Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Princeton Travels To Yale In Ivy Men's Lacrosse Opener
March 29, 2007 | Men's Lacrosse
Princeton and Yale first met in men's lacrosse on Oct. 14, 1882, when they played in New Haven in the first of three games between the two that academic year. Their meeting this Saturday (1 p.m., WPRB FM 103.3) at Reese Stadium in New Haven will be the 88th in the series, and Princeton has played no team more than it has played Yale.
As has been the case every year since 1978, the game against Yale is the Ivy League opener for the Tigers, who have won 13 league championships in Bill Tierney's first 19 seasons as head coach.
Yale defeated Princeton 9-8 two years ago in the last game between the schools in New Haven. During the last two meetings, including Princeton's 12-8 win last year at Class of 1952 Stadium, Yale has won 34 of the 44 face-offs combined, though both schools enter this game among the leaders nationally in face-off winning percentage.
Princeton comes in hot on defense, having allowed seven total goals in the last two games, an average of 6.0 goals per game for the season and no opponent to score more than eight goals through six games.
Princeton vs. Yale
The site Reese Stadium • New Haven, Conn.
The date Saturday, March 31, 2007 • 1:00 p.m.
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
The rankings Princeton: No. 8 (Nike Inside Lacrosse)/No. 9 (USILA); Yale: unranked
The records Princeton: 4-2 (0-0 Ivy League); Yale: 4-2 (0-2 Ivy League)
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (23rd season overall, 246-82); Yale: Andy Shay (fourth season overall, 23-23)
The series Princeton leads 65-20-2
Last year Princeton defeated Yale 12-8 • April 1, 2006
History lesson – Princeton has played Yale more than any other opponent; the teams meet for the 88th time in a series that dates to Oct. 14, 1882.
More history – Princeton has opened its Ivy season against Yale every year since 1978.
More history – Princeton has won 13 Ivy League titles in Bill Tierney's first 19 years as head coach. Princeton had not won an Ivy League title in the 21 years prior to Tierney's arrival.
In case you forgot – Yale defeated Princeton 9-8 in 2005 in the last meeting between the schools in New Haven.
Polling place – Princeton is 0-2 against teams in the top five of this week's Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, having lost 7-6 to No. 2 Virginia (with 25.4 seconds to play) and 7-6 to No. 5 Johns Hopkins (in double OT). Princeton is 4-0 against unranked teams and has outscored those four teams 55-22.
Face it – Yale has won 34 of 44 face-offs against Princeton the last two years combined.
More face it – Yale is ranked eight in Division I in face-off winning percentage (.600); Princeton is ranked 18th in Division I in face-off winning percentage (.545).
Still more face it – Alex Berg would rank fourth in Division I in face-off winning percentage (.667, 32 for 48) had he taken the minimum 40% of his team's draws to be included; Berg, who did not play against Hofstra due to injury, has taken 39.7%.
Last face it – Princeton has won 54.5% of its face-offs; the last time Princeton won more than 50% for a full season was 2002.
Aw, shoot – Princeton is allowing its opponents 29.7 shots per game. The last time Princeton held its opponents below 30 shots per game for a full season was 1999.
More shoot – Princeton is averaging 42.5 shots per game after averaging 35.2 shots per game last year and 30.4 shots per game in 2005.
D plus – Princeton is tied for third in Division I in scoring defense at 6.0 goals per game.
More D – Princeton has allowed seven goals in its last two games.
Still more D – No Princeton opponent has scored more than eight goals in a game this season. The last time Princeton did not allow an opponent to reach double figures for a full season was 1942.
Can you spare a dime? – Goalie Alex Hewit had an assist on the first goal of the game in Princeton's 17-3 in over Bellarmine Saturday.
Book it – Alex Hewit moved past the 1,400-minute mark for his career and became eligible for the NCAA's career record book; Hewit's current career goals-against average of 6.40 would be second all-time behind Navy's Matt Russell (5.86 from 2003-06).
Close shaves – Princeton has played six games this season, of which three have been one-goal games decided in the final half minute of regulation or overtime. Princeton lost to Johns Hopkins 7-6 (double OT), lost 7-6 to Virginia (goal with 25.4 seconds remaining) and defeated Hofstra 5-4 (goal with eight seconds remaining).
Welcome to the Jungers – Zachary Jungers is one of 20 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award for lacrosse, which will be awarded for excellence in athletics, academics, service and leadership.
More Jungers – Zachary Jungers had his first career point with an assist against Bellarmine.
Streaking – Tommy Davis has scored at least one point in 12 straight games. Josh Lesko has scored at least one point in 11 straight games.
On the attack – Princeton's close defense of Chris Peyser, Dan Cocoziello and Zachary Jungers has allowed one goal to an attackman in the last two games: Bellarmine's Adam Gardner scored in the fourth quarter to make it 15-3 of last Saturday's game.
Polling place – Princeton is ranked eighth in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll and ninth in the USILA coaches' poll. Princeton's two losses are to teams ranked second (Hopkins) and third (Virginia) in the media poll.
I'm honored – Alex Hewit became the third Princeton goalie to play for Bill Tierney to win the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award as the top goalie in Division I when he won the award last season, joining Scott Bacigalupo and Trevor Tierney.
Still more honored – Alex Hewit became the second player to play for Bill Tierney to be a first-team All-America without being first-team All-Ivy League. Hewit did so a year ago; Scott Bacigalupo did so in 1994.
The All-American boys – Princeton has six players who have earned All-America honors in their career: Alex Hewit (2006 first-team), Dan Cocoziello (2006 second-team), Zachary Jungers (2006 thid-team), Peter Trombino (2006 honorable mention), Mark Kovler (2006 honorable mention) and Scott Sowanick (2005 honorable mention).
Dee-fense, Dee-fense – Princeton has allowed an average of 6.00 goals per game, which would be the second-lowest goals-against for a Princeton team in Bill Tierney's 20 years as head coach; only the 2001 national championship team had a lower average (5.80) for a full season.
More Dee-fense – Princeton's 2007 starting defense consists of two Inside Lacrosse preseason first-team All-Americas (G Alex Hewit, D Dan Cocoziello) and one preseason second-team All-America (D Zachary Jungers).
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.
Princeton Lacrosse '07 ... By The Numbers
1 goals scored by attackmen against Princeton in the last two weeks
3 games played by Princeton, out of six, that have been decided by one goal; the game-winning goal has come in all three games in either the final half-minute of regulation or overtime
6.0 average goals per game allowed by Princeton, which would be the second-lowest figure for a season in Bill Tierney's 20 years as Tiger head coach; the 2001 NCAA championship team allowed 5.80
11 consecutive games with at least one point by Josh Lesko
12 consecutive games with at least one point by Tommy Davis
12.8 average number of shots per game by which Princeton has outshot its opponents
39.7 percentage of team face-offs taken by Alex Berg, who would rank fourth nationally in face-off winning percentage (.667) had he taken 40% of the team's draws; Berg missed the Hofstra game due to an injury
42.5 shots per game by Princeton, who averaged 35.2 per game a year ago and 32.4 shots per game in 2005
49 games played by Princeton since the start of the 2004 season; Scott Sowanick and Peter Trombino have started all 49
54.5 percentage of face-offs won by Princeton this season; Princeton has not won more than 50% of its face-offs for a full season since 2002
60.9 percentage of face-offs won by Princeton in the 1997 season, the last time Princeton had a higher percentage than its current 54.5% for a full season
77.3 percentage of face-offs won by Yale against Princeton the last two years combined (34 fof 44)
88 meetings between Princeton and Yale, including this one; Princeton has played Yale more than any other team
1882 first year that Princeton and Yale played in men's lacrosse; the teams played Oct. 14 in New Haven (2-0 Princeton win) and Oct. 21 in Princeton (2-1 Princeton win) and then May 19, 1883, in Princeton (3-0 Princeton win)
What Can You Say About ...
Nikhil Ashra #23
• has a .833 save percentage and 3.84 goals-against average in 31:17 at back-up goalie
• made seven saves while allowing two goals in 25:50 against Bellarmine
• made three saves without allowing a goal against Canisius
John Bennett #37
• in fourth season of splitting longstick midfield position
Alex Berg #13
• has won 32 of 48 face-offs
• percentage of .667 would be fourth in Division I had he taken the minimum 40% of his team total (he has taken 39.7%)
• won 7 of 9 against Bellarmine
• won 6 of 10 face-offs against Rutgers
• won 8 of 10 against Canisius
• won 6 of 12 against Virginia
• missed the Hofstra game due to injury suffered against RU
Michael Biles #6
• had a goal in each of first two games
• missed almost all of last year with injury
• played in 24 games first two years
Dan Cocoziello #1
• preseason first-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
• second-team All-America a year ago
• named to Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list
• unanimous first-team All-Ivy League defenseman in 2006
• had three goals last season, one off school single-season record for a longstick, set by John Harrington in 1998
• became first defenseman to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year when he won the award in 2005
• has started every game of his career
• had an assist against Rutgers
Trip Cowin #4
• had an assist against Canisius
• came back from off-season knee surgery
Tommy Davis #7
• leads team with 10 assists and 16 points
• tied for seventh in Division I with 2.0 assists per game
• scored two goals against Hofstra, including game-winner with eight seconds remaining, after missing Rutgers games due to injury
• had two goals and five assists against Canisius
• had five assists against Canisius after having one all last year
• scored two goals on two shots against Canisius
• had a goal and assist against Hopkins
• had an assist against UVa
• had an eight-game goal-scoring streak snapped in game against UVa
• had a goal and three assists against Bellarmine
• missed last six games of 2006 regular season with shoulder injury suffered against Syracuse; returned with five goals in two NCAA tournament games
• missed game against Rutgers due to injury
Mike DeSantis
• has won 28 of 52 face-offs
• ranks 24th in Division I with .538 face-off percentage
• had a goal against Hofstra
• had first career goal against Rutgers
• goal came 15 seconds after an RU goal had made it a two-goal game in the fourth quarter
• also had an assist against Rutgers for first career two-point game
• has four career points, three of which have come in last two games
• won 7 of 11 face-offs against Hofstra
• won 6 of 8 face-offs against Hopkins
• won 7 of 10 face-offs against Canisius
• won exactly 50% of his draws as both a sophomore and junior
Rob Engelke #22
• has played in every game as fourth attackman
• had first career assist in win over Hofstra
• had a goal and two assists against Bellarmine
• scored three goals against Canisius
• named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after that game
• became second Princeton player in last 12 years to score three goals in first game of freshman year (Tommy Davis did so in 2006)
• scored three goals on three shots against Canisius
• scored more than 100 points as a junior and senior at Garden City High School
Mike Gaudio #8
• tore his ACL in second quarter of last year's game against Hopkins and missed remainder of season
• returned from injury to play against Canisius
• had 13-game goal scoring streak snapped against Canisius
• had an assist against Virginia
• honorable mention All-Ivy selection in 2005
• scored 16 goals in 2005, most by a sophomore midfielder at Princeton since Josh Sims in 1998
Zach Goldberg #33
• top shortstick defensive midfielder
• had a goal and assist against Rutgers
• had an assist against Canisius
• has five career goals, all in transition
Whitney Hayes #3
• has started 30 career games
• had a goal against Canisius
Alex Haynie #12
• scored three goals against Canisius to tie career high
• had a goal against Virginia
• had two assists against UVa
• had an assist against Hofstra
• had two goals against Bellarmine
• active with Athletes In Action
Alex Hewit #15
• 2006 first-team All-America
• 2007 preseason first-team All-America
• named to Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list
• 2006 first-team All-America despite not being first-team All-Ivy League (Cornell's Matt McMonagle)
• career goals-against average of 6.40 is second all-time behind Navy's Matt Russell (5.86 from 2003-06)
• made 11 saves while allowing four goals against Hofstra (.733 save percentage)
• made 10 saves against Virginia
• has made 30 saves and allowed 14 goals in last two games against UVa
• is the only goalie to hold Virginia under 10 goals during the last two seasons; he's done it twice
• made 10 saves against Johns Hopkins
• made 10 saves against Rutgers
• had an assist against Bellarmine for first career point
• had a career-low .300 save percentage (seven goals-against, three saves) against Canisius
• has a career .631 save percentage
Zachary Jungers #36
• third-team All-America a year ago
• preseason third-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
• named to Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list
• honorable mention All-Ivy League
• started every game on close defense last two years after being top longstick midfielder first two years
• held Hofstra's Tommy Dooley without a goal or assist; Dooley was Hofstra's leading scorer and the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year after scoring 38 goals
• held Colin Checcio, Rutgers' leading scorer, to one goal, which came with three minutes remaining
• one of 20 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award for lacrosse, which will be awarded for excellence in athletics, academics, service and leadership
• had first career point with an assist against Bellarmine
• competed at tryouts for U.S. national team in 2005
Charlie Kolkin #43
• No. 1 longstick midfielder
• scored first goal of career (second goal of game) in win over Rutgers
• has played in every game of career
• brother Tap plays for Yale
Mark Kovler #17
• second-team All-Ivy League in 2006
• preseason honorable mention All-America
• 2006 honorable mention All-America
• was sixth all-time among freshman goal scorers (third among midfielders) at Princeton with 18
• had 10 straight-game goal-scoring streak snapped against UVa
• scored three goals against Rutgers and Bellarmine
• has three career three-goal games
• also had an assist against Bellarmine to tie career high of four points
• had a goal against Hofstra
• scored tying goal in fourth quarter against Johns Hopkins
• had two goals and an assist against Canisius
Josh Lesko #19
• preseason honorable mention All-America by Inside Lacrosse
• has one goal in each of first four games
• had a goal and assist against UVa
• had a goal against Hopkins and a goal against Canisius
• had a streak of nine straight games with at least one goal snapped against Hofstra; had exactly one goal in each of the nine games during streak
• had an assist against Hofstra and Bellarmine
• has streak of consecutive games with at least one point of 11
Scott MacKenzie #2
• had first career point with an assist against Canisius
Chris Peyser #38
• starting on close defense
• played in every game last year as fourth defender
• shut out Hofstra's Ryan Miller in 5-4 Princeton win
• started one game a year ago
Brendan Reilly #29
• one of top shortstick defensive midfielders
• played in a backup role last year
Bob Schneider #28
• had two goals against Rutgers
• had one goal against Hofstra, Virginia, Bellarmine and Canisius
• has played attack and midfield in career
Greg Seaman #42
• scored first career goal in win over Canisius
• had a goal against Rutgers
• won 2 of 5 face-offs against Canisius
• son of Towson coach Tony Seaman
Tripp Shriner #10
• made first career start against Rutgers
• had a goal and assist against Rutgers
Scott Sowanick #5
• named to Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list
• preseason second-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
• honorable mention All-Ivy League in 2006
• had a goal and assist against Hopkins
• had a goal and three assists against Rutgers
• assisted on all three of Mark Kovler's goals against Rutgers
• had an assist against Canisius
• has started every game of career
• has 106 career points
Derek Sudan #46
• veteran shortstick defensive midfielder
• had first career point with an assist against Rutgers
• has played in every game last two years
Peter Trombino #20
• named to Tewaaraton Trophy preseason watch list
• preseason second-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
• one of two active players in Division I lacrosse who has scored an overtime goal in an NCAA tournament game, which he did against Maryland in 2004 quarterfinals (UMass's Jim Connolly is the other)
• only player in school history with at least 20 goals and at least 10 assists as a freshman, sophomore and junior
• leads team in goals (nine)
• assisted on Tommy Davis' game-winning goal against Hofstra with eight seconds remaining
• had three goals against Virginia
• had two goals and an assist against Rutgers
• had a goal against Hopkins
• had three goals against Canisius
• had four goals against Bellarmine, all in the first half
• has 81 career goals and 124 career points