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Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Faces Defending Champ, No. 1 Hopkins In Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic
February 28, 2008 | Men's Lacrosse
The Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team won the NCAA championship at M&T Bank Stadium last Memorial Day. More than two months before that, all that separated the Blue Jays and Princeton on that same field was a Paul Rabil goal 56 seconds into the second overtime, as Hopkins defeated Princeton 7-6 in the first Face-Off Classic.
The venue and the teams will be the same for the second Face-Off Classic. The sponsor is different, as "Konica Minolta" now precedes "Face-Off Classic," and the weather doesn't figure to match last year's 60 degree day. The Tigers are hoping for a different result as well.
Hopkins comes in as the No. 1 team in the country, while Princeton is either fifth or ninth, depending on which poll you like. Both are undefeated after opening with wins a week ago.
Princeton and Hopkins first met in 1890, and they have met every year since 1946. Hopkins leads the series 53-24, including a 24-game winning streak that ended in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Princeton was 12-42 against Hopkins before BIll Tierney became the head coach; Tierney is 12-11 against Hopkins, including 3-0 in the NCAA tournament.
If recent history is an indication, expect a low scoring game. Of the last seven Princeton-Hopkins regular-season games, five have seen neither team reach double figures, including each of the last three.
Princeton vs. Johns Hopkins
The site M&T Bank Stadium ? Baltimore, Md.
The date Saturday, March 1, 2008 ? 2:30 p.m.
Radio/TV WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com/ESPNU
The rankings Princeton: No. 9 (USILA)/No. 5 (Inside Lacrosse)/Johns Hopkins: No. 1 (USILA)/No. 1 (Inside Lacrosse)
The records Princeton: 1-0 /Johns Hopkins: 1-0
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (24th season overall, 253-84)/Johns Hopkins: Dave Pietramala (11th season overall, 108-36)
The series Johns Hopkins leads 53-24
Last meeting Johns Hopkins defeated Princeton 7-6 (2 OT) ? March 3, 2007
And now a word from our sponsor ? Princeton and Johns Hopkins meet in the second game of the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium. Virginia and Syracuse meet in the opener.
We are the champions, or one them is ? Princeton (6), Syracuse (5), Virginia (3) and Johns Hopkins (2) have combined to win all of the last 16 NCAA championships.
May madness ? Of the last 64 Final Four appearances, a total of 44 have gone to the four teams in the Konica-Minolta Face-Off Classic.
More madness ? Last season marked the first time since 1991 that only one of the four teams competing in the Face-Off Classic made it to the Final Four. In that time span, two of the teams have made it five times; three of the teams have made it seven times; all four teams have made it three times.
History lesson ? Princeton is 12-11 against Johns Hopkins since Bill Tierney became head coach. Prior to his arrival, Princeton was 12-42 against the Blue Jays.
More history ? Bill Tierney is 9-11 against Johns Hopkins in the regular season and 3-0 against Johns Hopkins in the NCAA tournament.
Still more history ? Princeton's record vs. Johns Hopkins, by decade:
2000s 4-5
1990s 8-4
1980s 0-10
1970s 0-10
1960s 1-9
1950s 5-5
1940s 2-7
1930s 3-3
1890s 1-0
Ancient history ? Princeton and Johns Hopkins first met on May 17, 1890, in a 3-2 Tiger win. Princeton lost to Lehigh one week later and then suspended the sport due to “concerns of losing to schools that could not field proper football teams.” Princeton played one game in 1891 and one in game in 1893 and then did not play against until 1921.
Less ancient history ? Princeton has played Johns Hopkins at least once every year since 1937, except for the World War II-shortened season of 1944.
Old friends ? Princeton coach Bill Tierney coached Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala as an assistant coach at Hopkins. The two won an NCAA title together in 1987.
Streaking ? Johns Hopkins defeated Princeton 24 straight times from 1967 through the 1990 NCAA tournament. Every member of the Princeton Classes of 1969 through 1989?a total of 176 players?graduated without ever having beaten Hopkins.
Streak busting ? Princeton defeated Johns Hopkins 9-8 in the 1990 NCAA tournament to end its streak of 24 straight losses to the Blue Jays. Quint Kessenich, who will be the color commentator on ESPNU for the two Face-Off Classic games, made 15 saves as the Blue Jay goalie in that game.
In case you forgot ? Princeton fell to Johns Hopkins 7-6 on Paul Rabil's goal in the second overtime in the inaugural Face-Off Classic a year ago in front of 20,180 fans at M&T Bank.
Don't touch that dial ? Princeton's next three games will be on ESPNU (vs. Johns Hopkins, Virginia and Hofstra). In addition, the Princeton-Virginia game will be on ESPN as well.
Polling place ? Princeton was ranked fifth in the USILA preseason coaches' poll and eighth in the Inside Lacrosse preseason media poll. After defeating Canisius 13-6 last week, Princeton fell to ninth in the USILA poll but moved to fifth in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
For starters ? Princeton defeated Canisius 13-6 in its opener last week, snapping a 6-6 tie by scoring the last seven goals and shutting out the Grifs for the final 20:49.
Save it ? Alex Hewit made 17 saves while allowing six goals for a .739 save percentage against Canisius.
Double play ? Only once in Princeton's last 48 games have both teams reached double figures in goals (a 16-11 win over Dartmouth in 2006).
More double ? Princeton is 62-5 this decade when scoring at least 10 goals.
D plus ? Princeton led Division I in scoring defense in 2007, allowing 6.2 goals per game.
More D ? Only one team (Cornell with 10) reached double figures in goals against Princeton last year.
Single file ? Neither Princeton nor Johns Hopkins has reached double figures in goals in five of the last seven regular season meetings, including each of the last three.
Six pack ? Princeton has scored exactly six goals against Johns Hopkins each of the last three years.
Big Mac ? Sophomore Scott MacKenzie had a goal and two assists against Canisius; MacKenzie had no goals and two assists for his entire freshman year.
Tommy boy ? Tommy Davis scored a career-high four goals against Canisius last week.
More Tommy ? Tommy Davis has scored at least one point in 21 straight games.
Fresh faces ? Princeton freshmen Connor Reilly and Jack McBride both scored their first career goals last week against Canisius.
The All-American boys ? Princeton features five players who earned preseason All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse, led by first-team picks Dan Cocoziello (D) and Alex Hewit (G). Mark Kovler (M) was a second-team selection, while Chris Peyser (D) was named to the third-team and Charlie Kolkin (LSM) was honorable mention.
Top cats ? Alex Hewit (G) and Dan Cocoziello (D), who have been plaing together since the seventh grade at the Delbarton School, were named the No. 1 players in the county at their positions this preseason by Inside Lacrosse.
Pomp and circumstance ? Princeton lost three starters to graduation from last year, and all three were All-Americas. Peter Trombino (A), Scott Sowanick (M) and Zachary Jungers (D) were all four-year starters for the Tigers.
On your Mark ? Mark Kovler scored 23 goals a year ago, making him the third Princeton middie this decade to reach the 20-goal mark, along with Drew Casino (24 in 2004) and Brad Dumont (22 in 2002). Kovler scored twice against Canisius.
Here come the McBrides ? Freshman cousins Jack McBride and Chris McBride combined for 118 goals last year at the Delbarton School.
Strength of schedule ? Princeton plays teams ranked first (Johns Hopkins), third (Virginia), fifth (Cornell), eighth (Syracuse), 13th (Albany) and 18th (Rutgers) in this week's USILA coaches' poll.
In the nation's service ? Junior Brendan Reilly was named a Woodrow Wilson School “Scholar In The Nation's Service,” a distinction awarded to six Princeton University juinors each year.
For starters ? Dan Cocoziello is the only current Tiger to have started every game of his career.
More starters ? Princeton has five players on this year's team who started all 14 games a year ago: G Alex Hewit, D Dan Cocoziello, D Chris Peyser, M Mark Kovler, A Alex Haynie. Tommy Davis (A) started all 13 games in which he played; Davis missed the Rutgers game with an injury.
What might have been ? Princeton lost four games by a combined seven goals in 2007. Princeton's losses included a 7-6 double-overtime loss to eventual-national-champion Johns Hopkins, a 7-6 loss to Virginia on a goal with 25 seconds to play and a 9-8 overtime loss to Georgetown in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Face-it ? Alex Berg won 54.4% of his face-offs a year ago for the highest single-season total by a Princeton face-off man since Matt Bailer won 59.0% in the 2000 season. Berg won 10 of 19 last week against Canisius.
Oh, brother ? Princeton has two sets of brothers on its 2008 team (Jimmy and Tommy Davis; Brendan and Connor Reilly). In addition, Princeton has three other players (Sam Hayes, Alex Hewit, Pete Striebel) who had an older brother (or brothers) play for the men's lacrosse team and two others (Zack Goldberg, Peter Gudmundsen, Rob Owen) with an older sibling who was or is a Princeton varsity athlete.
What Can You Say About ...
Nikhil Ashra #23
? had an .867 save percentage and 3.38 goals-against average in 35:33 as back-up goalie a year ago
Alex Berg #13
? won 10 of 19 face-offs against Canisius
? won 54.4% of face-offs in 2007 for the best percentage by a Princeton face-off man since 2000
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
? second-team All-Ivy League in 2007
? had an assist against Canisius
Tommy Davis #7
? scored a career-high four goals against Canisius
? four goals against Canisius came on six shots
? had an assist against Canisius for a five-point game
? has at least one point in 21 straight games
? led team in assists a year ago (17)
Rob Engelke #22
? scored one goal last week against Canisius
? had two goals in NCAA tournament a year ago against Georgetown
? had three goals in 2007 opener against Canisius and then scored one more during final 12 games of regular season before scoring twice in NCAA game
Mike Gaudio #8
? tore his ACL in second quarter of 2006 game against Hopkins and missed remainder of season
? scored 16 goals as a sophomore
? scored three goals a year ago after return from injury
Zack Goldberg #33
? top shortstick defensive midfielder the past three years
? had two assists against Canisius
? has seven career goals
? has played in every game of his career
Alex Haynie #12
? had an assist against Canisius
? has started 29 career games
? active with Athletes In Action
Alex Hewit #15
? 2006 first-team All-America
? 2007 second-team All-America
? 2007, 2008 preseason first-team All-America
? on preseason Tewaaraton watch list
? career goals-against average of 6.33 is second all-time behind Navy's Matt Russell (5.86 from 2003-06)
? second-team All-Ivy League in 2007
? career .631 save percentage
? career goals-against average of 6.39 is second-best in Division I history (Matt Russell of Navy had a 5.86)
? career goals-against average of .684 in games decided by one or two goals
? had a .739 save percentage against Canisius (six goals against, 17 saves)
? has a career save percentage of .607 and a career goals-against average of 5.30 against Johns Hopkins
]
Jeremy Hirsch #37
? made first career start on defense against Canisius
? played in 13 of 14 games a year ago as fourth defenseman
Charlie Kolkin #43
? No. 1 longstick midfielder
? 2007 honorable mention All-Ivy League
? 2008 preseason All-America
? has played in every game of career
Mark Kovler #17
? 2007 third-team All-America
? 2007 first-team All-Ivy League
? 2008 preseason second-team All-Ivy League
? scored twice in season-opener against Canisius
? leads all current Princeton players with 43 career goals
? total of 23 goals a year ago were most by a sophomore midfielder at Princeton since Josh Sims had 32 in 1998
? third Princeton midfielder to reach 20 for a season this decade (Brad Dumont 22 in 2002; Drew Casino 24 in 2004)
Josh Lesko #19
? has started 17 career games
? played on second midfield against Canisius
? started first 12 games a year ago before missing season finale against Brown due to injury
Scott MacKenzie #2
? had a goal and two assists against Canisius after having two points all freshman year
? made first career start
Chris McBride #2
? scored 60 goals a year ago at Delbarton School
? had 170 career points in high school
Jack McBride #2
? had first two collegiate points with a goal and assist against Canisius
? had 49 goals as a high school senior and 58 goals junior year
Chris Peyser #38
? 2008 preseason third-team All-America
? 2007 honorable mention All-Ivy League
? started every game a year ago on defense
? played in every game freshman year as fourth defender
Brendan Reilly #29
? one of top shortstick defensive midfielders
? one of six Princeton juniors to be named a Woodrow Wilson Schoool Scholar in the Nation's Service
Connor Reilly #2
? scored first collegiate goal in win over Canisius
? younger brother of Brendan Reilly
? nationally ranked junior squash player
Bob Schneider #28
? team tri-captain
? played with first midfield against Canisius
? has started 11 career games
Greg Seaman #42
? scored two goals against Canisius
? made first career start after moving to attack
? son of Towson coach Tony Seaman
Rich Sgalardi #18
? had a goal against Canisius
? made third career start
Princeton Lacrosse '08 ... By The Numbers
1 teams competing in the Face-Off Classic who were in the Final Four a year ago (Hopkins); it was the first time since 1991 that there was a Final Four without at least to of these four teams
2 Princeton players on the Tewaaraton preseason watch list (Dan Cocoziello, Alex Hewit)
3 points by sophomore Scott MacKenzie against Canisius; MacKenzie had two points his entire freshman year
4 Princeton defensive players who have earned preseason All-America recognition from Inside Lacrosse (Dan Cocoziello, Alex Hewit, Charlie Kolkin, Chris Peyser)
6 goals by Princeton against Johns Hopkins each of the last three seasons
6.20 goals per game allowed by Princeton a year ago; Princeton led Division I and allowed only one team, Cornell, to reach double figures
6.39 Alex Hewit's career goals-against average, the second-best in Division I history
16 consecutive years one of the four teams in the Face-Off Classic has won the NCAA championship
17 saves by Alex Hewit in last week's win over Canisius
20:49 scoreless stretch for Princeton's defense to end Canisius game a week ago; Princeton snapped 6-6 tie to win 13-6
21 consecutive games with at least one point for Tommy
Davis
54.4 percentage of face-offs won by Alex Berg a year ago; it was the highest single-season total by a Princeton player in seven seasons
56 seconds into second overtime when Hopkins' Paul Rabil scored to beat Princeton 7-6 in last year's Face-Off Classic
20,180 attendance at last year's inaugural Face-Off Classic