Princeton University Athletics
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No. 6 Princeton Hosts Yale To Open Ivy Men's Lacrosse Schedule
March 30, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
March 30, 2006
Princeton opens this Ivy League men's lacrosse season like it has every other one since 1978 - by facing Yale. A year ago, the Bulldogs nipped the Tigers 9-8 in New Haven. This time, the game is at Class of 1952 Stadium, as the second game of Saturday's doubleheader that begins at noon when the women face Cornell.
Princeton vs. Yale
The site Class of 1952 Stadium • Princeton, N.J.
The date Saturday, April 1, 2006 • 3 p.m.
The records Princeton: 4-2 (0-0 Ivy League); Yale: 3-4 (0-2 Ivy League)
The rankings Princeton: No. 6 USILA/No. 6 Inside Lacrosse; Yale: unranked
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (19th season overall, 235-77); Yale: Andy Shay (third season, 16-17)
Radio WHWH AM 1350/www.goprincetontigers.com
The series Princeton leads 64-20-2
Last year Yale defeated Princeton 9-8 • April 2, 2005
In case you forgot - Yale defeated Princeton 9-8 a year ago at Yale.
More forgot - Yale never trailed in its 9-8 win over Princeton a year ago. The Bulldogs led for 57:19, and the game was tied for 2:41.
Face it - Yale's Dan Kallaugher won 17 of 20 face-offs, including all 13 in the final three quarters, in the 9-8 win over Princeton a year ago.
More face it - Yale has won more than 63% of its face-offs (101 of 160); Princeton has won 49% of its face-offs (51 of 104).
Ryan's hope - Ryan Schoenig won 6 of 9 face-offs last weekend as he moved between facing off with a shortstick and playing close defense with a longstick.
A league of their own - Princeton had won 10 straight Ivy League championships prior to last year.
Strength of schedule - Princeton's schedule includes games against teams ranked first (Virginia), second (Cornell), fourth (Hofstra), 10th (Johns Hopkins), 13th (Syracuse) and 16th (Penn). In case you forgot - Princeton entered last year's game against Yale without a win (0-4); Princeton has won four games this season before the league opener (4-2).
For starters - Freshmen Tommy Davis, Chris Peyser and Rich Sgalardi made their first career starts last weekend.
More starters - Princeton started four freshmen (Tommy Davis, Chris Peyser, Rich Sgalardi, Mark Kovler) in the win over Bucknell.
Fresh faces - Princeton used six freshmen in the first quarter against Butler and Binghamton (Tommy Davis, Mark Kovler, Josh Lesko, Charlie Kolkin, Chris Peyser, Rich Sgalardi).
Point, counterpoint - Scott Sowanick and Peter Trombino are tied for the team lead in points (14). Sowanick and Trombino tied for the team lead in points a year ago (34).
Hot Coco - Dan Cocoziello, who has started every game of his career on defense, had a goal against Butler and an assist against Binghamton for his first career points.
More Coco - Dan Cocoziello's goal against Butler was the first by a Princeton longstick since Ryan Schoenig had one against Quinnipiac in 2004, a span of 32 games.
Geography lesson - Princeton is playing its seventh game of the season, of which six will have been in New Jersey and one in Maryland. Yale is playing its eighth game of the season, of which three will have been in Connecticut, two have been in Florida and one each will have been in New York, Delaware and New Jersey.
Scene of the crime - Yale ended Princeton's 37-game Ivy League winning streak two short of the league record with a 15-13 win in 2002.
Net results - Alex Hewit leads Division I in save percentage (.696) and is third in goals-against average (5.01).
More net - Alex Hewit has a .720 save percentage in his last four games. Hewit had a .808 save percentage in two games last weekend, along with a 2.71 goals-against average.
Last net - Alex Hewit has a career save percentage of .670 and a career goals-against average of 5.18.
Marked up - Mark Kovler has at least one point in each of the first six games of his career.
Quick strike - Princeton has scored first in all six games and has scored in the first minute in three of the six games.
The one and Trombino-nly - Peter Trombino has at least one point in every game of his three-year career. Trombino did not score in the first half against Binghamton before having a goal and assist in the third quarter.
More Trombino - 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).
Still 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).
No place like home - Princeton plays its sixth home game this weekend, including fifth straight. Princeton is at Syracuse next weekend.
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.
D plus - 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.
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 78 of Princeton's 104 face-offs • won 8 of 12 face-offs against Binghamton, who had been in the Top 10 nationally in face-off percentage 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 • had a goal against Butler • had two assists against Binghamton • 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 • had first career points with goal agains Butler and assist against Binghamton • has started every game of his career 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 • scored goal against Butler 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 • had two goals against Butler and one against Binghamton in first two starts 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 • had an assist against Binghamton • has four career goals, all in transition Whitney Hayes • has started 24 career games, including all six this year • has one goal and four assists this season • assisted on Peter Trombino's tying goal in the third quarter of win over Hopkins Alex Haynie • had a goal and assist against Canisius • scored a goal against Virginia • had a goal against Binghamton • had an assist against Butler Alex Hewit • leads Division I with a .696 save percentage and is third in goals-against with a 5.01 average • has a career save percentage of .670 and a career goals-against average of 5.18 • has a .720 save percentage in his last four games • had a .808 save percentage in two games last weekend, along with a 2.71 goals-against average • made 20 saves against Virginia • held UVa, the highest scoring team in the nation, to seven goals, more than 10 below its average coming into the game • had 15 saves while allowing four goals against Butler • had six saves while allowing one goal in 51 minutes against Binghamton • had 13 saves against Hofstra • 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 • brother Thomas plays for Yale Mark Kovler • has at least one point in every game • leads team with nine goals • had five goals in two games last weekend • 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 • scored 58 seconds into first quarter against Binghamton • 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 • mised last two games due to injury Chris Peyser • has played in every game as fourth close defender • started against Butler when Ryan Schoenig faced off and played mostly shortstick Bob Schneider • moved from midfield to attack • scored one goal against Virginia • scored a goal against Binghamton • has scored three of his five career goals in game at Virginia last year Ryan Schoenig • has played longstick and shortstick defense • won 6 of 9 face-offs as shortstick last weekend • also played close defense last weekend Tripp Shriner • plays attack almost exclusively on man-up situations Scott Sowanick • tied for team lead with 14 points • had career high five points (3-2) in win over Binghamton • had a goal and two assists against Butler • 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 • tied for team lead in points 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