Princeton University Athletics
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Lots Of Lax
March 23, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
March 23, 2006
If you like lacrosse, then Class of 1952 Stadium is the place to be this weekend. A total of five games will be played there in a span of 48 hours, beginning Friday night as Bellarmine takes on No. 16 Binghamton and No. 9 Princeton takes on Butler. The weekend continues with the Princeton women against Virginia Saturday afternoon and concludes with another men's doubleheader Sunday.
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Princeton vs. Butler
The site Class of 1952 Stadium • Princeton, N.J.
The date Friday, March 24, 2006 • 7:30 p.m.
The records Princeton: 2-2; Butler: 1-5
The rankings Princeton: No. 9 USILA/No. 9 Inside Lacrosse; Butler: unranked
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (19th season overall, 233-77); Butler: Stan Ross (second season overall, 6-12)
Radio WHWH AM 1350/www.goprincetontigers.com
The series Princeton leads 1-0
Last year Princeton defeated Butler 19-1 • April 17, 2005
Old friends? - Princeton is playing Butler for the second time, having defeated the Bulldogs 19-1 a year ago. Princeton has never played Binghamton, whom it plays Sunday, or Bellarmine, who is here for two games that do not involve Princeton.
Polling place - Princeton enters this weekend's games ranked ninth in both the USILA coaches' poll and Inside Lacrosse media poll. Binghamton is ranked 16th by the USILA and 18th by Inside Lacrosse; Butler and Bellarmine are unranked.
More polling - Binghamton is ranked 16th in the USILA coaches' poll; it is the highest Division I ranking of any Binghamton team ever. Who are these guys? - B ellarmine, located in Louisville, is Kentucky's only Division I lacrosse school; the Knights are an independent. Butler is located in Indianapolis and is a member of the Great Western Lacrosse League. Binghamton, about an hour from Cornell and Syracuse, is in the America East.
T for 2? - Princeton head coach Bill Tierney enters this weekend's games with 199 career wins.
Class struggle - The breakdown by class of the four teams playing in Princeton this weekend: Freshman 47 Sophomore 41 Junior 37 Senior 31
No offense - None of the four teams this weekend is averaging more than 8.25 goals per game.
Welcome back - Butler is coached by former Princeton assistant Stan Ross.
The Gaudio effect - Mike Gaudio scored at least one goal in 13 straight games before tearing his ACL at Johns Hopkins on March 4. Princeton averaged 9.4 goals per game in those 13 games; Princeton has scored 11 goals in the two games (5.5 per game) since Gaudio's injury.
Strength of schedule - Binghamton will be the fourth Princeton opponent in its first six games who will be ranked in the Top 16.
More schedule - Princeton's 2006 schedule includes teams ranked first (Virginia), third (Cornell), fifth (Hofstra), ninth (Johns Hopkins), 14th (Penn), 15th (Syracuse) and 16th (Binghamton) in this week's USILA poll.
Still more schedule - Princeton's schedule includes six of the top nine scoring offense teams in Division I and five of the top eight scoring defense teams in Division I.
Face it - Since winning 19 of its 24 face-offs against Canisius, Princeton is 15 of 48 on face-offs.
Save it - Alex Hewit has made 33 saves in his last two games.
More save - Alex Hewit entered this weekend ranked fourth in Division I in save percentage (.652) and sixth in goals-against average (6.15).
Geography lesson - The four teams in Princeton this weekend feature players from 22 states and three provinces. In all, three countries are represented: the United States, Canada and Australia.
More geography - There are more players from New York (22) than any other state among the four teams here this weekend. Maryland is next, with 19, followed by Ohio with nine. There are 11 players from the province of Ontario. Marked up - Freshman Mark Kovler has at least one point in each of Princeton's first four games.
The One and Trombino-nly - Peter Trombino has at least one point in every game the last three years. Only one Princeton player has ever done so in every game for four years (Kevin Lowe '94).
More Trombino - Peter Trombino is the only active player in Division I men's lacrosse who has scored a goal in overtime in an NCAA tournament game. Trombino did so against Maryland in the 2004 NCAA quarterfinals.
Another Trombino - Peter Trombino currently leads Princeton in goals and assists. No players has led Princeton in both for a full season in Bill Tierney's first 18 years at Princeton.
Final Four-teen - Princeton has 14 players still on its team who played in the 2004 NCAA Final Four.
For starters - Peter Trombino, Scott Sowanick and Dan Cocoziello are the only current Tigers who have started every game of their careers.
Transitioning - Josh Lesko (three) and Zach Goldberg (two) have combined for five goals in the first four games. Princeton's shortstick defensive midfielders had a combined two goals in 2005 (both by Goldberg).
Grounded - Princeton's last three opponents have a 110-71 edge in ground balls over the Tigers.
A league of their own - The Ivy League had a non-league record of 21-12 heading into this weekend.
No fooling - Princeton opens its Ivy League schedule next Saturday, April 1, at home against Yale at 3 p.m. The game will be the second of a doubleheader, which begins with the Princeton women against Cornell at noon.
No place like home - Princeton plays its fourth and fifth home games this weekend, including third and fourth straight. Princeton is also home next weekend against Yale.
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.
Hot Coco - Dan Cocoziello became the first defenseman ever to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year when he won the honor a year ago. Cocoziello was the second straight Princeton player to win the award, after Peter Trombino in 2004.
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.
Princeton Lacrosse '06 ... By The Numbers
0 players who have played at Princeton for Bill Tierney who have led the team in goals and assists for a full season; Peter Trombino currently leads in both
1 former Tiger goalie Trevor Tierney's rank all-time on single-season goals-against and career goals-against list in the NCAA's men's lacrosse record book, which was released for the first time this year
3 Princeton players on the preseason Tewaaraton Trophy watch list: D Dan Cocoziello, A Peter Trombino, M Scott Sowanick
6 NCAA championships won by Princeton in the last 14 seasons
7 teams ranked in the top 16 of this week's USILA poll that are on Princeton's schedule
8.25 goals per game for Princeton; it is the highest total of the four teams competing at Class of 1952 Stadium this weekend
10 number of consecutive Ivy League championships won by Princeton before finishing second a year ago
13 consecutive games with at least one goal by Mike Gaudio, who will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against Hopkins
14 current Princeton players who played in the 2004 NCAA semifinal game against Navy
18 face-offs in the Princeton-Hofstra game last week, of which Hofstra won 14
22 states represented on the rosters of the four teams in Prnceton this weekend
33 saves by Alex Hewit the last two weeks
39 edge in ground balls for Princeton's last three opponents combined
156 players playing in Princeton this weekend, of which 88 are freshmen or sophomores
199 wins at Princeton by head coach Bill Tierney
What Can You Say About ... John Bennett • named Ivy League Player of the Week after Princeton's win a week against Johns Hopkins • forced seven turnovers in one-on-one situations against the Blue Jays • Princeton's top longstick midifleder Alex Berg • won 19 of 24 face-offs against Canisius • has taken 61 of Princeton's 72 face-offs Mac Bryson • returned after taking the 2004-05 academic year off from school • scored goal against Canisius in first game back • had a goal against Hofstra • scored career-high three goals against Navy in 2004 NCAA semifinals Dan Cocoziello • has started every game of his career on defense • became first defenseman to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year Trip Cowin • scored one goal in each of first two games • scored game-winning goal against Hopkins, unassisted, late in the third quarter • had an assist against Virginia Tommy Davis • scored three goals against Canisius to become the first Princeton player since Jesse Hubbard in 1995 to score three goals in first game freshman year Mike Gaudio • scored Princeton's second goal against Johns Hopkins to make it 2-1 early in the second quarter • extended streak of consecutive games with at least one goal to 13 • suffered a torn ACL later in the game against Hopkins and will miss the remainder of the season • honorable mention All-Ivy selection a year ago • scored 16 goals in 2005, most by a sophomore midfielder at Princeton since Josh Sims in 1998 Zach Goldberg • one of top shortstick defensive midfielders • scored goal in opener against Canisius • also scored against Virginia • has four career goals, all in transition Whitney Hayes • has started 23 career games, including all four this year • has one goal and three assists this season • assisted on Peter Trombino's tying goal in the third quarter of win over Hopkins • had one assist in first three games Alex Haynie • had a goal and assist against Canisius • scored a goal against Virginia Alex Hewit • had 13 saves against Hofstra, giving him 33 in two games • made 20 saves against Virginia for the highest save total by a Princeton goalie since Scott Bacigalupo made 24 against Loyola in 1991 • held UVa, the highest scoring team in the nation, to seven goals, more than 10 below its average coming into the game • played entire game against Hopkins, making seven saves while allowing four goals • six of seven saves against Hopkins came in the second half • played first 45 minutes against Canisius and allowed three goals Grant Hewit • senior tri-captain shortstick defensive midfielder • older brother of goalie Alex Hewit Zachary Jungers • starter on close defense • played longstick midfield for most of first two years, except for starting three games on close defense freshman year when Tim Sullivan was hurt • competed at tryouts for U.S. national team last summer Charlie Kolkin • freshman longstick midfielder Mark Kovler • has at least one point in all four games • had at least one goal in all three games • started his career with back-to-back multiple point games • scored one goal against Virginia while making first career start • scored 47 seconds into first quarter against Hopkins • assisted on Peter Trombino's goal to give Tigers 4-3 lead late in the third • had two goals in opener against Canisius Dave Law • started every game two years ago in goal • Ivy League Player of the Week after 15-save performance in win at UVa Josh Lesko • has goals against Canisius, Hopkins and Hofstra, all in transition • had one goal in each of first two games • has played mostly shortstick defensive midfield • goal in win over Hopkins came during 4-0 run as Princeton took control Jim O'Brien • senior tri-captain • had a goal against Canisius and Hofstra • had an assist against Virginia Chris Peyser • has played in every game as fourth close defender Bob Schneider • moved from midfield to attack • scored one goal against Virginia • has scored three of his four career goals in game at Virginia last year Ryan Schoenig • has moved to close defense from shortstick defensive midfield • played longstick and shortstick defense against Canisius Tripp Shriner • plays attack almost exclusively on man-up situations Scott Sowanick • had a goal and assist against Hofstra • had 13-game point-scoring streak snapped against Hopkins • had two goals and two assists in opener against Canisius • tied Peter Trombino for team scoring lead a year ago with 32 points Derek Sudan • veteran shortstick defensive midfielder • has played in every game Peter Trombino • leads team in goals and assists • had a goal and two assists against Virginia • had two goals and an assist during game-winning 4-0 run against Hopkins • scored two goals 1:40 apart late in third quarter against Hopkins, first tying game at 3-3 and then putting Princeton ahead for good • had a goal and assist against Hofstra • has at least one point in every game of career • only player in school history with at least 20 goals and at least 10 assists as both a freshman and sophomore • only active player in Division I lacrosse who has scored an overtime goal in an NCAA tournament game, which he did against Maryland in 2004 quarterfinals