There is no question that this win is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, since the Tigers' last final four run in 2004. Princeton has now dispatched with three top-10 teams this season and is in prime position to earn an NCAA tournament birth. The Ivy League is as strong as ever this year, but the Tigers have definitely proven that they are capable of beating every league opponent and running the table.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
4th quarter - 1:39
Princeton timeout. Syracuse scored a goal off the faceoff following Kovler's last goal. The Orange win the next faceoff, but turn the ball over when two Tiger defenders force a Syracuse player out of bounds.
4th quarter - 2:26
Kovler scores again. 12-7. A dominating win by the Tigers. Princeton has shut out the Orange for the last 14:49.
4th quarter - 3:45
Sgalardi puts the game on ice. He has two goals and two assists. The Orange find themselves in their second stretch of 14 minutes without a goal. An absolutely heroic performance by Fiorito in goal for the Tigers and equally impressive outings by junior defenseman Jeremy Hirsch and freshman defenseman Chad Wiedmaier.
4th quarter - 4:24
Princeton still leads 10-7. Princeton ball following a lazy Syracuse pass. The Orange are in serious trouble.
4th quarter - 9:26
Rich Sgalardi scores for the Tigers, following a slow and methodical possession. Princeton leads 10 to 7. This is the Tigers' largest lead of the game, and Syracuse has never led.
3rd quarter - 0:25
Chris McBride notches his first point with an assist to Kovler who scores on his patented left-handed laser. Tigers up 9-7.
3rd quarter - 2:11
Middie Dan Hardy finds attack Stephen Keogh who fires high and outside past Fiorito.
3rd quarter - 4:22
Princeton scores a man-down goal! Senior short stick defensive midfielder takes a feed from Tommy Davis and fires high past Galloway. The play started when Tiger SSDM Josh Lesko forced a turnover. Syracuse is playing with a little more bounce on offense but the Tigers are matching them step for step. 8-6 Princeton leads.
3rd quarter - 5:43
'Cuse middie Pat Perritt scores his second goal of the game, getting seperation in front of the goal with a slick spin move. 7-6 Princeton leads.
3rd quarter - 7:33
Scott MacKenzie finds junior attack Rob Engelke on the doorstep and Engelke fires it home for his first goal of the game. 7-5 Princeton leads.
3rd quarter - 9:09
Jack McBride scores his third of the game to put Princeton back on top. Barnes won the faceoff preceding the goal, and wins another one afterwards.
3rd quarter - 10:18
Kenny Nims aims and fires a perfectly placed shot to the outside corner, beating Fiorito. 5-5 now. Princeton is getting dominated on faceoffs and is struggling on clears.
3rd Quarter - 11:03
Pat Perritt fires a shot past Fiorito for his first goal of the game. Princeton's lead is back to 1.
2nd quarter - 2:36
The Orange capitalize on an extra-man chance. Kenny Nims sneaks one in by coming around from behind the goal and firing a shot between goalie Tyler Fiorito and the inside edge of the goal. Princeton leads 5-3.
2nd quarter - 3:38
Sgalardi to Kovler. It's no secret that these two like to connect. Sgalardi breaks down 'Cuse d-middie Jovan Miller off a nice dodge, draws the slide, then feeds a wide open Kovler who fires a low, left-handed shot into the goal.
2nd quarter - 10:25
Scott MacKenzie finds Tommy Davis who bounces a shot past Galloway for a man-up goal. The foul was drawn by Tyler Fiorito who took the ball coast to coast following a shot and drew a foul in the Syracuse box on Dan Hardy.
Second Quarter - 11:08
1:00 slashing penalty on Syracuse. Fiorito brought the ball all the way up to the Cuse net before drawing the foul. Big opportunity for the Tigers here.
2nd Quarter - 14:26
Two big saves from Fiorito on Syracuse's first possession. I wouldn't be surprised if the Orange speed things up here in the second.
End of First Quarter
3-2 Tigers. Good period for Princeton. The Tigers are yet to trail all game - every time the Orange tie the game, Princeton is right there with a response. Solid quarters from freshman defender Chad Wiedmaier, sophomore attackman Jack McBride and face-off man Paul Barnes.
1st Quarter - 0:26
Princeton middie Rich Sgalardi, the team leader in assists, finds junior middie Scott MacKenzie after drawing a slide. MacKenzie fires a low, outside shot, beating Syracuse goalie John Galloway. 3-2 Princeton.
1st Quarter - 1:17
2-2 now, after 'Cuse middie Matt Abbott feeds attackman Stephen Keough on the doorstep and Keough cashes in.
1st Quarter - 2:07
Princeton freshman defenseman Chad Wiedmaier obliterates Syracuse attackman Kenny Nims. After trading possessions once again, Jack McBride scores his second goal on a very similar play. McBride once again beat Sid Smith. The score is 2-1 Princeton.
Princeton 1 - Syracuse 1
Syracuse do-it-all middie Matt Abbott puts a slick spin move on Brendan Reilly and beats Fiorito high and outside. 4:45 left in the first quarter now, and Syracuse won the ensuing draw.
Princeton 1 - Syracuse 0
After the teams trade possessions, Jack McBride cashes in on his first shot coming around the back of the goal on Syracuse All-American defenseman Sid Smith.
1st Quarter - 11:30
Nice save from Princeton freshman goalie Tyler Fiorito. Syracuse was slowing things down on defense as well, which is a bit surprising considering the Orange's incredible talent.
1st Quarter - 12:39
Faceoff won by junior Paul Barnes and the Tigers have a solid first possession. The Tigers manage three shots, but appear to be slowing things down.
No. 5 Princeton vs. No. 2 Syracuse - April 4 2009
Hi and welcome to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the men's lacrosse showdown between your No. 5 Princeton Tigers and No. 2 Syracuse Orangemen. As part of the Big City Classic - No. 1 Virginia just beat No. 11 UNC 11-10 and Hofstra plays Delaware following this game - today's contest marks the 25th meeting between Princeton and Syracuse. Syracuse leads the series 16-8, but these are historically two of the best programs in the country - the Tigers and Orangemen have combinbed for 15 of the last 21 NCAA titles.
Both teams come into today's game 7-1. Syracuse's lone loss came earlier this year to Virginia by one goal. The sole Princeton loss was two weeks ago against Hofstra. The big things to watch in this game will be the performance of Princeton's young defense against Syracuse's vaunted attack and midfield, the battle on the faceoff x between Princeton middie Paul Barnes and a slew of faceoff men for The Orange, and Syracuse's superb extra man group against Princeton's relatively weak man-down defense.
Princeton will be wearing all-white uniforms, and Syracuse will be wearing all orange. We are about five minutes from gametime, so stay here for realtime updates.
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