Princeton University Athletics
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Princeton Men's Lacrosse: 2023 Season Outlook
February 14, 2023 | Men's Lacrosse
PRINCETON MEN'S LACROSSE 2023 TICKET INFORMATION
The 2023 Princeton men’s lacrosse team begins the year ranked in the top five nationally in every major poll. The Tigers are coming into this year off a Final Four season a year ago. There is experience and depth pretty much up and down the field.
Add it up, and the Tigers are good enough to play with anyone in the country. With their schedule, and with the league in which they play, the same will be true of every opponent, week after week. There will be no layups at all.
In the Ivy League, six of the seven teams made the NCAA tournament last year. All six of those teams are in the Top 20 this preseason, and the seventh is capable of beating any of the others.
Princeton’s non-league schedule includes the defending NCAA champion (Maryland), the tournament’s No. 2 seed last year (Georgetown) and another Final Four team from a year ago (Rutgers). Syracuse didn’t make the NCAA tournament a year ago, but the Orange are back on the schedule this year and, well, it’s Syracuse. Princeton also faces defending MAAC champ Manhattan as it goes from Feb. 21 through the April 8 matchup with Syracuse without playing a team who wasn’t in the tournament last spring.
Here is a position-by-position look at the 2023 Tigers:
Attack
Starters returning – Coulter Mackesy, Alex Slusher
Other returning letterwinners – Weston Carpenter, Jack Crockett, Hunter Engel, Jack Ringhofer, Braedon Saris, Lukas Stanat
Newcomers – Chad Palumbo, Jackson Kane
When you have to replace a player who put up 31 goals and 41 assists a year ago, that’s a big hole on your offense. Those numbers belonged to four-year starter Chris Brown (and if your last name isn’t “Sowers” then you never put up such numbers in Princeton men’s lacrosse history). Brown is a big loss, but he’s the only one among the six offensive starters from last year who is not back. There are two returning starters on attack, starting with senior Alex Slusher, whose 46 goals last year were the sixth-best single-season total in program history. Slusher, who added a gold medal with the U.S. Under-19 team at the World Championships last summer, was the only Princeton player with at least one goal in every game last season, and he tied for the team best with six NCAA tournament goals. A very calming, very steady player, Slusher is the anchor of the Princeton attack. The other returning starter is sophomore Coulter Mackesy, whose 43 points last year (28G, 15A) trail only Sowers, Kevin Lowe and Ryan Boyle among Princeton freshmen. Mackesy erupted onto the scene with a four-goal night against Rutgers in his second start last year, and he has All-American-level talent with three years to go. The third attack spot belongs at the start of the season to Braden Saris, a sophomore who played sparingly a year ago (two games, one assist) but who has looked great this fall and spring. Weston Carpenter, a senior, is also very capable and will push for playing time, as will sophomore Jack Ringhofer. Freshman Chad Palumbo will get onto the field, either on attack or midfield.
Offensive midfield
Starters returning – Sam English, Christian Ronda, Alexander Vardaro
Other returning letterwinners – Billy Barnds, Tommy Barnds, Sean Cameron, Michael Kelly, Bear Lockshin, Jake Stevens
Newcomers – Harrison Caponiti, John Dunphey, Quinn Krammer, Ian Mize, Jamison Moore, David Smythe
Princeton returns all three of its first-line midfielders from last year, as well as someone whose impact can’t really be summed up simply by a position. All four of those players scored at least 22 goals a year ago, and they combined for 18 NCAA tournament goals as well. The balance and depth of this returning group is unlike anything Princeton has had in the midfield. In fact, consider that Jake Stevens, who is technically not a starter, is a preseason second-team All-American, while Sam English is a Tewaaraton watchlist member. Alexander Vardaro is none of those things, but what he is would be Princeton’s career leader in points heading into the 2023 season. Vardaro had 26 goals and 15 assists last year, and can shoot, get the cage and pass, depending on the situation. English went for 30 goals and 18 assists in 2022, and those are numbers that have been eclipsed by the following Princeton midfielders of the last 10 years: Tom Schreiber and Zach Currier. The third returning starter is Christian Ronda, who scored six of his 23 goals in the NCAA tournament as his confidence level grew all season. Stevens, for his part, can score (22 goals), but he is so much more than an offensive middie. He's also arguably the best shortstick face-off wing in the country, with his 65 ground balls a year ago as an indicator of that. He’s also great in transition and, like English, has a great deal of experience on the defensive end of the field. Tommy Barnds and Sean Cameron were very solid second-line middies last year, and they will be in the same roles again this year. Billy Barnds, Tommy’s brother, and freshmen Chad Palumbo, John Dunphey and Quinn Krammer also figure to make an impact.
Defensive shortstick midfield
Starters returning – Beau Pederson, Marquez White
Other returning letterwinners – Luc Anderson, Teddy Gutman, Liam Fairback, Joe Juengerkes, Paul Weathington Jr.
Newcomers – Nick Crowley, Ian Mize
Beau Pederson is as good at this position as anyone Princeton has ever had and anyone any team currently does have. Pederson, a third-team All-American last season and a preseason first-team All-American this year, is a 6-3, 205-pound force who can defend, cause turnovers, get out in transition and shoot with great velocity. Marquez White played a great deal last year behind Pederson and the graduated Luke Crimmins and also is great on the defensive end and in transition. Luc Anderson is finally (fingers crossed) healthy after battling injuries his entire career; when healthy he has been fast, aggressive and impactful. Paul Weathington Jr. battled injuries last year but came back and looked really good in the late season, though he starts this year once again in recovery mode. Returnees Joe Juengerkes, Teddy Gutman and Liam Fairback give Princeton great depth here, and freshman Nick Crowley could play either here or as an LSM.
Longstick midfield
Starters returning – none
Other returning letterwinners – Michael Bath, Luca Lazzaretto, Luke Moriarty, Cathal Roberts
Newcomer - Cooper Kistler
Andrew Song had the No. 1 spot locked down for his entire career, and his loss will be felt. At the same time, Princeton has some great options here. Senior Luca Lazzaretto has played as Song’s backup and brings good size and athleticism to the defensive end and transition game. Sophomore Michael Bath is not quite as big as Lazzaretto, but he is a highly skilled, highly athletic player as well. Cathal Roberts has made huge contributions on defense and at LSM during his career and could play either this time around. Freshman Cooper Kistler has great potential, though he’s been slowed by injury in the preseason.
Defense
Starters Returning – Ben Finlay, Colin Mulshine
Other returning letterwinners – Pace Billings, Colin Freer, Ian Murray, McKnight Pederson, Jacob Stoebner
Newcomer – Zach Friedman
Princeton graduated George Baughan, a multi-time All-American on defense. As is the case with Song at the LSM spot, the Tigers are well-prepared to replace him and have several options to do so. Who is the No. 1? It’s hard to say. It could be senior Ben Finlay, who has started every game of his career. It could be sophomore Colin Mulshine, who broke into the lineup about a third of the way into his rookie season and immediately played like a veteran. It could be junior Pace Billings, who played some D and a lot of LSM last year and whose individual honors include being on the NCAA Final Four all-tournament team last year and a Tewaaraton watchlist member this year. Senior Jacob Stoebner has been a starter at times in his career and who will also play a great deal this season.
Goalie
Starter returning – none
Other returning letterwinners – Michael Gianforcaro, Griffen Rakower
Newcomer – Ryan Croddick
Princeton has no goalie who has ever started a game, after the graduation of three-year starter Erik Peters. In fact, the three goalies on the roster have a combined 48 total career minutes, with 30 of them from Griffen Rakower and 18 from Michael Gianforcaro. Rakower, for his part, did win the NCAA’s Elite 90 Award last year as the player with the highest GPA among the four Final Four teams. Rakower and Gianforcaro have both looked good through the fall and preseason, and it’s probable that both will play. Freshman Ryan Croddick is another quality goalie, giving Princeton its deepest group perhaps ever.
Defense
Starters Returning – Ben Finlay, Colin Mulshine
Other returning letterwinners – Pace Billings, Colin Freer, Ian Murray, McKnight Pederson, Jacob Stoeb
Face-off
Starter returning – Tyler Sandoval
Other returning letterwinner – Koby Ginder
Newcomers – Andrew McMeekin, Jim Williams
Tyler Sandoval has won 54 percent of his career face-offs, which is something that no other Princeton face-off man has done for quite some time. He is one of the top FOGOs in the country, and he is excellent at gaining possession, not turning it over and converting face-off wins into offense. Koby Ginder was injured much of last year, but he did put in some big-time performances, including a 6 for 9 day in the NCAA quarterfinal win over Yale. Andrew McMeekin is a highly regarded freshman who brings size, athleticism and strength to the position.
