Defense Leads Princeton Into Ivy Final With 11-8 Win Over Harvard

Friday, May 2

Ithaca, N.Y.

6:30 PM

Princeton University

12-2, 5-1Ivy

Harvard

10-4, 4-2Ivy

Harvard

Princeton

John Dunphey celebrates his goal in Princeton's 11-8 win over Harvard.

Photo by: Nick Ierardi

Defense Leads Princeton Into Ivy Final With 11-8 Win Over Harvard

May 02, 2025 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

The hour was late. The Princeton men's lacrosse team had been at Schoellkopf Field for seven hours already. Its Ivy League tournament semifinal against Harvard was tied in the fourth quarter. The Crimson needed it more than Princeton as far as an NCAA tournament berth was concerned.

Hey, winning in May isn't supposed to be easy.

What would the final 15 minutes say about the Tigers? A lot.

Princeton snapped that tie game with three fourth quarter goals to knock off Harvard 11-8 to earn a spot opposite host Cornell in Sunday's final (face-off at 10. The win also almost surely guaranteed Princeton a top three seed in the NCAA tournament, whose field will be announced Sunday at 9:30.

The Tigers are now 12-2 on the season and have won eight straight. The eight goals marked Harvard's lowest output of the season and the first time the Crimson did not reach double figures.

The game was a tight defensive struggle for three quarters, during which neither team ever had more than a one-goal lead. The third quarter ended with an 8-8 tie. Harvard would have nine fourth-quarter possessions. Princeton would not allow a score.

On the other end of the field, Princeton played six offensive midfielders on the night — and all six scored. The last to get into the scoring column was Braedon Saris, who tucked one in from Nate Kabiri with 11:09 to play, making it 9-8 Tigers.

Tucker Wade finally got Princeton a two-goal lead, with his goal with 9:24 to go for his second of the day. Sean Cameron scored his second to seal it with 1:39 to play.

WADE TO GET THE TIGERS UP BY 2 pic.twitter.com/CSIaH124mG
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) May 3, 2025

Andrew McMeekin, last year's Ivy tournament Most Outstanding Player, was dominant at the face-off X, going 17 for 22 with 13 ground balls.

Princeton's defense was the story of the night. Hunter Spiess had two caused turnovers and five ground balls, and Colin Mulshine held Harvard All-American attackman Sam King without a goal while having two caused turnovers of his own. Ryan Croddick made 12 saves.

Princeton also had a ton of little plays. Jackson Green had a huge ground ball to keep possession for Princeton in the fourth quarter. Cameron, in addition to his two goals, helped Princeton ride back two Harvard clearing attempts. Cooper Mueller had a huge caused turnover in the fourth. The list goes on and on.

The prettiest goal of the night came in the final seconds of the first half, when, after yet another Princeton stop, Michael Bath raced up the field and made a 30-yard pass to Kabiri, who scored from a tough angle to make it 5-4 Tigers at the break.

Coulter Mackesy had two goals, giving him 162 for his career, one away from tying Jesse Hubbard's program record.

HOW?! ??????

Michael Bath to Nate Kabiri for the @TigerLacrosse goal right before the half.

Princeton leads Harvard 5-4 at the break pic.twitter.com/j9Vw13Y9NU
— Inside Lacrosse (@Inside_Lacrosse) May 3, 2025