Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Ivy Men's Lacrosse "Playoffs" Begin As Princeton Hosts Cornell
April 17, 2008 | Men's Lacrosse
The Ivy League men's lacrosse schedule couldn't have worked out much better than it has this season. Three weeks to go. Three unbeaten teams. All playing each other on consecutive Saturdays.
What essentially can be called the Ivy League playoffs begin Saturday, when Princeton hosts Cornell at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium (4, WRPB FM 103.3, ESPNU). The event continues the next weekend, when Brown is at Cornell and concludes when Princeton is at Brown May 3. When those three games are over, as well as Princeton's game at Dartmouth next weekend, there will either be an undisputed Ivy League champion, co-champions or tri-champions.
Princeton enters the game 3-0 in the league after last week's come-from-behind overtime win over Harvard. Cornell and Brown are both 4-0 in the league with only the other two unbeaten teams remaining. The other four league teams all have at least three losses and are mathematically eliminated.
No. 17 Princeton and No. 3 Cornell are separated by 14 spots in the USILA coaches' poll, though they are coming off remarkable similar runs of late. Both lost by seven to No. 1 Syracuse in games played four days apart. Cornell defeated Penn 13-5; Princeton defeated Penn 14-5. Cornell defeated Yale in overtime and Harvard by four; Princeton defeated Harvard in overtime and Yale by three.
Cornell does have recent history on its side, with four straight wins over Princeton. The Big Red has won its last two games in Princeton by one goal each, while the average margin in the two games in Ithaca during this run has been 8.5.
Princeton, with 23 Ivy titles, and Cornell, with 22, have dominated men's lacrosse since the formation of the Ivy League. Brown is in third, with six Ivy titles. One, two or all three of those teams will add to their totals; the next three Saturdays will determine who does and who does not.
Princeton vs. Cornell
The site Powers Field at Princeton Stadium ? Princeton, N.J.
The date Saturday, April 19, 2008 ? 4 p.m.
TV ESPNU
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
The rankings Princeton: No. 17 (USILA)/No. 19 (Inside Lacrosse)/Cornell: No. 3 (USILA)/No. 4 (Inside Lacrosse)
The records Princeton: 6-4 (3-0 Ivy League)/Cornell: 9-2 (4-0 Ivy League)
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (24th season overall, 258-88)/Cornell: Jeff Tambroni (eighth season overall, 83-28)
The series Princeton leads 35-30-2
Last meeting Cornell defeated Princeton 10-6 ? April 21, 2007
A league of their own ? Princeton and Cornell have combined to win the Ivy League (either outright or shared) 42 times in the 52 years the league has had a champion.
More league ? Princeton has won 23 Ivy League championships. Cornell is second with 22. Brown is third with six.
Still more league ? Cornell (4-0), Brown (4-0) and Princeton (3-0) are all undefeated in the Ivy League in men's lacrosse. The three will all play each other in the next three weeks, with Cornell at Princeton this week, Brown at Cornell next Saturday and Princeton at Brown May 3.
Close shaves ? Princeton, Brown and Cornell are a combined 11-0 in the Ivy League. Four of their 11 wins are by one goal, and each team has had at least one one-goal win, including overtime wins for Princeton and Cornell.
Streaking ? Cornell has defeated Princeton each of the last four years, by one goal each time in Princeton and by 8.5 goals per game in Ithaca.
History lesson ? Princeton and Cornell first met in lacrosse in 1922. Since then, the series has been one of streaks:
? Princeton won the first four and was 21-1-2 in the first 24 meetings, including a 17-game winning streak at one point
? Cornell won 23 of the next 25 meetings, including 22 straight from 1968-1989
? Princeton won 13 of the next 14 between 1990 and 2003
? Cornell has won the last four
In case you forgot ? Cornell defeated Princeton 4-3 in Princeton Stadium two years ago and 12-11 in overtime (after Princeton had scored three times in the final two minutes) four years ago at Class of 1952 Stadium.
Playing from ahead ? Princeton has had the lead for a total of 2:33 in its last three games against Cornell combined.
More playing from ahead ? Princeton's win over Harvard marked the first time this season that the Tigers had won a game in which they had trailed at any point.
Seeing Red ? Princeton is 22-1 against the rest of the league and 0-4 against Cornell since the start of the 2004 season.
Injury update ? Mark Kovler, who had been leading Princeton in goals scored and had been the only Princeton player with at least one goal in every game this year, will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his ankle in practice April 10.
Century city ? Princeton's win against Harvard was Bill Tierney's 100th Ivy League win as Tiger head coach. He is the second coach to win 100 league games in men's lacrosse, after Cornell's Richie Moran (124).
T ball ? Princeton has won 13 Ivy League championships in Bill Tierney's first 20 years as Princeton head coach; Princeton did not win an Ivy League championship in the 25 seasons prior to his arrival.
Polling place ? Princeton was ranked 15th in last week's USILA coaches' poll and 17th in last week's Inside Lacrosse media poll. The Tigers then defeated Penn 14-5 and Harvard 9-8 in overtime after trailing by as many as four and dropped two spots in each poll.
More polling ? Cornell was ranked fifth in last week's USILA coaches' poll and Inside Lacrosse media poll. The Big Red lost 15-8 to No. 1 Syracuse and defeated Dartmouth 16-11 and rose to No. 3 in this week's USILA poll and No. 4 in this week's Inside Lacrosse poll.
Something in common ? Princeton and Cornell both lost to No. 1 Syracuse by seven goals (Princeton lost 13-6; Cornell lost 15-8) in a span of four days.
More in common ? Princeton defeated Penn 14-5; Cornell defeated Penn 13-5.
Last in common ? Both Princeton and Cornell have had one Ivy League game go to overtime this season, as the Big Red defeated Yale 8-7 and Princeton defeated Harvard 9-8. Cornell defeated Harvard by four; Princeton defeated Yale by three.
Come from behind ? Princeton trailed Harvard for 54:47 last week and never led in the game until Bob Schneider's overtime goal won it for the Tigers.
More from behind ? Princeton trailed Harvard 7-3 before Jack McBride's goal with 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter last weekend.
Last from behind ? Princeton scored three goals in the first 44:43 against Harvard and then scored six goals in the final 17:10.
D plus ? Princeton is allowing 6.5 goals per game in its wins.
D minus ? Princeton is allowing 12.3 goals per game in its losses.
More D ? Princeton is 6-0 when allowing fewer than 10 goals and 0-4 when allowing 10 goals or more.
Still more D ? Princeton has allowed double figures in goals four times in 10 games this season; Princeton allowed double figures in goals three times in 30 games the previous two years combined.
Aw, shoot ? Princeton has not attempted more than 38 shots in a game this season; Cornell averages 38.7 shots per game.
More shoot ? Princeton averages 30.8 shots per game this season after averagine 39.0 shots per game a year ago.
More shoot ? Princeton outshot Cornell 45-29 in last year's game in Ithaca.
Last shoot ? Princeton took 37 shots against Harvard last week, one of its season high (38 vs. Hofstra). Princeton took 14 of its shots in the fourth quarter.
Hot Coco ? Dan Cocoziello has held his last two opponents scoreless, first ending the 25-game scoring streak of Penn's Craig Andrjzewski and then shutting out Harvard's Dean Gibbons after he had back-to-back four-point games. Gibbons then had four goals against Brown Wednesday night.
I'm honored ? Bob Schneider was named Ivy League Co-Player of the Week after having career highs with four goals and five points against Harvard. Schneider tied the game with 1:20 remaining in regulation and then won it with 1:53 gone in overtime.
More honored ? Jack McBride was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after scoring eight goals (on nine shots) in Princeton's two wins last week. McBride set a Princeton freshman record with six goals against Penn.
Here comes the McBride ? Jack McBride has scored 12 goals in the last four games after scoring five in the first six.
Last McBride ? Jack McBride ranks eighth in goals-scored by a freshman at Princeton. The leaders:
Player Freshman Year Goals Scored B.J. Prager 1999 25 Peter Trombino 2004 24 Jesse Hubbard 1995 23 Chris Massey 1995 21 Sean Hartofilis 2000 20 Lorne Smith 1996 19 Mark Kovler 2006 18 Jack McBride 2008 17
Alex I ? Alex Haynie has scored seven goals this season; all seven have come in the fourth quarter.
Alex II ? Alex Berg won 74 of his first 117 face-offs, won 13 of his next 50 after that and has won 23 of 33 since.
Alex III ? Alex Hewit has a career .636 save percentage and career 7.11 goals-against average against Cornell.
More Alex III ? Alex Hewit has a career 6.93 goals-against average, the third-best in Division I history, and a career .610 save percentage.
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.
What Can You Say About ...
Nikhil Ashra #23
? played 1:16 at end of Hofstra game, allowing one goal
? came off bench against Yale and allowed a goal while Alex Hewit was serving a penalty
? 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 110 of 200 face-offs (.550)
? won 74 of his first 117 face-offs (63.2%); won 13 of his next 50 after that (26%); has won 23 of his last 33 since (69.7%)
? won 15 of 21 against Harvard
? won 8 of final 12 against Penn
? 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
? held Penn's Craig Andrzejewski scoreless, ending the Quakers' leading scorers streak of 25 straight games with at least one point; Cocoziello had been the last player to shut out Andrzejewski as well
? held Harvard's Dean Gibbons without a point; Gibbons had back-to-back four-point games prior and was the Crimson's leader in assists
? scored a goal against Rutgers
? had an assist against Canisius
Tommy Davis #7
? leads team in points (30) and assists (13) and tied for team lead in goals (17)
? had two goals and two assists against Harvard
? had a goal and three assists against Penn
? had two goals and an assist against Yale
? had two goals and an assist against Rutgers
? had three goals and three assists against Hofstra
? had two goals and an assist against Hopkins
? had a goal against Syracuse
? 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
? had a 24-game run with at least one point end against Albany
? led team in assists a year ago
Rob Engelke #22
? scored one goal against Virginia and Canisius
? had an assist against Yale and Penn
? plays on the extra-man unit
? 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 a goal against Penn
? had an assist against Yale
? had two assists against Canisius
? has eight career goals
? has played in every game of his career
Alex Haynie #12
? has seven goals this season; all have come in fourth quarter
? tied career high with three goals against Hofstra; it was his third career three-goal game
? three goals against Hofstra came in a 5:13 span
? scored one goal against Harvard, Hopkins, Virginia and Yale
? had an assist against Canisius and Syracuse
? has started 37 career games
? has 34 career goals on 80 career shots (.425)
? served four penalties as in-home in Penn game; did not commit any of the penalties himself
Alex Hewit #15
? 2006 first-team All-America
? 2007 second-team All-America
? 2007, 2008 preseason first-team All-America
? has made 43 career starts and allowed seven or fewer goals in 26 of them
? on preseason Tewaaraton watch list
? second-team All-Ivy League in 2007
? career .610 save percentage
? career save percentage of .645 in games decided by one or two goals
? career 6.93 goals-against average ranks third all-time, behind Navy's Matt Russell (5.86) and Princeton's Trevor Tierney (6.65)
? has a career .640 save percentage at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium
? has a career .636 save percentage against Cornell, including .789 against Cornell at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium
? stopped point-blank shot by Harvard's Zach Widbin in overtime to keep game going; Princeton scored on following possession
? made 14 saves while allowing five goals against Penn
? defeated Penn four times in his career, becoming second Princeton goalie to defeat a team four times; Scott Bacigalupo did so against five teams
? named Ivy League Player of the Week after wins over Rutgers and Yale
? 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 17 saves while allowing seven goals in win over Yale
? finished career with .705 save percentage against Yale
? was Ivy Player of the Week after last two games against Yale
? allowed double figures in goals in back-to-back games for 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
? had an assist against Penn
? 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
? suffered broken ankle in practice on April 10 and will miss the rest of the season
? has at least one goal in 14 straight games, longest currentstreak by a Princeton player
? led team with 16 goals at time of injury
? tied career high with four goals against Virginia
? had two goals against Hofstra and Yale
? had a goal and two assists against Hopkins
? had a goal against Syracuse and Penn
? scored twice against Canisius
? had one goal against Rutgers
? 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
? missed games against Yale and Syracuse due to injury
? 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 a goal and two assists against Yale
? had a goal against Penn
? 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 team's first goal against Penn
? scored 60 goals a year ago at Delbarton School
? had 170 career points in high school
Jack McBride #2
? set Princeton freshman record with six goals against Penn, breaking the record of five set by Sean Hartofilis against Virgnia in the 2000 NCAA semifinal
? scored six goals on six shots against Penn
? has 17 goals, eighth-best by a Princeton freshman; freshman record of 25 is held by B.J. Prager
? scored two goals against Harvard
? scored on his first two shots against Harvard, giving him goals on eight straight shots before one was saved in fourth quarter
? named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after games against Penn and Harvard
? had two goals against Syracuse
? had first career two-goal game in win over Yale
? 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 career-highs with four goals and five points against Harvard
? tied Harvard game with goal with 1:20 remaining in regulation and won it with goal 1:53 into overtime
? named Ivy League Player of the Week after Harvard game
? had a goal against Syracuse
? had two goals and an assist against Yale
? 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 career-high three assists against Harvard, including assists on tying goal with 1:20 left in regulation and game-winner in overtime
? had an assist against Hopkins, Virginia, Hofstra and Rutgers
? had a goal against Syracuse
? had a goal against Penn
? had a goal against Yale
? had a goal against Canisius
Peter Striebel #9
? had career-high three assists against Harvard, including two in the fourth quarter
? had an assist against Rutgers in first game back after missing three games due to rib injury
? had two assists against Syracuse
? had a goal and assist against Penn
? 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 50-31-81
17 Mark Kovler 57-15-72
12 Alex Haynie 34-18-52
28 Bob Schneider 32-7-39
19 Josh Lesko 17-11-28
8 Mike Gaudio 22-5-27
14 Jack McBride 17-2-19
33 Zack Goldberg 9-10-19
18 Rich Sgalardi 7-11-18
22 Rob Engelke 9-5-14
9 Pete Striebel 4-12-16
2 Scott MacKenzie 4-8-12
1 Dan Cocoziello 4-4-8
42 Greg Seaman 4-0-4
11 Ryan Morrell 2-1-3
29 Brendan Reilly 2-0-2
43 Charlie Kolkin 1-1-2
3 Chris McBride 2-0-2
21 Connor Reilly 1-0-1
26 Jeff Izant 1-0-1
38 Chris Peyser 0-1-1
25 Jim Weiss 1-0-1