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Princeton Heads to Dartmouth Looking To Stay In Ivy Race
April 27, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
April 27, 2006
There are four Ivy League men's lacrosse games remaining to be played, and five of the seven teams in the league are still mathematically alive. This week's two games - Princeton at Dartmouth and Brown at Cornell - figure to go a long way towards figuring out how it will all play out.
The Tigers travel to Hanover to take on the Big Green Saturday (1) in a game that can been on CSTV. A Princeton win against Dartmouth, followed by a win next week against Brown, would give the Tigers no worse than a share of the league title.
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Princeton vs. Dartmouth
The site Scully-Fahey Field • Hanover, N.H.
The date Saturday, April 29, 2006 • 1:00 p.m.
TV CSTV
The records Princeton: 8-4 (3-1 Ivy League); Dartmouth: 6-6 (2-2 Ivy League)
The rankings Princeton: No. 7 USILA, No. 9 Inside Lacrosse; Dartmouth: unranked
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (22nd season overall, 239-79); Dartmouth: Bill Wilson (third season overall, 22-15)
The series Princeton leads 46-7
Last year Princeton defeated Dartmouth 10-8 • April 30, 2005
Down the stretch they come - With four league games remaining to be played (Princeton vs. Dartmouth, Princeton vs. Brown, Cornell vs. Brown, Dartmouth vs. Harvard), Princeton and Dartmouth are two of the five teams mathematically alive for an Ivy League championship.
More stretch - It is still mathematically possible for there to be an outright Ivy champion or a two-way tie, a three-way tie or a four-way tie for the Ivy League title. On the other hand - A Cornell win over Brown Saturday, regardless of any other outcomes, would eliminate Penn, Dartmouth and Harvard from the Ivy League race.
A league of their own - Should Princeton defeat Dartmouth and Brown, it would earn at least a share of the Ivy League championship.
Seeing red - A Cornell win over Brown would clinch at least a share of the Ivy League championship for the Big Red. It would also clinch the Ivy League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
For what it's worth - Princeton has defeated Dartmouth by the same 10-8 score in each of the last two seasons.
History lesson - Princeton has won 16 of the last 17 meetings against Dartmouth; the lone Dartmouth win was in 2003 at Class of 1952 Stadium.
More history - Princeton and Dartmouth first played in the 1953 season; the two have met every year since.
Another history - Princeton has won on each of its last eight trips to Hanover.
Double play - Peter Trombino and Scott Sowanick are two of the four players in Princeton history to have double figures in goals and assists as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Jon Hess '98 and Kevin Lowe '94 are the other two; both had double figures in both all four years.
D plus - Princeton has not allowed more than nine goals in a game this season (to Hofstra); the last time Princeton went an entire season without allowing double figures in goals was 1941.
More D - Princeton has held 10 of 12 opponents to seven goals or fewer and seven of 12 opponents to five goals or fewer.
Still more D - Dartmouth is the 11th-highest scoring team in Division I. Princeton has already 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 12.6 9 Cornell third 11.5 4 Syracuse fifth 11.2 7 Penn ninth 10.8 7 Dartmouth 11th 10.4 ???
Aw, shoot - Princeton tripled its shot total from the Cornell game to the Rutgers game. The Tigers took 13 shots against Cornell and 39 against Rutgers.
The nominees are - Alex Hewit is one of 25 players, and one of three goalies, nominated for the Tewaaraton Trophy.
Alexander the great - Alex Hewit has made at least 12 saves in seven of 12 games this season.
More Alexander - Alex Hewit leads Division I with a .670 save percentage and is third in Division I in goals-against average at 5.77.
More Alexander - Alex Hewit has a .669 save percentage and 6.80 goals-against average against the five teams ranked in the top nine in scoring offense that Princeton has played (Virginia, Hofstra, Cornell, Syracuse, Penn).
Last Alexander - Alex Hewit made 16 saves in last year's 10-8 win over Dartmouth to earn Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors.
Strength of schedule - Princeton's four losses are to teams ranked first (Virginia), second (Hofstra), fourth (Cornell) and ninth (Syracuse) in this week's USILA poll. Princeton's four losses are by a total of eight goals.
Mark-ed up - Mark Kovler has 14 goals, the ninth-highest total by a Princeton freshman. Kovler needs two goals to tie Justin Tortolani and Ryan Boyle for seventh; B.J. Prager's 25 are the record.
Streaking - With Peter Trombino's goal streak of 21 straight games snapped against Cornell and with Mike Gaudio's 13-game streak on hold due to a torn ACL, Princeton's longest current streak is three games, by Alex Haynie and Mark Kovler.
Class struggle - Princeton has scored 108 goals, 61 of which have been scored by freshmen and sophomores and 47 of which have been scored by juniors and seniors.
More class - Of Princeton's 108 goals this season, 97 are from freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
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 after dislocating his shoulder against Syracuse. John Bennett is questionable due to a groin injury that forced him out of the Rutgers game.
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.
Princeton Lacrosse '06 ... By The Numbers
.670 save percentage for Alex Hewit, best in Division I
1 Ivy League losses for Princeton and Cornell; Dartmouth, Penn and Harvard have two each
2 consecutive years that Princeton has defeated Dartmouth 10-8
3 goalies among the 25 Tewaaraton Trophy nominees -Princeton's Alex Hewit, Navy's Matt Russell, Cornell's Matt McMonagle
4 players in school history who have had double figures in goals and assists as a freshman, sophomore and junior; current Tigers Scott Sowanick and Peter Trombino are two of the four, along with Kevin Lowe '94 and Jon Hess '98
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 5.77 though he is 538 minutes shy of the 1,400-minute requirement
7 seconds into the second quarter against Rutgers that Josh Lesko scored; Rutgers had taken a 2-1 lead with 2.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter
8 consecutive wins for Princeton in games at Dartmouth
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
14 goals by Mark Kovler, the ninth-highest total by a Princeton freshman and third highest-total by a freshman midfielder; Kovler needs seven to tie Chris Massey (a midfielder as a freshman) for the midfielder recordand 11 to tie B.J. Prager for the overall record
16 wins for Princeton in the last 17 meetings against Dartmouth
39 shots by Princeton against Rutgers Tuesday night; Princeton had 13 shots against Cornell in its previous game
54 consecutive years, including 2006, that Princeton and Dartmouth will have played after never having played before 1953
99 career points for Peter Trombino (62G, 37A)
1996 year in which current Dartmouth head coach Bill Wilson was an assistant coach at Princeton; the Tigers won the NCAA title that year
What Can You Say About ... John Bennett • missed Rutgers games with pulled groin; is expected to play against Dartmouth • 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 154 of Princeton's 216 face-offs • won 7 of 11 against Rutgers • 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 • 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 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 • has won 14 of 26 face-offs this season • 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 • scored a goal against Rutgers • 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 28 career games, including nine this year • 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 two goals against Rutgers • 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 • one of 25 nominees for Tewaaraton Trophy • first in Division I with a .670 save percentage and third in goals-against with a 5.77 average • has a career save percentage of .662 and a career goals-against average of 5.91; career goals-against would be best in Division I history had he played miminum 1,400 minutes (he has 914:02) • has made at least 12 saves seven times in 12 games • had a .706 save percentage against Virginia, Hofstra and Cornell, the top three scoring teams in Division I; held three to a total of 20 goals, half of their combined average • 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 13 saves while allowing four goals against Rutgers • 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 • Ivy League Rookie of the Week after a 16-save performance against Dartmouth a year ago 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 • ranks ninth all-time among freshman goal scorers (third among midfielders) at Princeton with 14; needs two to tie Ryan Boyle and Justin Tortolani for seventh • had two goals against Rutgers • 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 a goal and assist against Rutgers; goal came seven seconds into second quarter to tie score at 2-2 after Rutgers had taken lead with three seconds remaining in the first • 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 • had an assist against Rutgers 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 • scored first carer goal in win over Rutgers • has started two games 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 20 points in last seven games after nine points in first five games • had a goal and three assists against Rutgers • 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 • has 99 career points (62G, 37A) • held without a point against Cornell; first career game without a point; came back with two goals and assist against Rutgers • 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