No. 4 Princeton Opens With 22-9 Win Over Monmouth

Saturday, February 18

Princeton, N.J.

3:00 PM

Princeton University

1-0

Monmouth

0-1

Monmouth

Princeton

Alex Slusher (5) and Alexander Vardaro celebrate as Coulter Mackesy joins in during Princeton's 22-9 win over Monmouth.

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

February 18, 2023 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Alexander Vardaro had the most goals. Coulter Mackesy had the next most. Braedon Saris had the most important goals. John Dunphey had the prettiest goal.

Add that all together, plus a few other goals, and you come away with a 22-9 win for fourth-ranked Princeton over Monmouth to open the season. It was as day that began with a few questions and ended with an answer or two, as well as a look ahead to a schedule that will be extremely challenging.

In fact, the next time Princeton plays a team that didn't make the NCAA tournament last year will be April 8, and that team is Syracuse. Next up for the Tigers is defending MAAC champion Manhattan, who defeated Navy Saturday afternoon and who comes to Sherrerd Field for a Tuesday night game (face-off at 6).

The 2023 Tigers are coming off an NCAA Final Four appearance, and the Class of 2022 was honored at halftime Saturday afternoon. By that time, Princeton had built a 12-3 lead, after leading 5-1 after one quarter. Princeton would play 37 different players in the fourth quarter alone.

Saris with his second on the day. Tigers lead 11-3 pic.twitter.com/N6vPcw4on3
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) February 18, 2023

Vardaro had a career-high five goals for the Tigers, with two assists as well, despite not playing more than three quarters. The same was true of Coulter Mackesy, who tied his career best with four of his own while adding two assists.

The biggest question on offense for Princeton as it readied for the season was who was going to be the third started on attack to replace four-year starter Chris Brown. The answer appears to be Saris, a big Canadian sophomore who had three goals and three assists in his first career start after playing in two games a year ago, with one assist.

As for Dunphey, the freshman stepped onto the field for the first time in his career early in the fourth quarter and within seconds had ripped a shot into the top of the net, drawing comparisons to the release and velocity that Mackesy has.

Step on field for first time? Snipe?

Dunphey with the first of his career to make it 20-7. pic.twitter.com/LY1nvGOU1Q
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) February 18, 2023

Freshman Chad Palumbo had his first two career goals, and senior Jake Stevens had two of his own. Alex Slusher and Christian Ronda had a goal and two assists each, as 11 different Tigers had at least one goal and two more added assists.

Griffen Rakower played the first half in goal, with six saves and three goals against before giving way to Michael Gianforcaro, who had five saves. Tyler Sandoval won 10 of 17 face-offs.