Michael Gilbane 4 minutes, 0 goals-against, 0 saves
Rutgers - Craig Lutwyler 30 minutes, 11 goals-against, 4 saves, Christopher Kenyon 30 minutes, 5 goals-against, 2 saves
P First :09 Kyle Baugher P, 1-0
P First :19 Sean Hartofilis Kyle Baugher P, 2-0
P First 10:15 Sean Hartofilis Ryan Boyle P, 3-0
P First 13:45 Sean Hartofilis P, 4-0
P Second :20 Drew Casino Sean Hartofilis P, 5-0
P Second 1:11 Brad Dumont P, 6-0
P Second 3:24 Sean Hartofilis Brian Lieberman P, 7-0
R Second 4:12 Ken Springer Nick Schmidt P, 7-1
R Second 8:07 Tim Horgan Timothy White P, 7-2
P Second 8:19 B.J. Prager Sean Hartofilis P, 8-2
R Second 10:11 Jeff Duca * Ken Springer P, 8-3
P Second 12:24 Ryan Boyle Dan Clark P, 9-3
P Second 14:24 Brad Dumont P, 10-3
P Second 14:40 Owen Daly Drew Casino P, 11-3
P Third 1:53 B.J. Prager Ryan Boyle P, 12-3
P Third 4:41 Dan Clark B.J. Prager P, 13-3
R Third 8:56 Leif Blomquist P, 13-4
R Third 10:28 Nick Schmidt P, 13-5
R Third 11:34 Jeff Duca Nick Schmidt P, 13-6
P Fourth 1:58 B.J. Prager * Brendan Tierney P, 14-6
P Fourth 5:27 Brad Dumont P, 15-6
P Fourth 14:19 Greg Golaszewski P, 16-6
* extra man goal