Starters carry men's team thus far; depth could become issue

They play great for a week. They get flat for a week. They play really well the next week. They lose both games the following week. Then, they spank two top teams in the fifth week.

So far this season, that is a pretty accurate description of the men's soccer team's performance.

The Tigers (5-2-2 overall, 2-1-1 Ivy League) are in second place in the Ivy League behind Harvard, who beat them 1-0 on October 6 at Harvard. The Tigers will not have a chance to avenge the loss to the Crimson this season unless the two teams meet in the NCAA tournament. During these inconsistent first few weeks, the Tigers have shown that you never know which team will show up on any given night. But for some, that is the exciting part.

Outscoring their opponents 19-7 so far this season, the Tigers are averaging a little more than two goals per game. Senior Mike Nugent is responsible for 32 percent of the goals. The All-Ivy forward has six already this season.

Freshman forward Adrian Melville has also had a strong first few weeks, coming in just behind Nugent with five goals.

A notable feature about the Tigers has been their potent offense. In the team's nine games, the Tigers have only been shut out twice, and they have had multi-goal games five times.

On the other side of the field, the Tigers' defense has been exceptional. Led by senior captains Graeme Rein and Bob Nye, the defense has recorded six shutouts and allowed only seven goals. Excluding the Maryland game, which the Tigers lost, 5-2, Princeton's defense gives up only .25 goals per game.

A major reason for the huge goal-scored vs. goal-allowed differential has been junior goalie Jason White. A star for the Tigers all three years that he has played for Princeton, White has a huge influence on every game.

Here's the grade report on several factors of the Tigers' game thus far this season: Offense: B

When the Tigers score more than one goal, they win 80 percent of their games, and the Tigers have five multi-goal games this season. With 19 goals scored, 11 of them are by two people. Defense: A

Only seven goals allowed this season and five shutouts in the first nine games are impressive feats. Not to mention, the Tigers have only allowed one goal in three Ivy League games. Goaltending: A

Junior Jason White has been almost perfect this season. With six shutouts, his save percentage hovers around .900. His toughness is unquestioned — he was one of the first players to jump into the tussle during the Columbia game. Depth: C+

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The Tigers play with the same 12 players every game, as the team rarely makes substitutions. In the Harvard game, injuries kept several starters out of the game, and the difference was clear. Playing from Behind: D

The Tigers have yet to record a come-from-behind win this season. The Tigers offense has been unable to take the lead once their opponents drop back into a prevent defense. Fan Appeal: B

The Tigers are an entertaining team to watch, but some of their games have become a little predictable. The team shows a lot of emotion, which is a draw for much of the audience. The stands have been filling up recently, but it remains to be seen how crowded the games will be once the cold weather freezes the benches at Laurie-Love. Media Accessibility: A+

Easily the best Q & A subject in recent memory, Mike Nugent proved to the entire campus that he is as secretive about his sexual life as he is modest about his basketball abilities. Nugent can be an interview role model for all athletes at Princeton.