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Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Hopes To Return To Winning Ways As 2006 Men's Lacrosse Season Opens
February 20, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 20, 2006
The 2006 Princeton men's lacrosse season begins like none of the 15 that preceded it: For the first time since the start of the 1991 season, Princeton enters a new year without having played in the previous NCAA tournament.
Princeton, the winner of six NCAA championships since 1992 and a participant in 10 of the last 14 Final Fours, was an uncharacteristic 5-7 in 2005. Included in that record was a 4-2 Ivy League record that, while good for second place, did end Princeton's 10-year run as league champion.
The Tigers did finish the 2005 season on a high note, winning five of their final seven after opening the year 0-5. Princeton also defeated Dartmouth and Brown in the final two regular season games, ending the NCAA tournament hopes of both.
So where does that leave the program as 2006 begins? How about with seven returning starters, significant depth everywhere on the field and the nation's No. 1 incoming class (according to Inside Lacrosse magazine) - as well as a rejuvenated commitment to winning and an undertstanding that winning is not something to be taken for granted.
Princeton opens the 2006 season at home against Canisius Saturday (1) in the first of 14 regular-season games, the most for the Tigers since the 1991 season. The opener will be followed by a March 4 game at defending NCAA champion Johns Hopkins and then a March 12 doubleheader at Class of 1952 Stadium, to be televised by ESPNU, in which the Princeton women will play Duke and the men will play Virginia. Other non-league highlights include an April 8 game at Syracuse, home games against Hofstra and Rutgers and Friday/Sunday home doubleheaders featuring Princeton, Butler, Binghamton and Bellarmine. Added to those games are the six Ivy League games, including an April 22 game against defending champion Cornell that is part of a doubleheader featuring the women against defending Ivy champion Dartmouth.
Princeton men's lacrosse 2006, position by-position ...
ATTACK Starters returning - Alex Haynie (4-2-6), Peter Trombino (22-12-34) Starters lost - Jason Doneger (19-2-21) Other returning letterwinners - Dan Brown (0-0-0), Trip Cowin (0-3-3), Bob Schneider (3-0-3), Tripp Shriner (5-3-8) Other letterwinner lost - Matthew Prager (1-0-1) Newcomers - Tommy Davis, Dom Fuccillo
Outlook - Jason Doneger graduated after scoring 107 goals, ranking him seventh all-time at Princeton. Peter Trombino returns for his junior year after becoming the first Princeton player ever to have at least 20 goals and at least 10 assists in each of his first two seasons. Alex Haynie moved into the starting lineup near the end of his freshman season a year ago, when Princeton relied on several attackmen. Tripp Shriner, a junior, played primarily on extra-man opportunities and was very successful, while Trip Cowin played more and more as the year went on. Bob Schneider moves from midfield to attack after a freshman year that saw him start six games and score twice against Virginia.
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Starters returning - Mike Gaudio (16-3-19), Whitney Hayes (9-12-21), Scott Sowanick (15-19-34) Starters lost - none Other returning letterwinners - Michael Biles (1-0-1), Mac Bryson (did not play in 2005), Tommy Firth (1-0-1), Jeff Izant (1-0-1), Erik Kudla (1-0-1), Jim O'Brien (2-5-7), Peter Striebel (1-2-3), Jim Weiss (0-0-0), Michael Wenzel (0-1-1) Other letterwinners lost - J.G. Guidera (1-1-2), Andrew Sung (1-0-1) Newcomers - Mark Kovler, Rich Sgalardi, Josh Lesko
Outlook - With no starters lost and already existing depth backed by some dynamic freshmen, Princeton could have one of its best midfield units ever. It starts with Scott Sowanick, an honorable mention All-America a year ago when he tied for the team lead with 34 points. Sowanick began his year with a four-goal performance against eventual-national champion Johns Hopkins and continued with at least one point in every game. Sowanick's 15 goals included some scored on attack, but Mike Gaudio's 16 goals all came in the midfield and were the most by a Princeton sophomore midfielder since Josh Sims in 1998. Gaudio's performance was even more impressive considering that he had scored only one goal as a freshman and did not score in the season opener before he went on to score 16 times in the next 11, with at least one in each. Whitney Hayes missed by one goal becoming the eighth player in school history with double figures in goals and assists as a freshman and sophomore (Sowanick and Trombino were the sixth and seventh), but he still had a very solid nine goals and 12 assists. Like Sowanick, Hayes can also play on attack, and he has gone in two years from being an unheralded rookie to a solid veteran scorer. Sowanick, Gaudio and Hayes made up the first midfield unit at the end of last year, but there are no guarantees that they will be in the same spots when 2006 begins. Mac Bryson, who took 2005 off after scoring three goals in the 2004 NCAA semifinal loss to Navy, is back for his senior year, as is senior Jim O'Brien, who has been a steady contributor all three years. Fellow seniors Michael Wenzel and Erik Kudla and junior Tommy Firth are also experienced veterans, and sophomore Peter Striebel had considerable playing time as a freshman last year, when he started five games. Joining that group will be dynamic freshmen Josh Lesko, Mark Kovler and Rich Sgalardi, any or all of whom could step right in.
DEFENSIVE SHORTSTICK MIDFIELD
Starters returning - Grant Hewit (1 GB), Zach Goldberg (2-0-2, 13 GB), Ryan Schoenig (15 GB), Derek Sudan (5 GB) Starters lost - Jared Keating (4 GB) Other returning letterwinners - none Other letterwinners lost - none Newcomers - Brendan Reilly
Outlook - Princeton is deep enough at this critical position that Ryan Schoenig, a senior co-captain and the most experienced of Princeton's shortsticks on defense, may be moved to longstick. Even without Schoenig or the graduated Jared Keating, Princeton is still strong here, led by senior co-captain Grant Hewit, who was slowed by injury a year ago, and sophomore Zach Goldberg, who wasn't slowed by anything a year ago, when he stepped in, picked up the difficult defensive system and immediately became a shutdown one-on-one defender and the team's best transition threat. Derek Sudan was another quality shortstick last year, his first year of serious playing time.
LONGSTICK MIDFIELD
Starters returning - John Bennett (23 GB) Starters lost - none Other returning letterwinners -Mark Schwartz (1 GB), Tony Vita (4 GB) Other letterwinners lost - none Newcomers - Charlie Kolkin
Outlook - John Bennett has split the position with Zachary Jungers the last two years, but Jungers is now a full-time defenseman. A big, quick, tough longstick, Bennett has also been a crucial man on the wings on face-offs. Mark Schwartz and Tony Vita are a pair of seniors who have both played significant minutes in the past, and Charlie Kolkin, another member of the dynamic freshman class, is another quick pole who could play right away.
FACE-OFF
Starters returning - Alex Berg (35x71, 15GB), Mike DeSantis (48x96, 21 GB, 0-1-1), Ryan Schoenig (24x58, 15 GB), Hakim Thompson (5x15, 1-0-1) Starters lost - none Other returning letterwinners - none Other letterwinners lost - none Newcomers - Greg Seaman
Outlook - Princeton won fewer than 47% of its face-offs a year ago, when the job was split between a host of players. Princeton had three players who took between 58 and 96 face-offs, and all three are back. Ryan Schoenig's days of taking face-offs may be over with his move to longstick, but the face-off days of freshman Greg Seaman, the son of Towson coach Tony Seaman, are just beginning. Seaman joins two key returnees, sophomore Alex Berg and junior Mike DeSantis, while the versatile senior Hakim Thompson can also face off.
DEFENSE
Starters returning - Dan Cocoziello (15 GB, Ivy League Rookie of the Year) Starters lost - Oliver Barry (two-time first-team All-Ivy), Tim Sullivan (24 straight games started) Other returning letterwinners - Dave Baker, Nick Hermandorfer, Zachary Jungers (14 GB), Will Presti (1 GB), Ryan Schoenig (15 GB, converted shortstick), Peter Trentman Other letterwinners lost - Josh Johnson Newcomers - Tim Novick, Chris Peyser
Outlook - Princeton graduated two-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and honorable mention All-America Oliver Barry and two-year starter Tim Sullivan from its close defense. Despite these losses, there is real reason for optimism about the Tiger defense, which in 2005 surrendered the second-fewest number of goals in Division I. Dan Cocoziello, who started all 12 games last year as a freshman, became the first defenseman ever to win the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award, and he begins his sophomore year as a preseason All-America. Ryan Schoenig, a senior co-captain who has played longstick and shortstick defensive midfield in his career, moves to close defense, as does Zachary Jungers, a longstick midfielder last year who competed at the tryouts for the U.S. national team last summer. Will Presti, a junior, was a key backup last year. Another name to look out for: Chris Peyser, a freshman who was ranked as the No. 6 incoming player in Division I by Inside Lacrosse.
GOALIE
Starters returning - Alex Hewit (three games started, 6.30 GAA, .638 save %), Dave Law (six games started, 8.77 GAA, .483 save %) Starters lost - Matthew Larkin (three games started, team-high 287:51 minutes played, 8.13 GAA, .567 save %) Other returning letterwinners - Eric Chase (5:06 played, 0.00 GAA, .000 save %) Other letterwinners lost - none Newcomers - Evan Magruder
Outlook - Dave Law started every game two years ago and six games last year, but he did not lead returning goalies in minutes played last year. That honor belongs to Alex Hewit, who played 238 minutes last year to Law's 212. Hewit moved into the starting lineup in midseason, and included on his resume is a 16-save performance against Dartmouth that earned him Ivy Rookie of the Week honors. Law, a member of the University's Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, does have 13 career wins, including an overtime win against Maryland in the 2004 NCAA quarterfinals, and the experience of having played a strong game in the 2004 NCAA semifinal loss to Navy. Hewit and Law give Princeton a solid 1-2 punch in the net. Eric Chase, a senior, has been a loyal member of the program who again provides solid depth; walk-on sophomore Evan Magruder is new to the program, though his twin brother Trent is not, having covered Princeton lacrosse for the Daily Princetonian student newspaper.
NOTES Nice to meet you - Princeton and Canisius meet for the first time.
Nothing in common - After opening the season against each other, Princeton and Canisius will not have any common opponents for the remainder of the season.
Something in common - Princeton and Canisius both return seven starters from teams that went 5-7 a year ago.
Class struggle - Princeton's probable starting lineup features four sophomores (G Alex Hewit, D Dan Cocoziello, A Bob Schneider, A Alex Haynie), five juniors (D Zachary Jungers, M Scott Sowanick, M Mike Gaudio, M Whitney Hayes, A Peter Trombino) and one senior (D Ryan Schoenig).
Change of seasons - Ryan Schoenig will start at close defense after being a longstick midfielder earlier in his career and then a shortstick defensive midfielder more recently; Bob Schneider starts on attack this season after playing midfield a year ago.
Get to the point - Peter Trombino enters his junior season having scored at least one point in every career game.
Fresh faces - Princeton's freshman class was ranked No. 1 nationally by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
I'm honored - Dan Cocoziello became the first defenseman to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year when he won the honor last season.
More honored - Dan Cocoziello was a preseason third-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
More honored - Scott Sowanick and Peter Trombino were preseason honorable mention All-America selections by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
Last honored - Chris Peyser was ranked sixth and Josh Lesko seventh among current freshmen in Division I by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
Welcome back - Princeton returns two starters on attack, its top six offensive midfielders, its top three longstick midfielders, four of its top five shortstick defensive middies, one starting defenseman, two goalies who have started games and its top three face-off men.
More welcome back - Mac Bryson returns for his senior season after taking the 2004-05 academic year off from school. Bryson scored three goals against Navy in the 2004 NCAA semifinals in his last game for Princeton before the Canisius game.
All in the family - Grant Hewit and Alex Hewit are the 10th pair of brothers to play for Bill Tierney at Princeton.
The one and only - Peter Trombino is the only player in Princeton men's lacrosse history with at least 20 goals and at least 10 assists as both a freshman and sophomore.
Gaudy Gaudio - Mike Gaudio's 16 goals last year were the most by a Princeton sophomore midfielder since Josh Sims scored 34 in 1998.
More Gaudio - Mike Gaudio scored at least one goal in each of the last 11 games of the 2005 season.
History lesson - Princeton does not have a returning first-team All-Ivy League selection for the first time since 1991.
Tewaaraton watch - Princeton has three players on the Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list: D Dan Cocoziello, M Scott Sowanick, A Peter Trombino.
For starters - Princeton's game against Canisius marks the second time since 1989 that Princeton has opened the season against a team other than Johns Hopkins. Princeton, who is at Hopkins next weekend, began the 2004 season against Quinnipiac.
More starters - Of Princeton's 10 probable starters against Canisius, the only one who has technically never started a game before is Ryan Schoenig, who will start at close defense. Schoenig, a senior captain, has been the top shortstick defensive midfielder for much of his career.
Welcome to the Jungers - Zachary Jungers will be starting on close defense this year after being the top longstick midfielder most of the last two years. Jungers did start three games at close defense in 2004 when Tim Sullivan was injured.
Pomp and circumstance - Princeton graduated three starters from last year's team: A Jason Doneger, whose 107 career goals rank seventh all-time at Princeton, and D Tim Sullivan and D Oliver Barry, who started every game together last year.
Working overtime - Peter Trombino has one career goal (against Maryland in the 2004 NCAA quarterfinals) and one career assist (against Penn last season) in overtime games; no other current Princeton player has a career point in overtime.
Double-double - Peter Trombino and Scott Sowanick became the sixth and seventh players in Princeton men's lacrosse history to reach double figures in goals and assists as freshman and sophomores. Whitney Hayes, who had nine goals and 12 assists last year, almost became the eighth.
Bling, bling - Princeton's four coaches have combined for 21 NCAA championship rings. Bill Tierney has six as Princeton head coach and two as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins; David Metzbower and Bryce Chase have six each at Princeton; Greg Raymond has one as a player from Johns Hopkins a year ago.
No place like home - Princeton plays nine home games this season, equalling the 1982 season for the most home games in program history.