Princeton Opens 2017 Season By Hosting NJIT

PRINCETON VS. NJIT

Saturday • Feb. 18, 2017 • 3 p.m. • Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium • Princeton, N.J.

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According to the NCAA's official rules, Matt Madalon is considered a second-year head coach at Princeton after leading the Tigers in the final five games of last year on an interim basis.
The 2017 season, though, is the first in which he will have led the team through the fall, preseason practices and now into the season opener.
Madalon's first opening day comes against NJIT, the team that Princeton opened with a year ago. The Tigers return eight starters from 2016 and graduated only six seniors, though there definitely is the feel of something different this time around.
Madalon led Princeton to a 3-2 record in his five games as interim head coach in 2016.
NJIT is playing its second game of the season, after opening with a 15-5 loss two weeks ago to Lehigh. The Highlanders are a third-year program, but the team still is very young, with just two seniors, three juniors and the rest of the roster either freshmen or sophomores.

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With the addition of 16 freshmen, Princeton comes into the 2017 season with 46 players on the roster. A year ago, Princeton had 37.
There are also three new coaches - defensive coordinator Jesse Bernhardt, offensive coordinator Pat March and volunteer assistant coach Justin Tuma.

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Princeton will have two captains for the 2017 season - D Bear Goldstein and A Gavin McBride.

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Princeton's biggest graduation loss is Ryan Ambler, a four-year starter on attack who finished his career as one of four players in program history with at least 75 career goals and 90 career assists. Ambler was a three-time All-Ivy League selection.
The current player with the most career goals and points is senior Gavin McBride, who has 50 career goals and 71 career points. McBride led Princeton with 26 goals in 2016.
Replacing Ambler as the quarterback of the attack will be freshman Michael Sowers, whose lacrosse resume already includes accomplishments like the high school national record for assists in a career (402) He was the leading scorer on the U.S. U-19 team that won the World Championships last summer, and he was an Under Armour All-America.

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Princeton made a fall trip to Portugal between Oct. 29 and Nov. 6, including three games against the English National Team that saw the Tigers go 2-1.
Gavin McBride led Princeton with eight goals in the three games. Michael Sowers led Prindeton with eight assists.
Charlie Durbin, who had two goals and an assist against NJIT last year, was Princeton's third-leading scorer with seven points on three goals and four assists in the three games.

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Austin Sims was the captain of the U.S. team at the U-19 World Championships last summer. Sims scored 24 goals last year for Princeton, the second-highest total on the team, after not scoring any as a freshman the year before.

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Gavin McBride ended the 2016 season with a streak of five consecutive games with at least three goals. The last Princeton player to have a streak that long was Sean Hartofilis in 2001.
The last time a Princeton player had a longer such streak was when Chris Massey did so in six straight games - the final five of the 1997 season and the first of the 1998 season. Massey also has the longest such streak in program history with eight straight games of at least three goals, which he did in 1996.

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Princeton opened the 2016 season with a 21-4 win over NJIT in the only previous meeting between the schools. The Tigers and Highlanders did not play in 2015, the first season for the program.
Princeton's program dates to 1882.
NJIT became the fourth Division I men's lacrosse program in New Jersey, joining Princeton, Rutgers and Monmouth.
The Tigers have never played the Hawks. They have played Rutgers 94 times.

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NJIT junior Nick Marzullo has started every game in goal in the history of the program. In the 28 games to date, he has faced 1,103 shots, including 686 shots on goal. Marzullo faced 371 shots on a goal a year ago, second most in Division I, behind only Manhattan's Michael Zingaro (376).
By point of contrast, Maryland's Kyle Bernlohr faced 264 shots on goal in 2016, despite playing five more games and nearly 300 more minutes than Marzullo.

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Zach Currier is a preseason second-team All-America selection. The do-everything middie led Princeton with 75 ground balls last year, more than the next two highest totals on the team combined.
He also was also the team leader in caused turnovers and was second in assists and third in points.

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NJIT assistant coach Brad Conlon is a former Princeton assistant coach.

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Bear Goldstein is the only current Princeton player who has started every game of his career.

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In addition to Michael Sowers, Princeton should see some immediate minutes from other freshmen.
Arman Medghalchi will either start on defense or be the top longstick midfielder. Nick Bauer will play at LSM as well.
Connor McCarthy figures to play as an offensive middie, and Andrew Bowman might play on attack. Jon Levine, a goalie, may also play.

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Matt Brown scored two of NJIT's five goals in its 15-5 opening loss to Lehigh.

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Princeton had three players in double figures last year in both goals and assists - Ryan Ambler (graduated), Zach Currier and Riley Thompson, who had 13 goals and 13 assists.
Thompson can play attack or midfield, and is also a big part of the extra man unit.

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Princeton will have a quick turnaround as its starts the season, with a game at home Tuesday at 6 against Marist, an opponent that the Tigers have never before played.
Princeton will open the season with five straight home games, including next Satudray at 1 against Hofstra.

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Players Mentioned

Ryan Ambler

Nick Bauer

Andrew Bowman

Zach Currier

Charlie Durbin

Bear Goldstein

Jon Levine

Gavin McBride

Connor McCarthy

Arman Medghalchi

Austin Sims

Michael Sowers

Riley Thompson