Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Syracuse
Princeton Edged By Syracuse In NCAA Championship Game
May 27, 2002 | Men's Lacrosse
May 27, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes
All-Tournament Team
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Michael Powell had four goals and three assists as Syracuse avenged a loss in last year's title game by beating defending champion Princeton 13-12 for the NCAA lacrosse championship Monday.
Brian Solliday added three goals and an assist, and defender Sol Bliss made two key plays late in the fourth quarter as Syracuse (15-2) won its second title in three years and seventh overall.
Sean Hartofilis had three goals for Princeton (10-5) which rallied from a 12-7 second-half deficit for an exciting finish to the third straight championship game between the schools, which have won 13 of the last 15 titles. Syracuse easily beat the Tigers in 2000; Princeton won in overtime last year.
The Tigers, who were denied a seventh championship since 1992, got within a goal twice in the fourth quarter as Brad Dumont scored on similar shots from the left wing.
Dumont had a chance to tie the game with less than five minutes to play but his behind-the-back shot from in close just missed.
Bliss, who was questionable for the game because of a knee injury suffered in a double overtime semifinal win over Virginia on Saturday, hustled to be closest to the ball when it went out, giving the Orangemen possession.
After Princeton regained possession with 3:33 to go, it worked the ball for more than two minutes until Bliss knocked down a pass in front by Ryan Boyle.
The Tigers got the ball back with six seconds to play and a man advantage after a premature victory celebration by Syracuse, but they never got a shot off.
After falling behind 5-3, Syracuse seemingly took control with a 9-2 spurt that Powell ignited with a goal with 12 seconds left in the first quarter
The Orangemen built an 8-6 halftime lead and then scored four goals in the opening 4:36 of the second half. Powell scored twice and set up another by Josh Coffman, who also had two goals in the game.
Hartofilis scored twice in a four-goal spurt that got the Tigers within 12-11 when Dumont scored with 13:21 to play.
Powell pushed the lead back to two goals with 11:35 to play, and the Orangemen had to hang on to regain the title.
Mark Pellegrino and Boyle added two goals apiece for Princeton, which also lost to Syracuse in the regular season.
The title game was the fourth straight for Syracuse, which lost to Virginia in 1999.
