Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Rally Falls Just Short As Syracuse Wins Men's Lacrosse Championship
May 27, 2002 | Men's Lacrosse
May 27, 2002
Final Stats | Postgame Quotes | All-Tournament Team
Piscataway, NJ - A team that spent an entire season playing catch-up came just short of one of the great comebacks ever.
Princeton's men's lacrosse team, in danger of not even making the NCAA tournament midway through the season, came within a goal of a second-straight championship, falling 13-12 to Syracuse in front of 19,706 at Rutgers Stadium Monday.
Syracuse and Princeton were meeting in the championship game for the third straight season after the Orangemen won in 2000 and Princeton won a year ago. The teams have combined to win 13 of the last 15 NCAA titles.
"I told my team that if they were going to determine if tey were successful young men based on one lacrosse game, they were out of their minds," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney. "I felt tey showed so much heart against an unbelievably great and well-coached team like Syracuse." Princeton trailed 12-7 early in the third quarter before making its run at the Orangemen. Princeton cut it to one twice, at 12-11 and 13-12, and had three chances down a goal in the fourth quarter.
"You have to give a lot of credit to Princeton," said Syracuse coach John Desko. "They're a class program, and they showed you what they're all about out there."
Princeton scored the final three goals of the third quarter to make it 12-10, and Brad Dumont scored 1:39 into the fourth. Michael Powell, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after his four goals and two assists in the final, scored 3:25 into the fourth to make it a two-goal game again, but Dumont answered 13 seconds later for what would be the final goal of the day.
Princeton had its chances, but Syracuse goalie Jay Pfeifer made key saves against Sean Hartofilis and Dan Clark. The Tigers had an opportunity with two minutes remaining, but the Orangemen forced a turnover and then took the clock down to the final 11 seconds before a turnover gave Princeton one last chance.
Damien Davis flung the ball the length of the field, where it was intercepted by the Orange's John Glatzel. Time appeared to expire, touching off a Syracuse celebration, but Syracuse had been called for an illegal substitution penalty with six seconds remaining, giving the Tigers possession right at midfield.
Sean Hartofilis fed Brad Dumont, but the Tigers couldn't get a shot off as time expired again, giving Syracuse another chance to storm the field.
"There was no time to set anything up at the end," said Hartofilis, who led Princeton with three goals. "I threw the ball to Brad, and he was either going to try to get it back to me or shoot it low through a screen. There just wasn't enough time."
Mark Pellegrino, a senior from Syracuse, had the first two-goal game of his career, while Dumont had two goals and an assist. B.J. Prager, who had a goal and assist, finished his career with 118 goals, fourth-best all-time at Princeton. Ryan Boyle also had two goals, while Josh White ha a goal and two assists. Matt Trevenen added a goal, his fourth of the year with all four having come in two games against Syracuse.
The loss ended Princeton's run of 12 straight wins in NCAA games decided by one goal. Syracuse matched Princeton's 2001 feat of winning the title with three one-goal wins, and the seven games from the quarterfinals through the championship game were decided by a total of eight goals.
Princeton finishes its season at 10-5. The Tigers had been 2-4 after six games before sprinting to the title game.
"I couldn't be prouder of our team," said Tierney, who is 6-2 in championship games. "Everyone wrote us off when we were 2-4, but we stuck together and came back and came within a goal of winning the whole thing."
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Ryan Boyle, Brad Dumont and Damien Davis were named second-team All-Americas by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The team was released at halftime of the NCAA championship game Monday, won by Syracuse 13-12 over the Tigers.
Princeton did not have a first-team selection. Syracuse led all teams with three first-team selections.
The selections marked the first time since 1991 that Princeton did not have a first-team honoree.
B.J. Prager was a third-team All-America, while Scott Farrell, Kyle Baugher and Owen Daly were honorable mention selections.
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Princeton had three players on the FInal Four all-tournament team. B.J. Prager, last year's Most Outstanding Player, was joined by Brad Dumont and Damien Davis.