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Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Travels To Syracuse To Renew One Of The Great Rivalries In College Men's Lacrosse
April 06, 2006 | Men's Lacrosse
April 6, 2006
Princeton. Syracuse. For the last two decades, any discussion of the dominant powers in the sport of men's lacrosse has started with those two teams. Eight times since 1988, Syracuse has held up the NCAA championship trophy on Memorial Day. Six times, it has been Princeton who has won the gold.
The teams that combined to win 14 of the last 18 NCAA titles renew their rivalry Saturday at the Carrier Dome (2 p.m., WHWH AM 1350). Does Princeton have the advantage of playing on the road? The visitor has won five of the last six regular-season meetings between the teams.
Of course, history is, by definition, in the past. As for the present, both teams need the win, Princeton to solidify its spot near the top of the rankings as the Ivy League season kicks into gear beyond this game and Syracuse to build on its win of last weekend and continue its push for an NCAA tournament bid.
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Princeton vs. Syracuse
The site Carrier Dome • Syracuse, N.Y.
The date Saturday, April 8, 2006 • 2:00 p.m.
The records Princeton: 5-2 (1-0 Ivy League); Syracuse: 2-4
The rankings Princeton: No. 6 USILA/No. 5 Inside Lacrosse; Syracuse: No. 15 USILA/No. 15 Inside Lacrosse
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (19th season overall, 236-77); Syracuse: John Desko (third season, 89-29)
Radio WHWH AM 1350/www.goprincetontigers.com
The series Syracuse leads 14-7
Last year Syracuse defeated Princeton 10-8 • March 26, 2005 Close shaves - Bill Tierney is 6-11 against Syracuse as Princeton head coach. Of his six wins, one was by two goals and the other five, including the last four, have been by one goal.
More close - Bill Tierney's six wins over Syracuse have come by a combined seven goals; Bill Tierney's 11 losses to Syracuse have come by a combined 54 goals.
May madness - Princeton and Syracuse have combined to win 14 of the last 18 NCAA championships.
More madness - Princeton and Syracuse have played in the NCAA championship game four times in the last 14 years and have played in the Final Four three other times in the last 14 years.
Still more madness - Princeton and Syracuse have combined for 23 Final Four appearances in the last 14 years.
On the other hand - Neither Princeton nor Syracuse advanced to the NCAA Final Four a year ago
More other hand - Princeton and Syracuse were a combined 373-80 (.823) from 1990-2004, with 16 of those losses against each other). Since then, Princeton and Syracuse are a combined 19-19.
You're welcome - Princeton's 6-4 win over Johns Hopkins on March 4 ended the Blue Jays' home winning streak at 37 and kept Syracuse (in the mid-'80s) tied with Hopkins for the longest home winning streak in Division I history.
Strength of schedule - Princeton's schedule includes teams ranked first (Virginia), second (Hofstra), fifth (Cornell), seventh (Johns Hopkins), ninth (Penn), 15th (Syracuse) and 17th (Havard) in this week's USILA coaches' poll.
More strength of schedule - Princeton's two losses have come to the teams ranked first and second in this week's USILA poll (Virginia, Hofstra).
No place like home - Princeton plays its first road game in 36 days; its only other road game this season has been at Johns Hopkins March 4.
More home - Princeton travels to Syracuse after having played five straight home games and six of its first seven games at home.
No place like road - The visiting team has won four straight Princeton-Syracuse games and has won five of the six meetings since the teams began playing annually during the regular season in 1999.
Quick strike - Princeton has scored first in all seven of its games.
More quick - Princeton has scored in the first minute of three of its seven games, the first three minutes of five of its seven games and the first six minutes of all seven games.
Coach speak - Princeton's 9-4 win over Butler on March 24 was Bill Tierney's 200th as Tiger head coach.
More coach - Syracuse coach John Desko (17-4, .810) and Bill Tierney (28-9, .757) rank 1-2 all-time in NCAA Division I tournament winning percentage.
Nice to see you again - Princeton and Syracuse meet for the 13th time since the start of the 1999 season.
High five - Princeton's win over Yale last Satuday gave the Tigers five wins on the season; Princeton won five games all of 2005 and did not win its first game of the 2005 season until April 5.
Fresh faces - Princeton has had five freshmen start at least one game this season.
More fresh - Princeton used seven freshmen in the first half against Yale a week ago.
Hot Coco - Dan Cocoziello has three points (1G, 2A) in his last three games after not having scored in his first 16 career games.
More Coco - Dan Cocoziello's goal against Butler was the first by a Princeton longstick in a span of 30 games dating to Ryan Schoenig's goal against Quinnipiac in 2004.
Last net - Alex Hewit has a career save percentage of .670 and a career goals-against average of 5.18.
The one and Trombino-nly - 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.
Still more Trombino - Peter Trombino has at least one point in every game of his three-year career. Only one Princeton player has ever done so in every game for four years (Kevin Lowe '94).
Another Trombino - Peter Trombino currently leads Princeton in assists and is tied for the team lead in goals. No player 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.
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.
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 margin of victory in five of Bill Tierney's six wins against Syracuse
2 margin of victory of the only one of Bill Tierney's wins against Syracuse that wasn't by one goal
3 highest goal total by a Princeton player in a game this season, done a total of six times
4 Princeton's rank in Division I in scoring defense (5.71 goals per game)
5 wins by the visiting team in the Princeton-Syracuse series in the six games since the teams began playing annually during the regular season in 1999
6 goals by freshman Tommy Davis in the last three games; he had three in the first four combined
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 5.82, though he is not yet halfway to the 1,400-minute requirement
9 the highest goal-total allowed by Princeton to an opponent this season (Hofstra)
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 NCAA championships Princeton and Syracuse have combined to win in the last 18 years
15 goals per game by No. 1 Virginia, who leads Division I in scoring offense; Princeton held the Cavs to seven
36 days since Princeton will have played a road game prior to its game at Syracuse
37 consecutive home wins for Johns Hopkins before Princeton defeated the Blue Jays 6-4 at Homewood Field in its only other road game this season; the loss kept Hopkins and Syracuse (in the mid-'80s) tied for the NCAA record for longest home winning streak
500 combined winning percentage of Princeton and Syracuse since the start of the 2005 season (19-19)
823 combined winning percentage of Princeton and Syracuse from 1990-2004 (373-80)
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 • has played in every game Alex Berg • won 19 of 24 face-offs against Canisius • has taken 92 of Princeton's 128 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 • has at least one point in each of last three games 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 assists against Binghamton and Yale • became first defenseman to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year • 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 in opener, did not score in next three games and now has six goals in last 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 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 25 career games, including 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 and assist against Yale • had a goal against Binghamton • had an assist against Butler Alex Hewit • second in Division I with a .679 save percentage and fourth in goals-against with a 5.52 average • has a career save percentage of .663 and a career goals-against average of 5.82 • 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 • 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 • has been No. 2 longstick midfielder • has played in every game Mark Kovler • had at least one point in first six games before going without a point against Yale last weekend; only played one shift against Yale due to stomach virus • has nine goals • 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 • 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 • 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 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 • moved from midfield to attack • had a goal and assist against Yale a week ago • 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 Butler/Binghamton weekend • also played close defense against Butler and Binghamton Rich Sgalardi • played in four games, starting two Tripp Shriner • plays attack almost exclusively on man-up situations • had an assist against Yale Scott Sowanick • second on team with 18 points (10G, 8A) • moved from midfield to attack for Butler gam • has nine points in last two games after nine points in first five games • had three goals and an assist against Yale • 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 • tied career-high with six points against Yale (3G, 3A) • leads team in assists and ground balls and tied for team lead in 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 • 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 • 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