Princeton Drops Overtime Game To Virginia

Saturday, February 23

Princeton, N.J.

Noon

Princeton University

1-1

Virginia

2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	Final F
Virginia	1	4	3	3	1	12
Princeton University	3	2	4	2	0	11

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

February 23, 2019 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Ian Laviano's shot in overtime hit something, changed directions and dribbled agonizingly and slowly into the Princeton net. As it did, it brought to an end an entertaining back-and-forth men's lacrosse game, and it did so in frustrating fashion for Princeton.

Laviano's goal on the first possession of the OT gave Virginia a 12-11 win over Princeton on a day when the 2,047 fans at Sherrerd Field on Class of 1952 Stadium saw an very well-played a hard-fought late February game. They also saw a record-setting performance by Virginia freshman goalie Patrick Burkinshaw, who stood out the most on a field that had star performances by players on both sides.

Burkinshaw, making his first career start, made a Class of 1952 Stadium-record 24 saves to keep his team in the game and ultimately pull it out. The 24 saves broke the previous record of 20, set three times, by Patrick Cairns and Trevor Tierney of Princeton and Greg Cattrano of Brown.

The 24th save of the day by Burkinshaw came in the final minute of regulation, when he robbed Charlie Durbin of what would have been his fifth goal of the day to keep the score tied at 11-11. Jon Levine then returned the favor on the other end, turning away a drive from Dox Aitken with three seconds left to force the overtime.

The extra session wouldn't be kind to Levine or the Tigers. Virginia's Petey LaSalla won the draw cleanly and came in on Levine, only to have his shot deflected high. After another UVa shot went wide, Michael Kraus got the ball inside to Laviano, whose shot left his stick and according to Laviano hit a Princeton defenseman's stick, which slowed it down and made it spin in the opposite direction away from Levine, ultimately finding its way into the net to end it.

That shot, and Burkinshaw's performance, were the difference in this one. Neither team ever led by more than two, and both teams had fourth quarter leads.

During and Michael Sowers had four goals each for Princeton, and Sowers also had two assists to give him a six-point day. Chris Brown and Emmet Cordrey had a goal and two assists each.

Jakes Stevens continued the blistering start to his career with seven more ground balls, giving him 16 in two games, of which 14 have come on the face-off wings. Backed by Stevens, Princeton won 16 of 26 face-offs, led by Philip Thompson with a 10-for-16 day and Jack-Henry Vara with a 5-for-9 day.

Princeton hosts Johns Hopkins this coming Saturday with face-off at noon.