No. 11 Princeton Falls To No. 4 Maryland Despite Huge Performances From Kabiri, Gianforcaro

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For all the numbers on the big scoreboard at Maryland's SECU Stadium Saturday afternoon, the one that most told the story was one that wasn't kept: Time of possession.

While it's not a stat that is tracked in lacrosse, Maryland must have had a five to one or even greater edge in possession time against Princeton. The result was that the numbers that mattered the most favored the fourth-ranked Terps, who defeated No. 11 Princeton 13-7.

Nate Kabiri scored four of Princeton's seven goals and in doing so became the first Princeton freshman ever with at least three goals in his first three games. Senior goalie Michael Gianforcaro tied his career high with 20 saves, equaling the number he had against Harvard a year ago.

Maryland won 21 of 24 face-offs, with Luke Wierman at 20 for 23, and the Terps regularly possessed the ball deep into the shot clock. Considering that, and the fact that it led to a 45-29 edge in shots with a 35-16 edge in ground balls, Princeton's defense actually played really well.

As has been the case in the recent meetings between these two, including in the 2022 NCAA semifinals, Maryland got off quickly again, scoring on its first possession and building a 3-0 lead in the first 5:42 and a 6-1 lead 2:37 into the second quarter. Kabiri scored Princeton's first two goals and last two goals, and Sean Cameron just beat the first-half buzzer — by 0.1 seconds — to make it 8-3 at the break.

Coulter Mackesy, who assisted on the Cameron goal, then scored the first goal of the third quarter, but Maryland wouldn't let the Tigers get any closer than four, which Princeton did four times in the second half. Braedon Saris scored an extra man goal to make it a 9-5 game, and then a pair of Kabiri goals in the fourth quarter kept it close. Kabiri and fellow freshman Colin Burns also had goals disallowed.

Kabiri now has 10 goals in three games after having back-to-back three-goal games against Monmouth and Manhattan.

Princeton will fly to the Raleigh-Durham area this coming week, with games Friday night at North Carolina and then Sunday March 3 at Duke.

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