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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Soccer Faces Loyola, Towson In Princeton Invitational
September 17, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2003
PRINCETON, N.J. - The men's soccer team plays its first two home games of the season as it hosts Loyola, Towson and Penn in the 2003 Princeton Invitational. The Tigers enter the tournament with a 1-1 record after losing their season opener to Villanova, 1-0, and defeating Lehigh, 1-0, at the Penn Kappa Classic last weekend.
Sophomore Darren Spicer has the only goal, which was set up by junior Ryan Rich in the first half of the Lehigh game. Freshman Kyle McHugh was impressive in starting both games at forward while senior co-captain Jeff Hare has been the defensive workhorse. Junior Erik White played every minute in goal.
Princeton takes on Loyola at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 and Towson at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. 2003 Princeton Invitational
Friday, Sept. 19
Penn vs. Towson - 5 p.m., Princeton vs. Loyola - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21
Loyola vs. Penn - 12 p.m., Princeton vs. Towson - 2:30 p.m.
The History Book - The series between Princeton and Loyola began in 1996 when the Greyhounds won, 2-1. But it's the Tigers who have the edge with a 2-1-3 all-time record in the series. The teams met last year on October 15 and played to a 1-1 tie in Baltimore.
Close Ties - The Tigers and Greyhounds have tied three games in the past three years.
Rookie Watch - Loyola's freshmen Omar Alfonso and Michael Kolosvary both earned MAAC honors after the 3-2 win over Cornell on Sunday. Alfonso was named the Rookie of the Week while Kolosvary garnered Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Two of a Kind - Junior Kevin Nash and Alfonso have tallied all seven of Loyola's goals this season. Nash leads the squad with four goals and eight points, while Alfonso has three goals and an assist.
Home Sweet Home - Princeton plays its first home game this weekend after traveling to Philadelphia for the Penn/Kappa Classic last weekend.
Homesick - The Greyhounds win more at home, holding the second longest home unbeaten streak (29 games) in the nation.
Top Notch - Loyola's two losses were to Maryland, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation, and UMBC, who is undefeated and ranked fourth in the South Atlantic Region.
Tiger Tales - The Towson Tigers and Princeton Tigers have never met in men's soccer. In fact, Towson (which was a Division II program until 1979) and Princeton have only played in three sports - men's lacrosse, baseball and gymnastics.
New Kid on the Block - Towson has never played Penn in soccer either.
Slow Start - Towson is 0-4-1 this season and has lost four straight games to UMBC, Navy, St. Peter's and Georgetown. The Tigers opened the season with a tough 1-1 tie with Lehigh, who was ranked fourth in the Mid Atlantic Region.
Shoot 'Em Up - Towson has been out-shot 55 to 29 in five games this season. Goalkeeper Zak Thompson played all 418 minutes and has made 20 saves for a .833 save percentage.
End of the Drought - Junior Pete Johnson scored Towson's first and only goal of the season in its loss to Georgetown last Tuesday. The goal ended the Tigers' scoring drought at 418:01.
Leader of the Pack - Penn, the 2002 Ivy League champion, lost just one starter to graduation and return the Ivy League Player of the Year and All-American senior Matt Haefner in goal, the PS7 Freshman of the Year sophomore John Rhodes and All-Mid Atlantic Region Team honorees juniors Erik Hallenbeck and Stephen Kroculick.
Losing Ground - The Quakers were ranked No. 25 in the NCSAA national poll prior to playing a single game this season but lost their first two games to drop out of the rankings. Penn lost to Lehigh and Villanova in its home Penn/Kappa Classic last weekend.