Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Princeton Hosts Rutgers In Men's Lacrosse In 86th Meeting Between Local Rivals
March 24, 2008 | Men's Lacrosse
The Princeton men's lacrosse team had a rough time of it Friday afternoon in Albany dealing with the weather and the home team. The result was a 10-2 loss in a game played in wind chills near zero, one that the Tigers wanted to put behind them as soon as possibly.
Fortunately for Princeton, this is one of two weeks during the season where there is a midweek game, so there is a chance to get right back on the field. The opponent will be Rutgers, whom Princeton will meet Tuesday night (7, Class of 1952 Stadium) for the 86th time. To the winner will go the Meistrell Cup, named for Harland (Tots) Meistrell, who is credited with restoring the game of lacrosse at both schools in the early 1920s.
Princeton follows the Rutgers game by hosting Yale, the only school the Tigers have played more than RU. Princeton and Yale will meet for the 88th time Saturday, also at the Class of 1952 Stadium.
Princeton vs. Rutgers
The site Class of 1952 Stadium ? Princeton, N.J.
The date Tuesday, March 25, 2008 ? 7:00 pm
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
The rankings Princeton: No. 17 (USILA)/No. 16 (Inside Lacrosse)/ Rutgers: unranked
The records Princeton: 2-3/Rutgers: 2-3
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (24th season overall, 254-87)/Rutgers: Jim Stagnitta (19th season overall, 174-92)
The series Princeton leads 53-29-3
Last meeting Princeton defeated Rutgers 15-8 ? May 13, 2007
Hots for Tots ? The winner of the Princeton-Rutgers game is awarded the Harland (Tots) Meistrell Cup, whose namesake is credited with reviving the sport of lacrosse at both Rutgers (1920) and Princeton (1921).
History lesson ? Princeton and Rutgers first played men's lacrosse on April 25, 1888, in New Brunswick, and May 2, 1888 in Princeton. Both games were won by Princeton.
More history ? Princeton and Rutgers meet for the 84th time; the only team Princeton has played more is Yale, whom the Tiges have played 86 times.
Last history ? Princeton and Rutgers have met every year since 1926 except for the World War II years of 1944 and 1945.
State champs ? Princeton has defeated Rutgers in 18 of their last 19 meetings.
T ball ? Bill Tierney is 220-80 with six NCAA championships, 10 NCAA Final Fours and 13 Ivy Leage championships as Princeton head coach. Princeton was 117-183 in the 300 games prior to Tierney's arrival in 1988.
Double play ? Princeton scored two goals in its last game, a 10-2 loss to Albany. The two goals were Princeton's fewest in a game since a 6-1 loss to Brown in 1989.
More double ? Princeton was scoreless for a 49:14 stretch against Albany between tying the game at 1-1 in the first quarter and scoring with 8.6 seconds to play.
Face it ? Alex Berg has won 63.4% of his face-offs; the Princeton single-season record is 62.2%, by James Mitchell in 1998.
More face it ? Alex Berg's winning percentage on face-offs has gone up in every game this season:
vs. Canisius 10x19 .526
vs. Hopkins 13x22 .591
vs. Virginia 16x25 .640
vs. Hofstra 13x19 .684
vs. Albany 12x16 .750
Last face it ? Alex Berg's face-off winning percentage, year-by-year:
2005 35x71 .493
2006 101x210 .481
2007 98x180 .544
2008 64x101 .634
On your Mark ? Mark Kovler scored both Princeton goals against Albany.
More Mark ? Mark Kovler is the only Princeton player with at least one goal in every game this year.
Still more Mark ? Mark Kovler has at least two points in eight straight games, dating to last season.
Last Mark ? Mark Kovler led Princeton with three goals in a 15-8 win over Rutgers in 2007.
D plus ? Princeton led Division I in scoring defense a year ago (6.2 goals per game); Princeton ranks 37th in scoring defense this season (9.6 goals per game).
Through the years ? Princeton's record vs. Rutgers, the last four decades:
2000s 8-1
1990s 10-0
1980s 1-9
1970s 2-8
Aw, shoot ? Princeton took nine shots in the first three quarters of its game against Albany, including three in the second quarter and one in the third quarter.
More shoot ? Princeton is averaging 32.4 shots per game through five games; Princeton averaged 39 shots per game a year ago.
Goal oriented ? Princeton scored 9.86 goals per game a year ago on 39 shots per game; Princeton is scoring 9.0 goals per game on 32.4 shots this season.
Tommy boy ? Tommy Davis had his streak of consecutive games with at least one point snapped at 24 in the Albany game.
Quarterly report ? Princeton has been outscored 16-8 in the first quarter and has outscored its opponents 16-8 in the fourth quarter.
More quarterly ? Princeton has been outscored 40-29 in the first three quarters and has outscored its opponents 16-8 in the fourth quarter.
Get ahead, stay ahead ? Princeton has never led at any point in any of its three losses. Princeton has trailed for a total of 11:58 in its two losses; none of the 11:58 of those two games came in the second half.
Polling place ? Princeton is ranked 16th in this week's Inside Lacrosse media poll and 17th in this week's USILA coaches' poll.
For what it's worth ? Princeton is the highest ranked team in either the media poll or coaches' poll with a losing record.
More what it's worth ? Princeton is 2-3 after five games. The last time Princeton was 2-3 after five games was 2002, when the Tigers lost their next game to slip to 2-4 and then won eight straight to advance to the NCAA final.
Coming attractions ? Princeton opens its Ivy League season this Saturday when it hosts Yale.
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.
Princeton Lacrosse '08 ... By The Numbers
1 Princeton losses to Rutgers inthe last 19 meetings between the schools; Princeton was 3-17 in the 20 meetings between the schools prior to that
2 Princeton goals against Albany; it was Princeton's lowest goal total in a game since a 6-1 loss to Brown in 1989
3 times in five games this season that Princeton has allowed double figures in goals; Princeton allowed double figures in goals three times in the 30 games the last two seasons combined
6.80 career goals-against average for Alex Hewit; it is the third-best goals-against average in Division I history
8 consecutive games with at least two points by Mark Kovler
10 Princeton shots through the first three quarters against Albany
24 consecutive games with at least one point for Tommy Davis before being shut out against Albany
29 temperature at opening face-off for Princeton-Albany; winds gusted to nealry 40 miles per hour during the game, driving the wind chill near zero
49:14 scoreless stretch for Princeton between first quarter and fourth quarter against Albany
52 career goals for Mark Kovler
63.4 percentage of face-offs won by Alex Berg; the Princeton single-season record is 62.2, set by James Mitchell in 1998
75.0 percentage of face-offs won by Alex Berg against Albany; Berg's percentage has gone up in each of Princeton's first five games
86 meetings between Princeton and Rutgers (including this one)
88 meetings between Princeton and Yale (including the one Saturday); it is Princeton's most-played rivalry
What Can You Say About ...
Nikhil Ashra #23
? played 1:16 at end of Hofstra game, allowing one goal
? had an .867 save percentage and 3.38 goals-against average in 35:33 as back-up goalie a year ago
Alex Berg #13
? has won 64 of 101 face-offs (.634)
? face-off percentage has gone up in every game
? won 12 of 16 face-offs against Albany
? won 13 of 19 face-offs against Hofstra
? won 13 of 22 face-offs against Hopkins, mostly against All-America Stephen Peyser
? won 16 of 25 face-offs against Virginia
? won 10 of 19 face-offs against Canisius
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
? leads team in points (15) and assists (6)
? second on the team with nine goals
? had a 24-game run with at least one point end against Albany
? had three goals and three assists against Hofstra
? had two goals and an assist against Hopkins
? 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
? led team in assists a year ago
Rob Engelke #22
? scored one goal against Virginia and 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
? tied career high with three goals against Hofstra; it was his third career three-goal game
? scored a goal against Hopkins and Virginia
? had an assist against Canisius
? has started 32 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
? second-team All-Ivy League in 2007
? career .613 save percentage
? career goals-against average of .647 in games decided by one or two goals
? career 6.80 goals-against average ranks third all-time, behind Navy's Matt Russell (5.86) and Princeton's Trevor Tierney (6.65)
? allowed double figures in goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career when he did so against Hopkins and UVa
? had a .739 save percentage against Canisius (six goals against, 17 saves)
? made 12 saves against Hopkins
Jeremy Hirsch #37
? started every game of this season on defense
? 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
? leads team with 11 goals
? tied career high with four goals against Virginia
? had two goals against Hofstra
? had a goal and two assists against Hopkins
? scored twice against Canisius
? has at least one goal in 10 straight games, longest currentstreak by a Princeton player
? has at least two points in every game this year and in eight straight dating to last year
? 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
? had an assist against Virginia
? had an assist against Hofstra
? started first 12 games a year ago before missing season finale against Brown due to injury
Scott MacKenzie #2
? had two assists against Virginia
? had an assist against Albany
? had a goal against Hofstra
? had a goal and two assists against Canisius after having two points all freshman year
? has started both games on attack
Chris McBride #2
? scored first collegiate goal against Virginia with Princeton's first goal of game
? scored 60 goals a year ago at Delbarton School
? had 170 career points in high school
Jack McBride #2
? had exactly one goal in each of first four games
? had a goal against Virginia and Hofstra and a goal and assist against Hopkins
? 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 last two seasons on defense
? played in every game freshman year as fourth defender
Brendan Reilly #29
? one of top shortstick defensive midfielders
? scored a goal against Hopkins for the second goal of his career (first was last year against Dartmouth)
? one of six Princeton juniors to be named a Woodrow Wilson Schoool Scholar in the Nation's Service
Connor Reilly #21
? scored first collegiate goal in win over Canisius
? younger brother of Brendan Reilly
? nationally ranked junior squash player
Bob Schneider #28
? team tri-captain
? had two goals against Hopkins
? scored twice against Virginia
? had a goal and assist against Hofstra
? has started every game this season
Greg Seaman #42
? had a goal against Hopkins
? scored two goals against Canisius
? moved from midfield to attack for this season
? son of Towson coach Tony Seaman
Rich Sgalardi #18
? had an assist against Hopkins, Virginia and Hofstra
? had a goal against Canisius
? playing on first midfield unit
Peter Striebel #9
? had an assist against Hopkins and Canisius
? missed last three games due to injury
? younger brother of former Tiger All-America Matt Striebel
Career scoring
Player G-A-Pts
17 Mark Kovler 52-15-65
7 Tommy Davis 42-24-66
12 Alex Haynie 32-17-49
28 Bob Schneider 24-5-29
19 Josh Lesko 17-11-28
8 Mike Gaudio 22-5-27
33 Zack Goldberg 7-9-16
22 Rob Engelke 9-3-12
18 Rich Sgalardi 4-7-11
2 Scott MacKenzie 2-7-9
9 Pete Striebel 3-5-8
1 Dan Cocoziello 3-4-7
14 Jack McBride 4-2-6
42 Greg Seaman 4-0-4
29 Brendan Reilly 2-0-2
21 Connor Reilly 1-0-1
26 Jeff Izant 1-0-1
43 Charlie Kolkin 1-0-1
38 Chris Peyser 0-1-1
25 Jim Weiss 1-0-1
3 Chris McBride 1-0-1
Game-By-Game
CANISIUS (W, 13-6)
GOALS - T. Davis 4, Kovler 2, Seaman 2, J. McBride 1, C. Reilly 1, MacKenzie 1, Engelke 1, Sgalardi 1
ASSISTS - MacKenzie 2, Goldberg 2, Cocoziello 1, J. McBride 1, Haynie 1, T. Davis 1, Striebel
SAVES - Hewit 17 (60:00 min, 6 goals-against)
JOHNS HOPKINS (L, 14-9)
GOALS - T. Davis 2, Schneider 2, Kovler 1, Haynie 1, J. McBride 1, B. Reilly 1, Seaman 1
ASSISTS - Kovler 2, J. McBride 1, Sgalardi 1, T. Davis 1, Striebel 1
SAVES - Hewit 12 (60:00 min, 14 goals-against)
VIRGINIA (L, 12-10)
GOALS - Kovler 4, Schneider 2, J. McBride 1, C. McBride 1, Engelke 1, Haynie 1
ASSISTS - MacKenzie 2, T. Davis 1, Sgalardi 1, Lesko 1
SAVES - Hewit 10 (60:00 min, 12 goals-against)
HOFSTRA (W, 11-6)
GOALS - T. Davis 3, Haynie 3, Kovler 2, Schneider 1, McBride 1, MacKenzie 1
ASSISTS - T. Davis 3, Lesko 1, Schneider 1, Sgalardi 1
SAVES - Hewit 8 (58:44 min, 5 goals-against); Ashra 0 (1:16 min, 1 goal-against)
ALBANY (L, 10-2)
GOALS - Kovler 2
ASSISTS - MacKenzie 1
SAVES - Hewit 8 (60:00 min, 10 goals-against)