Princeton Falls To Syracuse In Classic Quarterfinal

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While it might not have been Memorial Day, the game that Princeton and Syracuse played in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday afternoon was as good as any this storied rivalry has ever seen. And that includes the four Memorial Days when they played for the big prize.

"That was one of the craziest games I've ever been a part of," Princeton midfielder Chad Palumbo said afterwards. Sadly, it should be noted.

It was Princeton that ended up on the excruciatingly painful end of a 19-18 game Saturday afternoon, rallying from five down to take the lead with five minutes to go, only to have the Orange score the final two. The loss ended Princeton's season at 13-4 and sent the Orange on to Foxboro for next weekend's Final Four.

Palumbo did all he could to see his team move on, as he matched the program record for goals in an NCAA tournament game with six, with two assists added on. Freshman Peter Buonanno had three goals and three assists, and Coulter Makesy had three goals in his final game as a Tiger, pushing the all-time program record for career goals to 167.

The game was wild throughout, with a first half that ended 11-10 Princeton when the Tigers scored two goals in the final minute of the second quarter to go into the lockerroom on top. By the time the Tigers scored again, on a Palumbo goal with three seconds left in the third, Syracuse had built a 16-11 edge. Palumbo's goal sparked a five-goal Tiger run, though, and suddenly it was 16-16. And then 17-16 Syracuse. And then 18-17 Princeton on goals from Sean Cameron and then Nate Kabiri with 4:54 to play.

Syracuse came back, though, with two of its own to go up 19-18 with three minutes left. Princeton had two shots on goal after that, both of which were saved.

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