Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Cornell
Princeton Falls To No. 6 Cornell 17-4
April 23, 2005 | Men's Lacrosse
April 23, 2005
Final Stats
Ithaca, N.Y. - Kevin Nee scored seven goals and Cornell scored four times in the first five minutes of the game as the sixth-ranked Big Red sprinted past Princeton 17-4 in front of 1,150 at Schoellkopf Field Saturday afternoon.
The loss mathematically eliminated Princeton from contention in the Ivy League race, ending the Tigers' run of 10-straight league championships. Princeton is also mathematically eliminated from any chance at the NCAA tournament, since the Tigers cannot reach the .500 mark for the year. Princeton has appeared in each of the last 15 NCAA tournaments.
Cornell clinched at least a share of the Ivy League title and would win the league outright with either a win next week at Brown or a Dartmouth loss against either Princeton next week or Harvard the week after that.
Princeton fell to 3-7 overall and 2-2 in the Ivy League. The loss was Princeton's worst since a 21-6 loss to Cornell in 1988.
"You have to give all the credit to Cornell," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney. "When you know exactly what a team is trying to do and they still do it anyway, that's the sign of a very good team. They were ready to go from the start."
Justin Redd, who scored in overtime a year ago to beat Princeton at the Class of 1952 Stadium, started the scoring 1:49 into this year's game. By the 5:12 mark, Redd, Sean Greenhalgh, Nee and Joe Boulukos had all scored, and the Big Red had a 4-0 lead.
Scott Sowanick scored for Princeton with 8:52 to go in the quarter, but the lead would grow to 8-1 before the Tigers would score again. Even after that second Princeton goal, by Peter Trombino with 3:17 left in the first half, the Tigers could get no momentum, as Nee would score twice 15 seconds apart just before halftime to make it 10-2 at the break. Cornell then scored the first five goals of the second half to make it 15-2. Mike Gaudio scored with 33 seconds left in the third quarter, but Nee and John Glynn scored to start the fourth to make it 17-3 before Trombino's second ended the scoring.
Cornell outshot Princeton 62-21 and completely dominated possession, forcing 18 Princeton turnovers.
Princeton will finish its season with home games against Dartmouth next Saturday and Brown the Saturday after that.
Princeton (3-7, 2-2) 1-1-1-1 -- 4
Cornell (7-2, 5-0) 6-4-5-2 -- 17
Scoring Princeton Peter Trombino 2-0, Mike Gaudio 1-0, Scott Sowanick 1-0, Whitney Hayes 0-2
Cornell Kevin Nee 7-1, Sean Greenhalgh 4-1, Joe Boulukos 2-2, Justin Redd 2-0, Ian Rosenberger 1-1, John Glynn 1-0, Dave Bush 0-1, Derek Haswell 0-2
Saves Princeton Dave Law 8:33, 5 goals-against, 0 saves Matthew Larkin 26:37, 10 goals-against, 13 saves Alex Hewit 15:00, 2 goals-against 3 saves
Cornell Matt McMonagle 47:59, 3 goals-against, 7 saves Kyle Miller 9:16, 1 goal-against, 3 saves Peter Cannizzaro 2:45, 0 goals-against, 0 saves
Shots Princeton 21, Cornell 62
A - 1,150