Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn
April 10, 2007 | Men's Lacrosse
After just 4:14 had been played, Princeton's men's lacrosse team had to be wondering if this was going to be another wild night at Franklin Field and Penn's men's lacrosse team had to be wondering if this was going to end up another nailbiter. After another 37:40 went by, they both had their answer: No.
Princeton allowed a pair of Penn goals in the first 4:14 and then shut the door for the next 37:40, by which time the Tigers had completely taken control of what became a 10-5 win over the Quakers in front of 647 fans at Franklin Field. The win was the 18th straight for Princeton over Penn, who now holds a 59-16 edge in a series that dates to 1928. It was the 61st straight year that Princeton and Penn have played.
Princeton also improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League by winning its sixth straight. Penn fell to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the league.
The win came two years after Princeton defeated Penn in two overtimes in its last visit to Franklin Field. Princeton has won four one-goal games over Penn during the current 18-game winning streak, including three at Franklin Field.
Penn, on the other hand, had played five one-goal games this season and three one-goal Ivy League games, including a pair of overtime games. Penn had rallied from four goals behind to knock off Dartmouth in overtime last Friday night in its last game.
Princeton entered the game against Penn having not allowed a first-quarter goal in its last five games and only three first quarter goals all season. Penn, though, jumped on top quickly, as J.J. Lian scored 1:31 into the game and Alex Salihi doubled the lead on a perfect feed from Craig Andrzejewski to make it 2-0 Penn after 4:14.
The Quakers dominated possession for the rest of the first quarter but could not build on the lead as Princeton's defense settled down. In all it would be a scoreless stretch of 37:40 for Penn that would run into the late quarter, by which time Princeton had scored eight straight to take command.
Princeton actually didn't score until Tommy Davis' extra-man goal on a feed from Tripp Shriner with 8:41 to go in the second quarter, after 21:19 had elapsed in the game. Prior to that, Princeton's best scoring chance had actually come from goalie Alex Hewit, who went the length of the field and forced Penn goalie Chris Casey to make a tough save.
Davis scored 1:43 after his first goal to tie it, and Whitney Hayes then scored from Alex Haynie three minutes later to put Princeton up for good. Haynie's goal off a Peter Trombino feed with 12 seconds left in the second made it 4-2 at intermssion.
The Tigers then scored four straight to start the third to take control, as Scott Sowanick sandwiched two goals around scores from Trombino and Josh Lesko. Trombino's goal was his 20th of the season, as he joined Jesse Hubbard, Chris Massey, B.J. Prager and Sean Hartofilis as the only players in school history with four seasons of at least 20 goals.
Penn finally scored again on a goal from Casey O'Rourke with 3:06 to go in the third, and Drew Collins made it 8-4 when he scored with 1:34 left. Davis, though, would score his third of the night, and Trombino would score again to make it 10-4.
Princeton would score its 10 goals on just 29 shots, and Princeton now has 22 goals on its last 65 shots for a .338 shooting percentage after having a .252 shooting percentage for the season prior to that. Penn outshot Princeton 30-29. Casey made eight saves for the Quakers; Hewit made five for Princeton.
The Tigers host Harvard Saturday afternoon (3). Penn is at Brown, also Saturday.
