Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Hosts Rutgers Looking To Regain Meistrell Cup
April 24, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
April 24, 2006
Princeton's 2006 men's lacrosse season has been about regaining several prizes that had eluded the Tigers a year ago.
Before Princeton can go about trying to win at least a share of the Ivy League championship, which the Tigers had done 10 straight times prior to last year, and get back to the NCAA tournament, which the Tigers had done 15 straight times prior to last year, there is the matter of the Harland (Tots) Meistrell Cup, which has spent the last 12 months on the Banks of the Raritan River after spending the previous 15 years in Bill Tierney's office.
Princeton and Rutgers meet for the Meistrell Cup Tuesday night (7:30) in the second game of a doubleheader at Class of 1952 Stadium that begins with the women's game against Delaware at 4:30.
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Princeton vs. Rutgers
The site Class of 1952 Stadium • Princeton, N.J.
The date Tuesday, April 25, 2006 • 7:30 p.m.
The records Princeton: 7-4 (3-1 Ivy League); Rutgers: 5-6
The rankings Princeton: No. 9 Inside Lacrosse; Rutgers: unranked
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (22nd season overall, 238-79); Rutgers: Jim Stagnitta (17th season overall, 165-80)
The series Princeton leads 51-29-3
Last year Rutgers defeated Princeton 8-5 • April 9, 2005
Hots For Tots - The winner of the Rutgers-Princeton game is awarded the Harland (Tots) Meistrell Cup, whose namesake is credited with reviving the sport of lacrosse at both Rutgers (1920) and Princeton (1921). More Tots - Rutgers defeated Princeton 8-5 a year ago to win the Meistrell Cup for the first time since 1989.
History lesson - Princeton and Rutgers first played men's lacrosse on April 25, 1888, in New Brunswick and May 2, 1888, in Princeton. Both games were won by Princeton.
More history - Princeton and Rutgers meet for the 83rd time; the only team Princeton has played more is Yale, whom the Tigers have played 86 times.
Last history - Princeton and Rutgers have met every year since 1926 except for the World War II years of 1944 and 1945.
Alexander the great - Alex Hewit made 15 saves while allowing four goals in Princeton's 4-3 loss to Cornell Saturday for a .789 save percentage for the game.
More Alexander - Alex Hewit ranks first in Division I with a .661 save percentage.
D-plus - Princeton held Cornell to four goals, more than eight blow the Big Red's average of 12.2 heading into the game.
More D - Princeton has played the No. 1 (Virginia), No. 2 (Hofstra) and No. 3 (Cornell) teams in Division I in scoring offense. Those three teams average 39.6 goals per game between them; they scored a total of 20 against Princeton.
Aw, shoot - Princeton took 13 shots against Cornell in its 4-3 loss Saturday. No Princeton player took more than two shots in the game.
More shoot - Princeton has been outshot by Cornell 94-34 the last two years combined.
One for all - No Princeton player has had more than one goal in either of the last two games. Nine different players had one goal each against Harvard; three players had one goal each against Cornell.
Three pointer - Princeton's three goals against Cornell was its lowest single-game total since also scoring three in 10-3 loss to Hofstra in 1989.
Working overtime - Rutgers has lost in overtime in each of its last two games, falling 13-12 to Syracuse and 8-7 to Penn State.
Snapped - Peter Trombino did not have a goal or assist against Cornell. It was the first time in his career that he did not have a point and the first time in 22 games he did not have a goal.
Strength of schedule - Princeton's four losses are to teams ranked first (Virginia), second (Hofstra), fifth (Cornell) and ninth (Syracuse) in last week's USILA poll. Princeton's four losses are by a total of eight goals.
Are we clear? - Princeton was 14 for 22 on clearing attempts against Cornell; Princeton had a 83.8% success rate on clears prior to that game.
Mark-ed up - Mark Kovler has 12 goals, the second-highest total ever by a Princeton freshman midfielder. Lorne Smith scored 19 goals as a midfielder in 1996. Streaking - With Peter Trombino's goal streak of 21 straight games snapped against Cornell, Princeton's longest current streak is two straight games, by Alex Haynie and Mark Kovler.
A league of their own - Cornell and Princeton each has one Ivy League loss; Harvard, Penn and Dartmouth all have two Ivy League losses.
More league - With four league games remaining to be played (two this weekend, two next), anything from an outright championship for either Princeton or Cornell to a two-way, three-way or four-way tie for the league title is still possible. Still more league - A Cornell win over Brown Saturday would eliminate Penn, Dartmouth and Harvard from the Ivy League race and would clinch the automatic bid for the NCAA tournament.
Even more league - Should Cornell defeat Brown Saturday, Princeton would need to win at Dartmouth Saturday and at Brown the following Saturday to earn a share of the league title. Cornell would still get the automatic bid to the tournament.
Last league - Should Cornell lose to Brown Saturday and Princeton win its final two league games, there would be at least at three-way tie for the title and possibly a four-way tie. In any three-way or four-way tie scenario, Princeton would get the Ivy League's automatic bid.
Playing the field - There will be six automatic bids and 10 at-large bids in the 2006 NCAA tournament.
Get to the point - Grant Hewit, one of Princeton's top shortstick defensive midfielders, had his first career point with an assist against Harvard.
Class struggle - Princeton has scored 97 goals, 54 of which have been scored by freshmen and sophomores and 43 of which have been scored by juniors and seniors.
More class - Of Princeton's 97 goals this season, 87 are from freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
Getting defensive - Princeton has played five of the top nine scoring offense teams in Division I. The results: Team scoring offense goals per game against Princeton Virginia first 16.0 7 Hofstra second 12.2 9 Cornell third 11.5 4 Syracuse sixth 11.2 7 Penn ninth 10.8 7
The one and Trombino-nly - Peter Trombino is the only active player in Division I to have scored an overtime goal in an NCAA tournament game.
Injury update - Mike Gaudio, who had at least one goal in 13 straight games, has been out since tearing his ACL at Hopkins March 4. Tommy Davis will be out indefinitely after dislocating his shoulder Saturday against Syracuse.
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.
Welcome to the Jungers - Zachary Jungers has started every game 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.
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.
Watch out - Princeton has three players on the preseason Tewaaraton Trophy watch list: D Dan Cocoziello, A Peter Trombino, M Scott Sowanick.
Princeton Lacrosse '06 ... By The Numbers
1 highest number of goals by a Princeton player in either of the last two games; Princeton had nine players score one goal each against Harvard and three players score one goal each against Cornell
2 number of times Princeton and Rutgers have NOT played in a season since 1926; Princeton and Rutgers did not play during the World War II seasons of 1944 and 1945
3 goals Princeton scored against Cornell Saturday for its lowest total since a 10-3 loss to Hofstra in 1989
5 teams that are still alive in the Ivy League race with four league games remaining; a Cornell win over Brown Saturday would eliminate three of those teams (Penn, Harvard, Dartmouth)
6.65 former Tiger goalie Trevor Tierney's career goals-against average, which ranks first all-time in the NCAA's men's lacrosse record book; current Princeton goalie Alex Hewit has a career goals-against average of 5.98 though he is 538 minutes shy of the 1,400-minute requirement
9 highest goal total allowed this season by Princeton (to Hofstra); the last time Princeton went an entire season without allowing double figures in goals in any game was 1941
13 shots by Princeton against Cornell; no Princeton player took more than two
15 consecutive years that Princeton had defeated Rutgers prior to last year
21 consecutive games with at least one goal for Peter Trombino prior to Saturday's game against Cornell; it was also the first time in Trombino's career that he had not scored a point
789 Alex Hewit's save percentage against Cornell (15 saves, four goals-against)
1888 first year that Princeton and Rutgers played lacrosse
1921 year Harland (Tots) Meistrell is credited with reviving the lacrosse program at Rutgers
1922 year Harland (Tots) Meistrell is credited with reviving the lacrosse program at Princeton
What Can You Say About ... John Bennett • named Ivy League Player of the Week after Princeton's win at Johns Hopkins • forced seven turnovers in one-on-one situations against the Blue Jays • Princeton's top longstick midifleder Alex Berg • has taken 143 of Princeton's 198 face-offs • won 19 of 24 face-offs against Canisius • 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 • also has goals against Hofstra, Butler and Harvard • 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 • has four points in last six games prior to Syracuse game after not having a point for the first 16 games of his career • had a goal against Butler for first goal by a Tiger longstick in a span of 30 games • had a goal against Harvard • had assists against Binghamton and Yale • named Ivy League Player of the Week after wins over Penn and Harvard • became first defenseman to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year • has started every game of his career Trip Cowin • had first career two-goal game in win over Penn • 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 • suffered separated shoulder in game at Syracuse and is out indefinitely • scored three goals in opener, did not score in next three games and then had six goals in next three games • scored three goals against Yale, all in the first half • 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 DeSantis • won 7 of 12 face-offs against Harvard • had faced-off 10 times for the season prior to Harvard game, winning six • won 48 of 96 face-offs a year ago 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 • had two assists 19 seconds apart during second quarter of win over Penn; both were on Alex Haynie goals • 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 27 career games, including eight this year • had three goals and two assists in three games against Syracuse, Penn and Harvard after having no goals and one assist in four games prior to that • had a goal and assist at Syracuse and at Harvard • scored a goal against Penn • assisted on Peter Trombino's tying goal in the third quarter of win over Hopkins Alex Haynie • returned to starting lineup against Penn in place of injured Tommy Davis; had started first four games of the year • had a goal against Cornell to put Princeton up 3-2 in fourth quarter • had a goal against Harvard • had two goals and an assist against Penn to tie career high of three points • goals came 19 seconds apart during 5-0 second quarter run • had a goal and assist against Canisius • scored a goal against Virginia • had a goal and assist against Yale • had a goal against Binghamton • had an assist against Butler Alex Hewit • first in Division I with a .661 save percentage and third in goals-against with a 5.87 average • has a career save percentage of .655 and a career goals-against average of 5.98 • made 15 saves while allowing four goals against Cornell for a .789 save percentage; Cornell had averaged 12.2 goals prior to the game • 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 • made 12 saves against Yale and Penn • made seven saves while allowing four goals at Hopkins as Princeton snapped Blue Jays' 37-game home winning streak • six of seven saves against both Johns Hopkins and Harvard 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 • had first career point with an assist against Harvard 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 • has been No. 2 longstick midfielder • has played in every game Mark Kovler • had a goal and assist against Cornell • was only Princeton player with more than one point against Cornell • had a goal and assist against Penn • had five goals in two games against Butler and Binghamton • started his career with back-to-back multiple point games • scored one goal against Virginia while making first career start • had an assist against Syracuse • had a goal against Harvard • 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 • had at least one point in first six games before going without a point against Yale; only played one shift against Yale due to stomach virus 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 • had first career two-goal game at Syracuse • has goals against Canisius, Hopkins, Harvard and Hofstra • 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 and assist against Harvard • had a goal against Cornell • returned from injury that kept him out of Bulter/Binghamton weekend to have goal and assist against Yale • had a goal against Canisius and Hofstra • had an assist against Virginia and Penn Chris Peyser • has played in every game as fourth close defender • started against Butler when Ryan Schoenig faced off and played mostly shortstick • faced-off with longstick four times against Yale Bob Schneider • had a career-high three goals and four points against Penn • had a goal and assist against Yale • scored one goal against Virginia • scored a goal against Binghamton Ryan Schoenig • has played longstick and shortstick defense • won 6 of 9 face-offs as shortstick Butler/Binghamton weekend • also played close defense against Butler and Binghamton Rich Sgalardi • played in four games, starting two • returns to starting lineup for Penn game Tripp Shriner • plays attack almost exclusively on man-up situations • had an assist against Yale • had a goal and assist against Penn • had a goal against Harvard Scott Sowanick • moved from midfield to attack for Butler game • has 16 points in last six games after nine points in first five games • had three goals and an assist against Yale • had three goals and an assist against Penn • 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 • has started every game of career Derek Sudan • veteran shortstick defensive midfielder • has played in every game Peter Trombino • held without a point against Cornell; first career game without a point • had 21-game goal scoring streak snapped against Cornell • had two goals and three assists against Penn • tied career-high with six points against Yale (3G, 3A) • leads team in assists and is tied for lead in ground balls and goals • 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 • only player in school history with at least 20 goals and at least 10 assists as both a freshman and sophomore • has reached double figures in goals and assists as freshman, sophomore and junior • 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