.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense/LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Face-Off
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense/LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense/LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
Face-Off
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense/LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
Photo by: Robert Goldstein
Princeton Men's Lacrosse 2017 Season Outlook
February 08, 2017 | Men's Lacrosse
The Princeton men's lacrosse team graduated only six players from a year ago, which is the smallest number the program has seen in recent memory. And yet, despite that, this year's team has the feel of something completely new.
Maybe it's the fact that there's a completely rebuilt coaching staff. Or maybe it's the 15 freshmen. Maybe it's the trip last fall to Portugal, where Princeton played three times against the English National Team and got an earlier-than-usual look at what the new year might hold.
Whatever it is, Princeton is something of a blank slate heading into the 2017 season. There are certainly some big-time pieces in place, though they might be in different places than they've been before. In addition, the freshman class will bring immediately help all over the field.
Matt Madalon is in his first year as full-time head coach, after going 3-2 last year on an interim basis. His staff includes Jesse Bernhardt, who in addition to being on the Princeton sideline is also a member of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse and the U.S. men's national team. He is also Princeton's fifth defensive coordinator in five years.
Princeton opens the season with five straight home games, beginning with NJIT on Feb. 18. There are also home league games against Yale, Brown and Harvard, who were three of the four teams in the Ivy League tournament last year.
Here is a position-by-position look at the 2017 Princeton Tigers:
Â
Attack
Starters returning – Gavin McBride (26-8-34), Riley Thompson (13-13-26)
Starter lost – Ryan Ambler (19-27-46)
Other letterwinners returning – Sean Connors (3-2-5), Emmet Cordrey (2-0-2), Carter Flaig (4-4-8)
Other letterwinners lost - none
Newcomers – Andrew Bowman, Phillip Robertson, Michael Sowers
Princeton graduated Ryan Ambler, a four-year starter whose list of career accomplishments includes being one of only four players in program history with at least 75 career goals and 90 career assists. Ambler was also an important team leader during all four of his seasons. Gavin McBride, one of the two senior captains, has been a consistent scorer the last two years playing either on attack or in the midfield. McBride has scored 50 career goals, the most by a current player, and he has at least one point in every game the last two years. His 26 goals led the team last year, and he finished the season with at least three goals in five straight games, the longest streak by a Princeton player in 15 years. Freshman Michael Sowers brings amazing credentials to the Tiger attack: among them, Sowers is the all-time leader in high school lacrosse history with 402 career assists, and he was the leading scorer on the U.S. U-19 team at the World Championships last summer. The third attack spot is very much up in the air, and it could go to one of the players who has started there in the past - Riley Thompson, Carter Flaig or Sean Connors, who have all played midfield at times as well. Freshman Andrew Bowman should also get some minutes.
Â
Offensive Midfield
Starters returning – Zach Currier (14-17-31, 75 GB, 15 CT), Austin Sims (23-2-25)
Starter lost – Bobby Weaver (11-5-16)
Other letterwinners returning – Bear Altemus, Matt Brophy, Charlie Durbin (2-1-3), Alexander Fish, Braedon Gait, Adam Hardej (3-0-3), Drew O'Connell
Other letterwinners lost - none
Newcomers – Jeffers Guthrie, Connor McCarthy
The most unique and tireless player in the country is Princeton senior Zach Currier, a first-team All-Ivy League last year and preseason All-America this year. There is next to nothing that Currier can't do – face-off, pick up every ground balls (10th in Division I), play defense, play the face-off wings and score, as his 31 points (one more than Notre Dame's first-team All-Amercia Sergio Perkovic a year ago) show. Currier could be on the field for 60 minutes between midfield and even some attack. Austin Sims, the captain of the U.S. U-19 team, was Princeton's second leading goal scorer a year ago with 23, of which 18 came in the final eight games of the year. Sims will play mostly midfield with some attack, and he brings to the lineup the kind of outside threat similar to recent All-Americas like Kip Orban and Mark Kovler. Charlie Durbin was Princeton's third-leading scorer and leading scorer in the midfield in its three games against the English national team in Portugal last fall, and he is ready to have a big sophomore year. Riley Thompson, who started on attack last year, could make an impact as a middie, as could Carter Flaig, who played both both positions last year as well. Adam Hardej has one of the stronger shots on the team and is a veteran presence, while newcomer Connor McCarthy should make an immediate impact.
Â
Shortstick Defensive Midfield
Starter returning – Sam Gravitte (1-1-2, 14 GB, 10 CT)
Starter lost – Austin deButts (0-1-1, 21 GB, 11 CT)
Other letterwinners returning – J.T. Caputo (1-1-2), Mike Morean (0-1-1, 22 GB, 4 CT),  Strib Walker (3 GB, 1 CT)
Other letterwinners lost – none
Newcomers – Zack Struckman , Chase Williams
Princeton is deep and strong with its shorties, even without the graduated Austin deButts. Sam Gravitte played close defense or longstick midfield until midway through his junior year, when he moved to SSDM. Gravitte, who is also accomplished on the stage during his time at Princeton, adjusted well to this new role. Sophomore Mike Morean played in every game a year ago, but he will miss the beginning of this season while he recovers from an injury. Strib Walker is a tall, athletic sophomore who was slowed a year ago and in the fall by injuries, while J.T. Caputo played extremely well in Portugal. Add to that group Chase Williams, who is also a member of Princeton's Ivy League champion football team.
Â
Longstick Midfield
Starter returning – Charlie Tarry (2 CT)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Daniel Winschuh (3 GB, 2 CT)
Other letterwinners lost – Dylan White
Newcomers – Nick Bauer
It might be hard to tell where the longstick midfield ends and the close D begins, since as many as four players could play either position. Princeton actually used five different LSMs a year ago at various times. Charlie Tarry is one of the players who played LSM and close D, and he could do both again. So could Alistair Berven, once he is healthy, or Daniel Winschuh. Freshman Arman Medghalchi will play a lot, and it may vary from game-to-game as to which position. One player who is probably strictly going to be an LSM is freshman Nick Bauer, who is tall, athletic and an outstanding ball-handler.
Â
Defense
Starters returning – Bear Goldstein (23 GB, 7 CT), Will Reynolds (15 GB, 7 CT), Mark Strabo (13 GN, 4 CT)
Starters lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Alistair Berven (14 GB, 4 CT), Aran Roberts (missed 2016 due to injury, 15 GB, 6 CT in 2015)
Other letterwinners lost – Luke Brugger
Newcomers – Jasper Arnold, Arman Medghalchi, Luke Pascucci, Christian Schade, David Sturtz
Bear Goldstein, the other senior captain along with Gavin McBride, is the only current player to have started every game of his career. Goldstein is a strong defender and two-time All-Ivy League selection, and he obviously is one of the most experienced players in all of Division I. Mark Strabo is in his fifth year at Princeton due to an injury, and he has been a starter throughout his career as well. In fact, Strabo could be the last player left in college lacrosse who guarded Cornell's Rob Pannell, which Strabo did in 2013. Aran Roberts missed all of last year because of injury but started every game but one in 2015, and he is back now as a sophomore. Â In addition to those three, there could be playing time down low for any of the longstick midfielders, especially Medghalchi, who figures to be a starter here if he's not playing LSM.
Â
Face-Off
Starter returning – Sam Bonafede (95x189)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Zach Currier (43x101), Jack O'Brien (4x12)
Other letterwinners lost – none
Newcomers – Ralph Chrappa, Philip Thompson
Sam Bonafede took 189 face-offs a year ago, winning better than 50 percent. He was slowed all fall and into the winter by injury, but he figures to be healthy in time for the first face-off of this year. Jack O'Brien is another veteran face-off man for the Tigers. As always, the x-factor if Zach Currier, who can impact possession either by taking the draw himself (often causing turnovers off of ones he doesn't win) or playing on the wings.
Â
Goalie
Starter returning – Tyler Blaisdell (11.75 GAA, .448 save percentage)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Oliver Schmickel
Other letterwinners lost – Matt O'Connor (10.58 GAA, .564 save percentage)
Newcomers – Jon Levine
Tyler Blaisdell started every game a year ago and the final six of 2015, giving him a streak of 19 straight starts. Blaisdell made 20 saves against Johns Hopkins last year, the most by a Princeton goalie in a game in 10 years. This time, Blaisdell will be pushed for the starting spot by freshman Jon Levine.
Â
Â
Â
Maybe it's the fact that there's a completely rebuilt coaching staff. Or maybe it's the 15 freshmen. Maybe it's the trip last fall to Portugal, where Princeton played three times against the English National Team and got an earlier-than-usual look at what the new year might hold.
Whatever it is, Princeton is something of a blank slate heading into the 2017 season. There are certainly some big-time pieces in place, though they might be in different places than they've been before. In addition, the freshman class will bring immediately help all over the field.
Matt Madalon is in his first year as full-time head coach, after going 3-2 last year on an interim basis. His staff includes Jesse Bernhardt, who in addition to being on the Princeton sideline is also a member of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse and the U.S. men's national team. He is also Princeton's fifth defensive coordinator in five years.
Princeton opens the season with five straight home games, beginning with NJIT on Feb. 18. There are also home league games against Yale, Brown and Harvard, who were three of the four teams in the Ivy League tournament last year.
Here is a position-by-position look at the 2017 Princeton Tigers:
Â
Attack
Starters returning – Gavin McBride (26-8-34), Riley Thompson (13-13-26)
Starter lost – Ryan Ambler (19-27-46)
Other letterwinners returning – Sean Connors (3-2-5), Emmet Cordrey (2-0-2), Carter Flaig (4-4-8)
Other letterwinners lost - none
Newcomers – Andrew Bowman, Phillip Robertson, Michael Sowers
Princeton graduated Ryan Ambler, a four-year starter whose list of career accomplishments includes being one of only four players in program history with at least 75 career goals and 90 career assists. Ambler was also an important team leader during all four of his seasons. Gavin McBride, one of the two senior captains, has been a consistent scorer the last two years playing either on attack or in the midfield. McBride has scored 50 career goals, the most by a current player, and he has at least one point in every game the last two years. His 26 goals led the team last year, and he finished the season with at least three goals in five straight games, the longest streak by a Princeton player in 15 years. Freshman Michael Sowers brings amazing credentials to the Tiger attack: among them, Sowers is the all-time leader in high school lacrosse history with 402 career assists, and he was the leading scorer on the U.S. U-19 team at the World Championships last summer. The third attack spot is very much up in the air, and it could go to one of the players who has started there in the past - Riley Thompson, Carter Flaig or Sean Connors, who have all played midfield at times as well. Freshman Andrew Bowman should also get some minutes.
Â
Offensive Midfield
Starters returning – Zach Currier (14-17-31, 75 GB, 15 CT), Austin Sims (23-2-25)
Starter lost – Bobby Weaver (11-5-16)
Other letterwinners returning – Bear Altemus, Matt Brophy, Charlie Durbin (2-1-3), Alexander Fish, Braedon Gait, Adam Hardej (3-0-3), Drew O'Connell
Other letterwinners lost - none
Newcomers – Jeffers Guthrie, Connor McCarthy
The most unique and tireless player in the country is Princeton senior Zach Currier, a first-team All-Ivy League last year and preseason All-America this year. There is next to nothing that Currier can't do – face-off, pick up every ground balls (10th in Division I), play defense, play the face-off wings and score, as his 31 points (one more than Notre Dame's first-team All-Amercia Sergio Perkovic a year ago) show. Currier could be on the field for 60 minutes between midfield and even some attack. Austin Sims, the captain of the U.S. U-19 team, was Princeton's second leading goal scorer a year ago with 23, of which 18 came in the final eight games of the year. Sims will play mostly midfield with some attack, and he brings to the lineup the kind of outside threat similar to recent All-Americas like Kip Orban and Mark Kovler. Charlie Durbin was Princeton's third-leading scorer and leading scorer in the midfield in its three games against the English national team in Portugal last fall, and he is ready to have a big sophomore year. Riley Thompson, who started on attack last year, could make an impact as a middie, as could Carter Flaig, who played both both positions last year as well. Adam Hardej has one of the stronger shots on the team and is a veteran presence, while newcomer Connor McCarthy should make an immediate impact.
Â
Shortstick Defensive Midfield
Starter returning – Sam Gravitte (1-1-2, 14 GB, 10 CT)
Starter lost – Austin deButts (0-1-1, 21 GB, 11 CT)
Other letterwinners returning – J.T. Caputo (1-1-2), Mike Morean (0-1-1, 22 GB, 4 CT),  Strib Walker (3 GB, 1 CT)
Other letterwinners lost – none
Newcomers – Zack Struckman , Chase Williams
Princeton is deep and strong with its shorties, even without the graduated Austin deButts. Sam Gravitte played close defense or longstick midfield until midway through his junior year, when he moved to SSDM. Gravitte, who is also accomplished on the stage during his time at Princeton, adjusted well to this new role. Sophomore Mike Morean played in every game a year ago, but he will miss the beginning of this season while he recovers from an injury. Strib Walker is a tall, athletic sophomore who was slowed a year ago and in the fall by injuries, while J.T. Caputo played extremely well in Portugal. Add to that group Chase Williams, who is also a member of Princeton's Ivy League champion football team.
Â
Longstick Midfield
Starter returning – Charlie Tarry (2 CT)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Daniel Winschuh (3 GB, 2 CT)
Other letterwinners lost – Dylan White
Newcomers – Nick Bauer
It might be hard to tell where the longstick midfield ends and the close D begins, since as many as four players could play either position. Princeton actually used five different LSMs a year ago at various times. Charlie Tarry is one of the players who played LSM and close D, and he could do both again. So could Alistair Berven, once he is healthy, or Daniel Winschuh. Freshman Arman Medghalchi will play a lot, and it may vary from game-to-game as to which position. One player who is probably strictly going to be an LSM is freshman Nick Bauer, who is tall, athletic and an outstanding ball-handler.
Â
Defense
Starters returning – Bear Goldstein (23 GB, 7 CT), Will Reynolds (15 GB, 7 CT), Mark Strabo (13 GN, 4 CT)
Starters lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Alistair Berven (14 GB, 4 CT), Aran Roberts (missed 2016 due to injury, 15 GB, 6 CT in 2015)
Other letterwinners lost – Luke Brugger
Newcomers – Jasper Arnold, Arman Medghalchi, Luke Pascucci, Christian Schade, David Sturtz
Bear Goldstein, the other senior captain along with Gavin McBride, is the only current player to have started every game of his career. Goldstein is a strong defender and two-time All-Ivy League selection, and he obviously is one of the most experienced players in all of Division I. Mark Strabo is in his fifth year at Princeton due to an injury, and he has been a starter throughout his career as well. In fact, Strabo could be the last player left in college lacrosse who guarded Cornell's Rob Pannell, which Strabo did in 2013. Aran Roberts missed all of last year because of injury but started every game but one in 2015, and he is back now as a sophomore. Â In addition to those three, there could be playing time down low for any of the longstick midfielders, especially Medghalchi, who figures to be a starter here if he's not playing LSM.
Â
Face-Off
Starter returning – Sam Bonafede (95x189)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Zach Currier (43x101), Jack O'Brien (4x12)
Other letterwinners lost – none
Newcomers – Ralph Chrappa, Philip Thompson
Sam Bonafede took 189 face-offs a year ago, winning better than 50 percent. He was slowed all fall and into the winter by injury, but he figures to be healthy in time for the first face-off of this year. Jack O'Brien is another veteran face-off man for the Tigers. As always, the x-factor if Zach Currier, who can impact possession either by taking the draw himself (often causing turnovers off of ones he doesn't win) or playing on the wings.
Â
Goalie
Starter returning – Tyler Blaisdell (11.75 GAA, .448 save percentage)
Starter lost – none
Other letterwinners returning – Oliver Schmickel
Other letterwinners lost – Matt O'Connor (10.58 GAA, .564 save percentage)
Newcomers – Jon Levine
Tyler Blaisdell started every game a year ago and the final six of 2015, giving him a streak of 19 straight starts. Blaisdell made 20 saves against Johns Hopkins last year, the most by a Princeton goalie in a game in 10 years. This time, Blaisdell will be pushed for the starting spot by freshman Jon Levine.
Â
Â
Â
Sticks and Stripes - May 8, 2026
Friday, May 08
Sticks and Stripes - April 17, 2026
Friday, April 17
Sticks and Stripes - March 4, 2026
Thursday, March 05
Sticks and Stripes - Feb. 18, 2026
Wednesday, February 18