Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Princeton Hosts Yale In Ivy Men's Lacrosse Opener
March 27, 2008 | Men's Lacrosse
Princeton and Yale first played in men's lacrosse back on Oct. 14, 1882. Their meeting this Saturday at the Class of 1952 Stadium (noon, WPRB, CBS College Sports) wil be the 89th between the schools, and there is no school that Princeton has played more than Yale.
All of that is ancient history, even the part where Princeton defeated Yale 5-3 in New Haven despite not scoring in the final 26:36 in last year's meeting.
Both teams won Tuesday night against in-state rivals, as Princeton knocked off Rutgers 7-6 and Yale took care of Hartford 11-3. Yale has already played two Ivy League games, falling to Cornell and Penn in close games, while Princeton is playing its first league game of the season.
Through six games, Princeton's success has been tied to playing from ahead ? the Tigers have not led at any point of their three losses and have no trailed in the second half of any of their three wins.
Princeton vs. Yale
The site Class of 1952 Stadium ? Princeton, N.J.
The date Saturday, March 29, 2008 ? noon
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
TV CBS College Sports
The rankings Princeton: No. 17 (USILA)/No. 16 (Inside Lacrosse); Yale: unranked
The records Princeton: 3-3 (0-0 Ivy League); Yale: 2-4 (0-2 Ivy League)
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (24th season overall, 255-87); Yale: Andy Shay (fifth season overall, 28-31)
The series Princeton leads 66-20-2
Last meeting Princeton defeated Yale 5-3 ? March 31, 2007
History lesson ? Princeton has played Yale more than any other opponent; the teams meet for the 89th time in a series that dates to Oct. 14, 1882.
More history ? Princeton has opened its Ivy season against Yale every year since 1978.
Ivy items ? Princeton has won 13 Ivy League titles in Bill Tierney's first 20 years as head coach.
More Ivy ? Princeton has won 23 Ivy League championships since formal league play began in 1956.
Last Ivy ? Princeton ranks first in Ivy League men's lacrosse championships with 23; Cornell is second with 22. Brown is next with six.
Tuesday night lights ? Princeton and Yale both won games Tuesday night. Princeton defeated Rutgers 7-6, while Yale defeated Hartford 11-3.
State champs ? Princeton defeated Rutgers 7-6 Tuesday night as Alex Hewit preserved the win with a point-blank save on Justin Pennington with six seconds remaining.
Face it ? Alex Berg ranks second in Division I in face-off winning percentage (.632).
More face it ? Alex Berg has won 63.2% of his face-offs; the Princeton single-season record is 62.2%, set by James Mitchell in 1998.
Still more face it ? Alex Berg will face five of the top 11 players in face-off winning percentage in this week's NCAA rankings in Princeton's final seven regular season games, beginning with Yale's Greg Duboff (ninth at .609).
Last face it ? Yale has won 42 of 56 face-offs (.750) in the last three meetings against Princeton.
In case you forgot ? Princeton defeated Yale 5-3 in New Haven a year ago as Alex Hewit made 14 saves, eight in the second half. Hewit was named Ivy League Player of the Week after that game.
More in case you forgot ? Princeton did not score a goal in the final 26:36 against Yale a year ago.
No offense ? Princeton has scored nine goals total in its last two games combined. The last time Princeton played consecutive games without totalling at least 10 goals was in 1989, when the Tigers lost 12-4 to Penn and 6-1 to Brown.
Get ahead, stay ahead ? Princeton has not led at any points of its three losses and has not trailed at any point in the second half of any of its three wins.
Tommy boy ? Tommy Davis had two goals and an assist and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal against Rutgers Tuesday; Davis had a 24-game streak with at least one point end in the previous game, against Albany.
On your Mark ? Mark Kovler is the only Princeton player with at least one goal in every game.
D plus ? Princeton led Division I in scoring defense a year ago (6.2 goals per game); Princeton ranks 34th in scoring defense this season (9.0 goals per game).
More D ? Princeton has allowed four second-half goals in its three wins this season (two against Canisius, one each against Hofstra and Rutgers).
Strength of schedule ? Princeton's schedule includes five teams ranked in the top 12 of this week's USILA coaches' poll.
Aw, shoot ? Princeton is averaging 31.3 shots per game through six games; Princeton averaged 39 shots per game a year ago.
More shoot ? Princeton averaged 39 shots per game a year ago; Princeton has not attempted more than 38 shots in any one game this year.
Save it ? Alex Hewit has a career .703 save percentage against Yale.
Quarterly report ? Princeton has been outscored 45-35 in the first three quarters and has outscored its opponents 17-9 in the fourth quarter.
Polling place ? Princeton is ranked 16th in this week's Inside Lacrosse media poll and 17th 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.
Princeton Lacrosse '08 ... By The Numbers
.703 Alex Hewit's career save percentage against Yale
2 Alex Berg's rank in Division I in face-off winning percentage (.632)
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
4 career goals for Dan Cocoziello, who scored his first goal since 2006 in the win Tuesday against Rutgers
5 players in the top 11 in Division I in face-off winning percentage that Alex Berg will face in Princeton's final seven games, beginning with Yale's Greg DuBoff (.609, 11th)
6 seconds remaining against Rutgers Tuesday night when Alex Hewit stopped a point-blank shot against Justin Pennington, preserving a 7-6 Tiger win
6.80 career goals-against average for Alex Hewit; it is the third-best goals-against average in Division I history
23 Ivy League championships for Princeton all-time, one more than Cornell's 22; Brown is next with six
26:36 scoreless stretch for Princeton to end last year's 5-3 win over Yale
38 Princeton's highest single-game shot total through six games this season
39 Princeton's average shot total for the 2007 season
63.2 percentage of face-offs won by Alex Berg; the Princeton single-season record is 62.2, set by James Mitchell in 1998
89 meetings between Princeton and Yale (including this one); it is Princeton's most-played rivalry
301 games as head coach at Princeton for Bill Tierney, who is 221-80 with six NCAA championships, 10 NCAA Final Fours and 13 Ivy League championships with the Tigers; Princeton was 117-183 in the 300 games prior to Tierney's arrival
525 consecutive games coached at Princeton dating to 1971 by volunteer assistant Bryce Chase before missing the Hopkins game with the flu
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 74 of 117 face-offs (.632); school single-season record is .622, set by James Mitchell in 1998
? ranks second in Division I in face-off percentage, behind Syracuse's Danny Brennan (.726)
? five of remaining seven Princeton opponents have a face-off specialist ranked in the top 11 in Division I, including Yale's Greg Duboff (11th, .609)
? won 12 of 16 face-offs against Albany
? won 13 of 19 face-offs against Hofstra
? won 10 of 16 face-offs against Rutgers
? 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
? scored a goal against Rutgers
? had an assist against Canisius
Tommy Davis #7
? leads team in points (18) and assists (7)
? second on the team with 11 goals
? had a 24-game run with at least one point end against Albany
? had two goals and an assist against Rutgers
? 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
? scored Princeton's first goal against Rutgers
? had two assists against Canisius
? has eight 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 33 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 save percentage of .651 in games decided by one or two goals
? career 6.78 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 10 saves while allowing six goals in win over Rutgers; made save from point-blank range with six seconds remaing to preserve one-goal win
? 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 12 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 11 straight games, longest currentstreak by a Princeton player
? had one goal against Rutgers
? only Princeton player with at least one goal in every game this season
? 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
? came back with a goal against Rutgers after getting shut out against Albany
? 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
? had a goal against Rutgers
? 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, Hofstra and Rutgers
? had a goal against Canisius
Peter Striebel #9
? had an assist against Rutgers in first game back after missing three games due to rib injury
? missed games against Virginia, Hofstra and Albany due to injury
? had an assist against Hopkins and Canisius
? younger brother of former Tiger All-America Matt Striebel
Career scoring
Player G-A-Pts
7 Tommy Davis 44-25-69
17 Mark Kovler 53-15-68
12 Alex Haynie 32-17-49
28 Bob Schneider 25-5-30
19 Josh Lesko 17-11-28
8 Mike Gaudio 22-5-27
33 Zack Goldberg 8-9-17
22 Rob Engelke 9-3-12
18 Rich Sgalardi 4-8-12
2 Scott MacKenzie 2-7-9
9 Pete Striebel 3-6-9
1 Dan Cocoziello 4-4-8
14 Jack McBride 5-2-7
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)
RUTGERS (W, 7-6)
GOALS - T. Davis 2, Kovler 1, Cocoziello 1, J. McBride 1, Schneider 1, Goldberg 1
ASSISTS - T. Davis 1, Sgalardi 1, Striebel 1
SAVES - Hewit 10 (60:00 min, 6 goals-against)