Princeton University Athletics
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No. 5 Princeton Travels To Yale For First Ivy Men's Lacrosse Game
March 26, 2009 | Men's Lacrosse
Princeton and Yale meet for the 90th time (not for the 88th time, as it said here prior to the Rutgers game) in a series that dates to Oct. 14, 1882. Princeton has played Yale more than any other opponent.
Princeton leads the all-time series 67-20-2 and is 18-2 in its last 20 meetings against the Bulldogs.
Yale ended Princeton's 37-game Ivy League winning streak (two away from the league record) with a 15-13 win at Class of 1952 Stadium in 2002. Yale also defeated Princeton 9-8 in New Haven in 2005.
Princeton won last year's game 11-8 behind 17 saves from Alex Hewit and two goals apiece from Mark Kovler, Jack McBride, Tommy Davis and Bob Schneider. Kyle Washabaugh had four of the Yale goals.
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Dan Kallaugher started it back in 2005, the last time Yale defeated Princeton. What did he start? The Bulldogs' total domination of Princeton at the face-off X.
Kallaugher won 17 of 20 face-offs, including all 13 in the final three quarters, as Yale defeated Princeton 9-8 in New Haven four years ago. That game started the current trend, which has grown to see Yale win 58 of 76 face-offs in the last four games, an amazing 76.3%. During that stretch, Princeton won 51.7% of its face-offs against all other teams, yet only 23.7% against Yale.
For this year, Princeton has won 52.8% of its face-offs through seven games, while Yale has won 55.2%.
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The goalie matchup in this game will be radically different than years past. Alex Hewit played every minute of the last three Princeton-Yale games in goal for the Tigers, while George Carafides went one better, going every minute of each of the last four matchups in goal for the Bulldogs.
Hewit was 3-0 with a 6.33 goals-against average and .705 save percentage against Yale, including a .738 save percentage the last two years.
Carafides had a .550 save percentage and 9.00 goals-against average in his four games against Princeton.
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Princeton took only 23 shots against Rutgers and yet turned those 23 shots into 13 goals, a .565 team shooting percentage. Princeton now has 31 goals on 77 shots in its last two games, a team .403 percentage.
Prior to the Albany game, Princeton had not been over .275 for any one game.
Of course, as has been stated here before, Princeton's shooting percentage isn't always a good barometer of its offense. For the season, Princeton has a .279 shooting percentage, down from .281 a year ago, but Princeton is averaging 12.4 goals per game, up from 9.0 a year ago.
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Will Princeton's home vs. away differences continue to play out in New Haven?
Princeton has averaged 15.7 goals per game and 57.0 shots per game in three games at Class of 1952 Stadium. Princeton has averaged 10.0 goals per game and 35.3 shots per game in four games away from Princeton and 8.7 goals and 27.7 shots per game in three away games on the other school's campus.
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Princeton outscored Rutgers 4-1 in the third quarter to break open a game that had been 5-4 Tigers at halftime after Rutgers scored with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
It was nothing new for Princeton, which has outscored its opponents 31-7 in the third quarter in its first seven games. Princeton scored 27 goals in 13 third quarters for the entire 2008 season.
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Princeton has attempted at least 50 shots four times in its first eight games. Prior to this season, Princeton had attempted at least 50 shots seven times this decade in a total of 130 games.
Additionally, Princeton had not reached the 50-shot mark prior to this year since its 2007 game against Bellarmine, which was a span of 21 straight games without reaching 50 shots, and had done so just twice in its previous 71 games.
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Princeton ranks fifth in scoring offense in Division I at 12.4 goals per game. For the last four full seasons, Princeton has ranked 29th, 20th, 27th and 35th in scoring offense.
Princeton has scored at least 13 goals five times in seven games. Prior to this season, Princeton scored at least 13 goals five times in 26 games.
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Mark Kovler and Jack McBride were both named to the Inside Lacrosse Team of the Week after their performances against Albany.
Kovler and McBride were also named midseason second-team All-Americas by Inside Lacrosse.
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Princeton has scored at least four goals 13 times in 28 quarters this season. Princeton scored at least four goals eight times in 52 quarters for the 2008 season.
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Mark Kovler has back-to-back four-goal games after being shut out for the first time this year against Hofstra two weeks ago. Kovler responded with four against Albany and four more against Rutgers.
All four of Kovler's goals against Rutgers came in the second half, and he scored his four goals on four second-half shots.
Kovler's career-high is four goals, which he has now reached four times: vs. Syracuse two years ago, vs. Virginia last year and now in the last two games.
Kovler ranks 22nd all-time at Princeton with 71 career goals; needs seven goals to move into 16th. His 71 goals are the most by a Princeton midfielder this decade.
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All three of Princeton's attackmen and all three of Princeton's first offensive midfield unit have reached double figures for points.
Princeton's first offensive midfield unit of Rich Sgalardi, Mark Kovler and Scott MacKenzie have combined for 36 points; Princeton's second offensive midfield unit of Tyler Moni, Alex Capretta and Great Seaman have combined for five points.
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Chris McBride, Scott MacKenzie and Rich Sgalardi are the only Princeton players with at least one point in all seven games. No Princeton player has a goal in everygame this year, though Jack McBride has a goal in all six games he's played. Jack McBride missed the Manhattan game after being slowed against UMBC by a stomach virus.
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Rich Sgalardi has 17 points in seven games this season after having 18 points for his first three years combined.
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Jack McBride has a team-high 18 goals and a team-high 22 points. McBride had 19 goals and 21 points for all of last season, when he was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
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John Cunningham, who had been the No. 2 longstick midfielder, suffered a broken jaw in practice on Thursday, March 19, and is out indefinitely. Long Ellis, who has been the No. 4 defenseman, took Cunningham's spot against Albany.
Mike Chanenchuk, another freshman, will miss the entire season after suffering a preseason back injury.
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According to the Inside Lacrosse media poll, Princeton's remaining seven games are against three unranked teams (Yale, Dartmouth, Penn), as well as teams ranked No. 2 (Syracuse), No. 4 (Cornell), No. 11 (Brown). Princeton needs to win two of its final seven games to be assured of a winning record.
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Princeton has two wins over Top 10 teams (No. 6 Johns Hopkins/No. 7 UMBC) and a third win over a Top 20 team (No. 18 Albany).
Princeton, Johns Hopkins and Virginia are the only teams with at least two wins against teams ranked in this week's Inside Lacrosse Top 10. Hopkins has wins over UMBC and No. 8 Hofstra, while Virginia has defeated No. 2 Syracuse, No. 4 Cornell, as well as Hopkins.
Princeton vs. Yale
The site Reese Stadium ? New Haven, Conn.
The date Saturday, March 28, 2009 ? 1 p.m.
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
The rankings Princeton: No. 5 (USILA)/No. 5 (Inside Lacrosse); Yale: unranked
The records Princeton: 6-1 (0-0 Ivy League); Yale: 4-3 (1-1 Ivy League)
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (25th season overall, 265-91)/Yale: Andy Shay (sixth season overall, 34-40)
The series Princeton leads 67-20-2
First meeting Princeton defeated Yale 2-0 ? Oct. 14, 1882
Last meeting Princeton defeated Yale 11-8 ? March 29, 2008
What Can You Say About ...
Nikhil Ashra #23
? played 49:32 against Manhattan, making four saves while allowing five goals
? played second half against Canisius, allowing three goals and making five saves
? played second half against Hofstra
? played 6:19 a year ago and 35:33 as a freshman as Alex Hewit's backup
Paul Barnes #31
? has won 73 of 135 face-offs (.545)
? Ivy League Co-Player of the Week after winning 20 of 25 face-offs (80%) against UMBC and Manhattan
? won 13 of 15 face-offs against UMBC, including the first 11
? won face-off with 57 seconds remaining after UMBC had scored to make it 6-5
? scored two goals against Johns Hopkins after face-off wins
? became first Princeton face-off man to score a goal in a game since Drew Casino in 2004
? won 10 of 20 face-offs against Hopkins
? won 15 of 29 face-offs against Albany
? won 13 of 22 face-offs against Canisius
? won 7 of 10 face-offs against Manhattan
Alex Capretta #1
? attackman currently playing on second midfield
? scored first career goal in win over Rutgers
John Cunningham #3
? suffered a broken jaw in practice on March 19 and is out indefinitely
? scored goal against Johns Hopkins
? goal against Hopkins was assisted by Chad Wiedmaier and became first longstick-to-longstick goal since Bill Tierney has been Princeton head coach
? played against Canisius as No. 1 longstick midfield in place of Charlie Kolkin, who was out with injury
? has six caused turnovers
? had four caused turnovers and three ground balls against
Canisius
Jimmy Davis #5
? played in every game as third shortstick defensive midfielder
? caused two turnovers against Hofstra
? missed most of first two years due to injury
Tommy Davis #7
? has 111 career points, 19th all-time at Princeton
? needs 16 to move into three-way tie for 17th with Bill Chaires '75 and Charles Stillwell '85
? had career-high five goals and tied career high with seven points gainst Manhattan
? had two goals and two assists against Rutgers
? had four assists against Albany
? had three goals against Canisius
? had two assists against Hopkins
? led team in goals and assists last year, becoming first player since Justin Tortolani in 1990 to lead the team in goals and assists in same season (Peter Trombino led the team in goals and tied for team lead in assists in 2006)
? has led team in assists each of the last two years
Long Ellis #14
? is playing as fourth defenseman
? had game-winning goal in one game and assisted on game-winning goal in other game against English national team during team's trip to Spain and Ireland last June
Rob Engelke #22
? tied career high with three goals and set career high with five points against Manhattan
? made first career start in win over Manhattan
? scored goal against Hopkins
? scored two goals against Canisius
? had an assist against Albany
Tyler Fiorito #6
? has started every game
? Ivy League Rookie of the Week after wins over UMBC and Manhattan
? made 10 saves while allowing five goals against UMBC
? made 13 saves while allowing 10 goals against Albany
? played entire game against Hopkins, making 11 saves for first career double-figure save total
? made five second quarter saves against Hopkins as Princeton built a 9-1 lead
? started and played first half against Canisius, making four saves and allowing three goals
? allowed six goals and made nine saves against Rutgers
? started and played first eight minutes against Manhattan, allowing one goal and making two saves
? was ranked second by Inside Lacrosse magazine among incoming freshman
? member of United States U19 team that won World Championship last summer in Vancouver
Jeremy Hirsch #37
? started 20 straight games on defense
? started every game last season on defense
? played in 13 of 14 games as freshman as fourth defenseman
Charlie Kolkin #43
? No. 1 longstick midfielder
? 2009 preseason All-America
? returned to lineup after missing game against Canisius with a minor injury; it was first game missed in his career
? named Nike/Inside Lacrosse Division I Player of the Week after Princeton's win over Cornell last year
? held Cornell All-America John Glynn without a point a year ago
Mark Kovler #17
? mid-season second-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
? Tewaaraton Trophy watchlist member
? ranks 22nd all-time at Princeton with 71 career goals; needs seven goals to move into 16th
? tied career high of four goals in consecutive games against Rutgers and Albany; it was third four-goal game of career (vs. Syracuse sophomore year and Virginia a year ago)
? four goals against Rutgers all came in the second half, on four shots
? had two goals and an assist against UMBC
? had two goals against Hopkins
? had a goal against Canisius and a goal and assist against Manhattan
? suffered broken ankle in practice last April 10 and missed
remainder of season
? three-time All-America
? preseason third-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse
Josh Lesko #19
? has gone from starting 12 games a year ago on first midfield to being on first shortstick defensive middie group with Brendan Reilly
? has more goals this year (four) as a defensive middie than a year ago (two) as an offensive middie
? had two goals, seven ground balls and two caused turnovers against Albany
? had a goal and assist against Hofstra
? scored a goal against Johns Hopkins
? had an assist against Manhattan
Scott MacKenzie #2
? playing on first midfield unit
? one of three players with at least one point in all six games (Chris McBride/Rich Sgalardi)
? had career-high three goals and four points against Manhattan
? had Princeton's first goal against Hopkins and Hofstra
? had a goal and two assists against Rutgers
? had two assists against Albany and an assist against UMBC
? had a goal and assist against Canisius
Chris McBride #15
? has at least one point in nine straight games, longest current streak by a Princeton player
? had career-high four goals against Albany
? had two goals against UMBC
? started and ended Princeton's 5-0 third-quarter run against UMBC
? had a goal against Hopkins and Hofstra
? scored two goals against Canisius
? had a goal and assist against Manhattan and an assist against Rutgers
? had two goals a year ago
? moved from midfield to starting on attack alongside cousin Jack McBride
? scored 60 goals as a high school senior two years ago at Delbarton
Jack McBride #14
? leads team with 18 goals and 22 points despite missing game against Manhattan
? has been Princeton's leading goal-scorer in four of the five games in which he has played
? tied career high with six goals against Albany
? scored four goals against Hopkins while matched against All-America defenseman Michael Evans
? led Princeton with four goals and five points against Canisius
? all four goals against Canisius came after halftime, as Princeton erased 3-2 deficit
? became first Princeton player to score at least four goals in consecutive games since Jason Doneger did it against Harvard and Butler in 2005
? had one goal against UMBC after spending two nights prior to game in infirmary with stomach flu; did not play against Manhattan due to after-effects
? had two goals and an assist against Hofstra
? had a goal and assist against Rutgers
? 2008 Ivy League Rookie of the Year
? member of United States U19 team that won World Championship last summer in Vancouver
Jonathan Meyers
? faced off twice with longstick against Hopkins and won both
? recruited for football by schools such as Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma; plays football and lacrosse at Princeton
Tyler Moni #27
? playing on second midfield group
? scored first career goal in win over Manhattan
? had an assist against Albany
? had three goals during Princeton's European trip for highest goal total by any current player
Chris Peyser #38
? named co-Division I Defenseman of the Week by Christian Swezey of Inside Lacrosse along with teammate Chad Wiedmaier after Hopkins game
? preseason third-team All-America
? has started 34 straight games on defense
? team tri-captain
Brendan Reilly #29
? team tri-captain
? preseason honorable mention All-America
? one of 30 players selected as candidates for Lowe's Senior Class Award
? one of top two shortstick D-middies since freshman year
? helped hold Kyle Wimer of UMBC, who had been reigning DI Player of the Week and team's leading scorer, to one goal
? had an assist against Canisius
? a Woodrow Wilson Schoool Scholar in the Nation's Service
? completed Marine Corps Office Candidate School over summer and will be commissioned a 2nd Lt. after graduation
? also an All-Collegiate Sprint Football League selection in varsity sport for players 174 pounds or less
Greg Seaman #42
? team tri-captain
? scored a goal against Hopkins
? scored a goal against Rutgers
? son of Towson coach Tony Seaman
Rich Sgalardi #18
? one of three players with at least one point in every game (Chris McBride/Scott MacKenzie)
? has 17 points in seven games after having 18 points his first three years combined
? had career-high three goals and four points against Rutgers
? had two goals and an assist against Albany
? had a goal and assist against UMBC
? had a goal and two assists against Canisius
? had two assists against Johns Hopkins and Manhattan
Chad Wiedmaier #9
? ranked as fifth-best defenseman by Inside Lacrosse; only freshman of 28 players named as top seven at their position
? Ivy League Rookie of the Week after holding Hopkins' Steven Boyle to one goal and matching Boyle's point total with an assist of his own
? assist came on goal by fellow freshman longstick John Cunningham for the first longstick-to-longstick goal since Bill Tierney has been head coach
? named co-Division I Defenseman of the Week by Christian Swezey of Inside Lacrosse along with teammate Chris Peyser after Hopkins game
? caused three turnovers against Albany
? third-ranked current freshman by Inside Lacrosse