Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Goalies Tierney, Cordrey Enter NJ Lacrosse Hall Of Fame
January 13, 2012 | Men's Lacrosse
The story goes, somewhat famously, that when Trevor Tierney called his soon-to-be college coach to announce his decision to attend the school, both player and coach were in the same house at the time.
Tierney's short-distance phone call went from him to his father Bill, who would coach him during his time at Princeton.
From that beginning grew a lacrosse resume that includes two NCAA championships at Princeton, a World Championship and a Major League Lacrosse championship. This weekend, Trevor Tierney is being inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Joining him for induction Sunday evening at Rutgers will be Peter Cordrey, another former Princeton goalie. Cordrey, a two-time first-team All-Ivy League selection, is being recognized for his time as a player at Princeton and for his more than 20 years of work on the youth level with the highly successful Summit program.
Between them, Cordrey and Tierney made 1,001 saves at Princeton
Tierney came to Princeton from the nearby Hun School for the 1998 season, and he helped Princeton to the NCAA championship that year with a huge performance in the quarterfinal win over Duke.
After sharing the position with Corey Popham his first two years, Tierney became Princeton's starter for his final two seasons. His college career ended in 2001 with a first-team All-America honor after he won a second NCAA title (along with his brother Brendan, then a Princeton junior) while leading Division I in goals-against and save percentage.
Tierney was the second pick in the first-ever Major League Lacrosse draft (behind college teammate Ryan Mollett), and he would play for four different teams over seven seasons, winning a championship in 2005 with the Baltimore Bayhawks.
He also played for the United States team at the 2002 and 2006 World Championships, finishing first and then second.
In his post playing days, Tierney joined his father's coaching staff at the University of Denver, and he helped the Pioneers to the NCAA Final Four last spring. He also has been very active on the youth level, especially in Colorado.
Tierney made 430 career saves, ninth best at Princeton. Cordrey, who played at Manhasset High School on Long Island, ranks fourth all-time with 571.
Cordrey, who graduated in 1982, has been the driving force in a Summit program that ha grown from fewer than 100 players to nearly 1,000. The success of the youth program has helped feed the meteoric rise of the high school team into a state and national power.
Induction into a local U.S. Lacrosse chapter is required for consideration for the national hall of fame.
Princeton women's coach Chris Sailer, already in the national hall of fame, will be inducted into the New Jersey chapter this weekend as well. Sailer is already a member of the New England and Pennsylvania halls of fame.