Princeton Overwhelms Monmouth 22-6 In Season Opener

Saturday, February 19

Princeton, N.J.

1:00 PM

Princeton University

1-0

Monmouth

0-1

Monmouth

Princeton Tigers

Alex Slusher and Christian Ronda celebrate during Princeton's 22-6 win over Monmouth. Both had five goals in the game.

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Princeton Overwhelms Monmouth 22-6 In Season Opener

February 19, 2022 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

There were clouds and then snow, followed by sun and wind, with more flurries and then heavy snow and finally, shortly after the game ended, more sun. The only constant on Sherrerd Field Saturday afternoon was the relentless way the Princeton men's lacrosse team came after Monmouth in wave after wave.

A new-look, fairly rebuilt Princeton team opened its 2022 season with a terrific first half and then a nearly perfect second half, which when added together resulted in a 22-6 win for the Tigers against the defending MAAC champion and preseason favorite Hawks, an NCAA team a year ago. It was a 10-5 game at halftime before Princeton outscored Monmouth 12-1 after the break.

Princeton was led by, well, everyone, with established starters, returning players in new roles and newcomers who'd never stepped on the field all making huge contributions.

From one end to the other! Chris Brown scores on the play, giving him a hat-trick. Assist from Tommy Barnds. pic.twitter.com/zCBhazYohg
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) February 19, 2022

The Tigers were ferocious on defense, especially on the ride, as they hounded Monmouth into 21 turnovers, 15 of which were caused, and only 12 for 22 clearing. Familiar names George Baughan and Andrew Song had three caused turnovers each, but Princeton's defense was deep, with seven poles and six shortstick D middies who played regularly throughout the game.

Offensively, there was Alex Slusher, who was either one of the Tigers' most veteran players or someone playing his sixth career game and first on attack, depending on your perspective, with a five-goal day. There was Christian Ronda, a junior who had played in one previous career game and had never taken a shot but who nonetheless matched Slusher with five goals and an assist of his own.

Chris Brown had three goals and four assists for seven points (the latter two tying career highs) while he extended his streak of consecutive games with a goal to 33, the longest in Division I. Tommy Barnds made his first career start on attack and put up two goals and two assists.

Princeton's 22 goals came from seven players, all of whom had at least two. Jake Stevens had three of his own, as did Alexander Vardaro and Coulter Mackesey.

Princeton's sixth goal of the day is a beauty! Scored by Jake Stevens with an assist from Coulter Mackesy. pic.twitter.com/1ualBHlVW1
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) February 19, 2022

Tyler Sandoval won 16 of 27 face-offs, with six ground balls.

It was a 2-2 game midway through the first quarter before Ronda's first and Slusher's second made it 4-2 after one. It was 5-3 in the second before the Tigers began to pull away, with a four-goals-in-3:25 stretch that made it 9-3.

Next up for Princeton is a home game against Binghamton Tuesday at 5. After that is a stretch of five games against teams ranked in the top 10 of this week's USILA poll, starting next Saturday at No. 1 Maryland and then the following Saturday at No. 3 Georgetown.