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Tierney Announces Princeton Men's Lacrosse Class of 2012
July 03, 2008 | Men's Lacrosse
The Princeton University men's lacrosse Class of 2012 will graduate a few days after the Class of 1992 celebrates the 20th anniversary of Bill Tierney's first NCAA championship with the Tigers. While it's impossible to know what the newest class of Princeton lacrosse players will celebrate at their own 20th reunion, Tierney is optimistic.
“We went into the recruiting year looking for a great goalie, a group of defensemen who could step in and have an impact on our team, some athletic midfielders and a few offensive players with unique talents,” Tierney said. “We feel like we've hit pay-dirt on all fronts.”
Princeton will welcome 12 recruits to campus this fall in advance of the 2009 season. The group features a goalie, five defensemen, three midfielders and three who can play attack or midfield. The group also has Tierney's first recruit from California.
No fewer than six of the newcomers were selected to compete in the Under Armour All-America game, which takes place July 12 at Towson University.
The Princeton men's lacrosse Class of 2012:
Alex Capretta (A/M, St. Ignatius Prep, Mill Valley, Calif.)
Capretta led his team to a 37-1 record his final two seasons. He had 53 goals and 28 assists as a senior, earning All-America honors and being selected to the Under Armour All-America game. “Alex will represent the growth of lacrosse out West very well,” says Tierney. “He will not doubt be a great offensive contributor to our program in the years to come.”
Michael Chanenchuk (M, St. Anthony's, Poquott, N.Y.)
A high school All-America and Under Armour participant, Chanenchuk scored 38 goals and had 18 assists as a middie this past spring and 42 goals and 25 assists as a junior. He participated in the Under-19 team tryouts. “Michael is a very talented midfielder who can run the field, play defense, feed and score with time and room or off the dodge,” Tierney says. “He is the kind of guy everyone likes to play with.”
Bill Coughlin (D, Chaminade, Manhasset, N.Y.)
Coughlin has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, but he did come back to help Chaminade to the CHSAA championship in 2008. His teammates chose him to wear No. 19, in honor of the late Jimmy Regan, a Chaminade alum who played lacrosse at Army before being killed in Iraq in 2007. “We expect a complete recovery for Bill,” Tierney says. “He has very good feet and talented stick skills and is very tough and competitive.”
John Cunningham (D, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield, Conn.)
Cunningham is a two-time All-America defenseman who helped Fairfield Prep to its third-straight state title this spring with 145 ground balls and seven goals. Cunnigham was named the MVP of the Connecticut Post all-state team. “We're very excited about this amazing athlete,” Tierney says. “John will be a premier longstick in Division I lacrosse.”
Mark Feild (M, Boys Latin, Phoenix, Md.)
A lefthanded midfielder, Field played for one of the top high school programs in the country. He was an all-state selection in Maryland. “Mark is a prototypical Division I midfielder with great size and speed,” Tierney says. “He runs the field well, and his versatility could allow him to be a shortstick defensive midfielder or an offensive player for us.”
Tyler Fiorito (G, McDonogh, Phoenix, Md.)
An All-America and the Baltimore Sun Player of the Year, Fiorito had a .714 save percentage as a senior while allowing fewer than six goals per game. He is a member of the U.S. Under-19 team. “He is a big lefthanded stopper who makes clean saves and distributes the ball well,” Tierney says. “He will allow us to have one of the top 1-2 goalie combinations in Division I lacrosse, along with Nikhil Ashra.”
Michael Flanagan (D, Georgetown Prep, Bethesda, Md.)
Flanagan, a defenseman for the South team in the Under Armour All-America game, was a first-team Washington Post selection and the MVP of the Georgetown Prep team. He was also a U.S. Lacrosse All-America. “Michael is a big, strong defenseman,” Tierney says. “His enthusiasm and leadership skills will be immediately felt by our team.”
Michael Grossman (A/M, Landon, Potomac, Md.)
The Washington Post Player of the Year, Grossman was also an All-America and all-state selection. He scored 40 goals and had 29 assists to lead Landon to its first IAC championship since 2004. “Whether Michael plays attack or midfield, we expect him to come in and make an immediate contribution to our offensive unit,” Tierney says. “He is a very strong lefthanded finisher like Mark Kovler.”
Cliff Larkin (A/M, St. Paul's, Baltimore, Md.)
Larkin was an All-MIAA selection despite missing nine games of his senior year. He led St. Paul's in scoring as a junior, when he was a second-team all-state and an All-MIAA pick. “Cliff is quick, and he can feed and score,” Tierney says. “He will not doubt make a great contribution to our offense, whether as a midfielder or on attack.”
Jonathan Meyers (D, Greenwich, Greenwich, Conn.)
Meyers is a top Princeton recruit in two sports, lacrosse and football, and he figures to have a big impact in both after passing up big-time Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers. He is a defenseman in lacrosse, where he was an All-America and a selection to the Under Armour All-America game; he was also named the Connecticut Coaches' Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year. “Jonathan is a truly big-time athlete,” Tierney says. “He has great athleticism, toughness, speed and strength, and he will add toughness to our back line.”
Peter Smyth (M, St. Paul's, Cockeysville, Md.)
Smyth was a first-team All-Baltimore County and second-team all-state selection. In addition to his offensive ability, he was also a top face-off specialist as well in high school. “Peter is a big, strong, aggressive player who will bring a lot of energy to our midfield,” Tierney says. “He could compete for early playing time as a defensive shortstick or face-off man.”
Chad Weidmaier (D, Delbarton, Chatham, N.J.)
Weidmaier's presence will help offset the loss of first-team All-America Dan Cocoziello, a fellow Delbarton grad who started every game the last four years on defense for Princeton. Weidmaier is an All-America and Under Armour game participant. “Chad is the top close-defensive recruit in the country this year,” Tierney says. “We can't wait to see Chad in a Princeton uniform.”
“We went into the recruiting year looking for a great goalie, a group of defensemen who could step in and have an impact on our team, some athletic midfielders and a few offensive players with unique talents,” Tierney said. “We feel like we've hit pay-dirt on all fronts.”
Princeton will welcome 12 recruits to campus this fall in advance of the 2009 season. The group features a goalie, five defensemen, three midfielders and three who can play attack or midfield. The group also has Tierney's first recruit from California.
No fewer than six of the newcomers were selected to compete in the Under Armour All-America game, which takes place July 12 at Towson University.
The Princeton men's lacrosse Class of 2012:
Alex Capretta (A/M, St. Ignatius Prep, Mill Valley, Calif.)
Capretta led his team to a 37-1 record his final two seasons. He had 53 goals and 28 assists as a senior, earning All-America honors and being selected to the Under Armour All-America game. “Alex will represent the growth of lacrosse out West very well,” says Tierney. “He will not doubt be a great offensive contributor to our program in the years to come.”
Michael Chanenchuk (M, St. Anthony's, Poquott, N.Y.)
A high school All-America and Under Armour participant, Chanenchuk scored 38 goals and had 18 assists as a middie this past spring and 42 goals and 25 assists as a junior. He participated in the Under-19 team tryouts. “Michael is a very talented midfielder who can run the field, play defense, feed and score with time and room or off the dodge,” Tierney says. “He is the kind of guy everyone likes to play with.”
Bill Coughlin (D, Chaminade, Manhasset, N.Y.)
Coughlin has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, but he did come back to help Chaminade to the CHSAA championship in 2008. His teammates chose him to wear No. 19, in honor of the late Jimmy Regan, a Chaminade alum who played lacrosse at Army before being killed in Iraq in 2007. “We expect a complete recovery for Bill,” Tierney says. “He has very good feet and talented stick skills and is very tough and competitive.”
John Cunningham (D, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield, Conn.)
Cunningham is a two-time All-America defenseman who helped Fairfield Prep to its third-straight state title this spring with 145 ground balls and seven goals. Cunnigham was named the MVP of the Connecticut Post all-state team. “We're very excited about this amazing athlete,” Tierney says. “John will be a premier longstick in Division I lacrosse.”
Mark Feild (M, Boys Latin, Phoenix, Md.)
A lefthanded midfielder, Field played for one of the top high school programs in the country. He was an all-state selection in Maryland. “Mark is a prototypical Division I midfielder with great size and speed,” Tierney says. “He runs the field well, and his versatility could allow him to be a shortstick defensive midfielder or an offensive player for us.”
Tyler Fiorito (G, McDonogh, Phoenix, Md.)
An All-America and the Baltimore Sun Player of the Year, Fiorito had a .714 save percentage as a senior while allowing fewer than six goals per game. He is a member of the U.S. Under-19 team. “He is a big lefthanded stopper who makes clean saves and distributes the ball well,” Tierney says. “He will allow us to have one of the top 1-2 goalie combinations in Division I lacrosse, along with Nikhil Ashra.”
Michael Flanagan (D, Georgetown Prep, Bethesda, Md.)
Flanagan, a defenseman for the South team in the Under Armour All-America game, was a first-team Washington Post selection and the MVP of the Georgetown Prep team. He was also a U.S. Lacrosse All-America. “Michael is a big, strong defenseman,” Tierney says. “His enthusiasm and leadership skills will be immediately felt by our team.”
Michael Grossman (A/M, Landon, Potomac, Md.)
The Washington Post Player of the Year, Grossman was also an All-America and all-state selection. He scored 40 goals and had 29 assists to lead Landon to its first IAC championship since 2004. “Whether Michael plays attack or midfield, we expect him to come in and make an immediate contribution to our offensive unit,” Tierney says. “He is a very strong lefthanded finisher like Mark Kovler.”
Cliff Larkin (A/M, St. Paul's, Baltimore, Md.)
Larkin was an All-MIAA selection despite missing nine games of his senior year. He led St. Paul's in scoring as a junior, when he was a second-team all-state and an All-MIAA pick. “Cliff is quick, and he can feed and score,” Tierney says. “He will not doubt make a great contribution to our offense, whether as a midfielder or on attack.”
Jonathan Meyers (D, Greenwich, Greenwich, Conn.)
Meyers is a top Princeton recruit in two sports, lacrosse and football, and he figures to have a big impact in both after passing up big-time Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers. He is a defenseman in lacrosse, where he was an All-America and a selection to the Under Armour All-America game; he was also named the Connecticut Coaches' Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year. “Jonathan is a truly big-time athlete,” Tierney says. “He has great athleticism, toughness, speed and strength, and he will add toughness to our back line.”
Peter Smyth (M, St. Paul's, Cockeysville, Md.)
Smyth was a first-team All-Baltimore County and second-team all-state selection. In addition to his offensive ability, he was also a top face-off specialist as well in high school. “Peter is a big, strong, aggressive player who will bring a lot of energy to our midfield,” Tierney says. “He could compete for early playing time as a defensive shortstick or face-off man.”
Chad Weidmaier (D, Delbarton, Chatham, N.J.)
Weidmaier's presence will help offset the loss of first-team All-America Dan Cocoziello, a fellow Delbarton grad who started every game the last four years on defense for Princeton. Weidmaier is an All-America and Under Armour game participant. “Chad is the top close-defensive recruit in the country this year,” Tierney says. “We can't wait to see Chad in a Princeton uniform.”
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