Princeton University Athletics
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No. 2 Princeton Takes On Penn At Franklin Field In Tuesday Men's Lacrosse Matchup
April 06, 2009 | Men's Lacrosse
The Princeton men's lacrosse team has had some pretty good success in NFL stadiums this season. Now the question is: How will the Tigers do in a stadium that used to be home to an NFL team?
Princeton and Penn meet for the 77th time in men's lacrosse when the long-time rivals play at Franklin Field Tuesday night. Princeton leads the all-time series 60-16 and has won each of the last 19 meetings; Penn did dominate for most of the 80s and won seven straight meetings prior to the start of the current Princeton streak.
The rivalry dates to a 5-4 Princeton win during the 1928 season. The teams have met every year since except for 1943-46.
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Princeton defeated Penn 14-5 at Class of 1952 Stadium a year ago. Jack McBride scored six goals on six shots to set a Princeton freshman record for goals in a game.
Alex Hewit made 14 saves for the Tigers, and Dan Cocoziello held Craig Andrzejewski scoreless, ending the Quakers' leading scorer's streak of 25 straight games with at least one point.
Interestingly, Penn outshot Princeton 37-29. Princeton scored 14 goals on 29 shots for a .483 team shooting percentage.
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Princeton is ranked second this week in both the USILA coaches' poll and the Inside Lacrosse media poll after defeating then-No. 2 Syracuse 12-8 Saturday at the Big City Classic at Giants Stadium. Princeton went from being ranked fifth a week ago to vaulting over Notre Dame and Cornell, both of whom won their games.
Princeton began the season ranked 12th in both polls.
The last time Princeton was ranked as high as second was in the 2002 preseason. The last time Princeton was ranked as high as second during the regular season was in the final poll of the 2001 season, when the Tigers were ranked No. 1.
Princeton did receive a first-place vote in this week's coaches' poll.
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The Top 10 teams in the USILA coaches' poll and Inside Lacrosse media poll are the same, in a slightly different order (Hofstra is No. 5 in the coach poll and No. 6 in the media poll; Syracuse is the opposite).
Princeton and Virginia are the only teams with at least three wins over Top 10 teams. Princeton has defeated Syracuse, No. 9 Hopkins and No. 6 UMBC; Virginia has defeated Hopkins, Syracuse, No. 3 Cornell and No. 10 North Carolina. The only other team with more than one Top 10 win is Hopkins, who has defeated UMBC and Hofstra.
Princeton also has a win over No. 19/18 Albany.
Princeton still has games remaining against No. 3 Cornell, No. 11 (both polls) Brown and No. 15 (coaches)/No. 17 (media) Harvard.
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The Princeton men's lacrosse team has accomplished something it has never done before: The Tigers have now defeated Johns Hopkins and Syracuse in the same regular season.
Princeton did defeat both teams in the 1996, 1998 and 2001 seasons, though the wins over Syracuse in those seasons all came in the NCAA tournament. Until Saturday, when Princeton defeated Syracuse five weeks after defeating Hopkins in the Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium, Princeton had never defeated both in the same regular season.
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Tyler Fiorito made 15 saves while allowing eight goals in Princeton's win over Syracuse to earn Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors for the second time this year.
Fiorito helped hold Syracuse more than six goals below its average of 14.1 goals prior to the game, when the Orange were the No. 1 ranked team in Division I in scoring offense.
Fiorito has a .619 save percentage in two games played in NFL stadiums (the games against Hopkins and Syracuse); he has a .593 save percentage in the other venues.
Taken further, Fiorito has .618 save percentage against teams ranked in the Top 10 and a .585 save percentage against teams not reanked in the Top 10.
Fiorito has played all 60 minutes of each of the last two games after playing all 60 minutes twice in the first seven games.
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The six players on Princeton's starting attack unit and first midfield (Tommy Davis, Jack McBride, Chris McBride, Mark Kovler, Rich Sgalardi, Scott MacKenzie) have combined for 89 goals, 48 assists and 137 points.
In other words, those six account for 81% of the team's goals, 83% of the assists and 82% of the points.
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Mark Kovler scored one goal against Penn a year ago. He then broke his ankle in practice two days later and missed the rest of the season.
Kovler began this season with seven goals on his first 44 shots (.159). Since then, Kovler has 12 goals on his last 25 shots (.480).
Kovler ranks 17th all-time at Princeton with 76 career goals and needs two to tie Samuel Hill '50 for 16th. Next up after that? Jon Hess, with 82 career goals.
Kovler has the highest career goal total by a Tiger midfielder since Josh Sims '00 graduated with 103 goals.
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Rich Sgalardi entered this season with seven career goals; he has seven goals in his last three games alone.
Sgalardi, who had 18 career points prior to this year, has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points this season through nine games.
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Jack McBride, who had a Princeton-freshman record six goals on six shots against Penn a year ago, needs eight goals to become the fourth Princeton player this decade to reach 50 career goals as a sophomore. The other three: B.J. Prager '02, Sean Hartofilis '03, Jason Doneger '05.
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Princeton has taken at least 40 shots five times and has taken at least 50 shots four times in its first nine games. Princeton took at least 50 shots in a game seven times this decade prior to this season, in a total of 130 games, and had not reached the 50-shot mark in 21 straight games prior to this season. Princeton had taken 50 shots in a game twice in 71 games prior to this season.
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Princeton is averaging 13.5 goals per game and has a .360 shooting percentage in its last four games; Princeton averaged 11.2 goals per game and had a .238 shooting percentage in its first five games.
On the other hand, Princeton averaged 9.0 goals per game in the 2008 season, when it had a team .281 shooting percentage.
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Princeton has outscored its last three opponents 11-3 in the fourth quarter.
Princeton's best quarter this season has been the third quarter, in which the Tigers have outscored their opponents by a combined 37-12.
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Princeton ranks fifth in Division I in scoring offense (12.3 goals per game). Princeton has been in double figures in seven of nine games, including four straight.
The last time Princeton had at least seven double figure scoring games for a full season was 2004, when the Tigers did it eight times. The last time Princeton had double figures in four straight games was in 2003, when Princeton did it eight straight times.
On the other hand, Princeton has played three of the other nine Top 10 scoring offense teams (Syracuse, UMBC, Hopkins). Those three average 37.0 goals per game between them; they combined for 23 against Princeton.
And which wins championships? Princeton is one of nine teams ranked in the top 11 to rank in the Top 10 in scoring offense. Only three teams (Princeton, Virginia, Notre Dame) in the top 11 rank in the Top 10 in scoring defense.
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John McPhee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Academic Athletic Fellow for the men's lacrosse team, wrote an article on lacrosse and Princeton's trip to Spain and Ireland last June for the March 23rd issue of the New Yorker. The full version is being published as McPhee's 28th book.
Princeton vs. Penn
The site Franklin Field ? Philadelphia, Pa.
The date Tuesday, April 7, 2009 ? 7 p.m.
Radio WPRB FM 103.3; www.goprincetontigers.com
The rankings Princeton: No. 2 (USILA)/No. 2 (Inside Lacrosse); Penn: unranked
The records Princeton: 8-1 (1-0 Ivy League); Penn: 2-6 (1-3 Ivy League)
The coaches Princeton: Bill Tierney (25th season overall, 267-91); Penn: Brian Voelker (seventh season overall, 39-49)
The series Princeton leads 60-16
Last meeting Princeton 14-5 ? April 6, 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 last year and 35:33 as a freshman as Alex Hewit's backup
Paul Barnes #31
? has won 91 of 176 face-offs (.517)
? 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
? also scored a goal against Yale
? 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
? broke his jaw in practice 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 115 career points, 19th all-time at Princeton
? needs 12 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 goals against Yale
? had two assists against Hopkins
? had a goal and assist against Syracuse
? 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 and second longstick midfielder in John Cunningham's absence
? four ground balls and two caused turnovers against Syracuse
? had three ground balls and a caused turnover against Yale
? 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
? has seven goals on 10 shots (.700 shooting percentage)
? 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 and Syracuse
? scored two goals against Canisius
? had an assist against Albany
? plays mostly in man-up situations
? tied with Mark Kovler for team lead with four man-up goals
Tyler Fiorito #6
? has started every game
? ranks eighth in Division I in goals-against (7.56) and 13th in save percentage (.602)
? two-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week
? earned Ivy Rookie of the Week honors for second time after his 15-save performance in 12-8 win against Syracuse in Big City Classic
? helped hold Syracuse to more than six goals below average for season (14.1 prior to game); Syracuse had been ranked No. 1 in scoring offense in Division I
? also 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
? made 10 saves while allowing seven goals while playing all 60 minutes against Yale, including nine saves and three goals allowed in final three quarters
? 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 22 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
? second on the team with eight caused turnovers
? 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
? has 12 goals in his last 25 shots (.480); had seven goals on first 44 shots of season (.159)
? tied for 17th all-time at Princeton with 76 career goals; needs two to tie Samuel Hill '50 for 16th and seven to move into 14th
? needs five points to become 22nd player in program history to reach 100 mark for career
? had three goals against Syracuse in Big City Classic
? tied career high of four goals in consecutive games against Rutgers and Albany
? in all has four four-goal games in 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 against Yale
? has 10 goals in last three games after getting shut out at Hofstra
? 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 at midfield to being first shortstick defensive middie unit with Brendan Reilly
? has more goals this year (four) as a defensive middie than a year ago (two) as an offensive middie
? second on team with 22 ground balls
? 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
? one of two players with at least one point in every game (Rich Sgalardi)
? has 10 goals in nine games this season after having four his first two seasons combined
? had a goal and two assists against Syracuse
? had career-high three goals and four points vs. Manhattan
? had two goals and an assist against Yale
? had Princeton's first goal against Hopkins, Hofstra and Yale
? 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
? had an assist against Syracuse after being shut out against Yale, ending nine-game scoring streak
? 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
? scored six goals on six shots against Penn a year ago
? leads team with 23 goals and 28 points despite missing game against Manhattan
? has been Princeton's leading goal-scorer in six of the eight games in which he has played
? had three goals against Syracuse
? 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
? 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 and Yale
? 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 #28
? faced off twice with longstick against Hopkins and won both
? has played more and more in last three games
? 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 36 straight games on defense
? tied for second on team with eight caused turnovers
? team tri-captain
Brendan Reilly #29
? team tri-captain
? preseason honorable mention All-America
? 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 a goal against Syracuse in man-down situation
? 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 two players with at least one point in every game (Scott MacKenzie)
? has 26 points in eight games after having 18 points his first three years combined
? had two goals and two assists against Syracuse
? Ivy League Player of the Week after having five goals and four assists in wins over Rutgers and Yale
? had career high five points against Yale (2G, 3A), eclipsing career-high for points set four days earlier against Rutgers
? 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
? leads team with 12 caused turnovers
? had three caused turnovers in game against Syracuse
? 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