M. soccer endures trying year, but finishes memorably

The 2001 season marked the best of times for men's soccer. The team finished the Ivy campaign at 5-1-1, which was good enough for a share of the League title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Though the Tigers lost in the second round, they still had much to be proud of.

And while the 2002 season certainly did not mark the worst of times, it was still very much an unfulfilled season. This year's Tigers (4-8-5 overall, 2-3-2 Ivy League) had as much potential as any squad in the Ivy League, yet finished a disappointing fifth.

Princeton displayed the potential that seemed missing in the first months of the season with stellar play in their last four league games. The team finished its season with two wins, a loss, and a tie, with impressive shutout victories over Harvard in October and against Yale in its season-ending game in mid-November.

The Tigers also fought Penn, who eventually shared the league title with Dartmouth (both 5-1-1 league records), to a scoreless tie in its penultimate match. Princeton was thus able to finish its season with back-to-back shutouts. This amounted to too little too late.

Like in years past, the team was forced to bid farewell to several individuals who had played since freshman year, while welcoming a slew of freshmen who will undoubtedly leave their mark in future seasons.

On the defensive side, Princeton had to part with defender Bob Nye, known in the league as a no-nonsense fullback who defended his teammates and intimidated opponents. Offensively, the Tigers will be without Matt Douglas next year, a speedy, aggressive forward who scored three goals in the 2002 season, the biggest coming in the Tigers 1-0 win over Harvard.

The soccer team bids adieu to a number of other seniors as well – Brian Smith, Jason Extein, Michael Castagna, and James Moberg.

White departure

But the hardest player to part with will be net minder Jason White.

White, who climbed to the top of Princeton's record books with three phenomenal seasons prior to 2002, was lost in just his seventh game of play and his first Ivy League contest of his senior season. White went down with a hip flexor injury, an ailment from which he never fully recovered. Though he made several appearances after his Sept. 28 injury, White started just three games.

Remarkably — and unsurprisingly — two of those games were shutouts.

White will leave an indelible mark on the Princeton soccer record books. His career total of 26 shutouts doubles the previous record, 13, held by Robert Pawloski '94. White earned enough shutouts in his first two seasons to tie that mark. He also set the season shutout record twice, topping the record he set as a freshman in his junior season. Among all Ivy players, White was the league's best keeper in both his freshman and junior season.

Despite its losses, Princeton soccer has much to look forward to. If all goes as planned, the team will return a number of freshmen who made their mark in the 2002 season.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Both forward Darren Spicer and fullback Ben Young earned starting spots early in the season and will enter the 2003 season as more experienced and stronger players.

Spicer was second on the team with eight points last season. His most memorable goal came in a thriller Oct. 14, when the Tigers came from two goals down to beat one of the nation's best, American University, by the score of 3-2 off of Spicer's last-second goal. Spicer also scored a game-winner against La Salle.

Young earned All-Ivy honorable mention honors for his defensive play. He played in all 17 of Princeton's games, displaying a tenacity and composure atypical for a first-year player.

Erik White, Jason's younger brother, will most likely fill the void in goal. White had a number of outstanding starts in 2002 as he played in place of his injured brother.

Leading the Tigers next season will be a trio of seniors – midfielders Marty Shaw and Gianfranco Tripicchio, and defender Jeff Hare – all of whom have played with the squad for three seasons and have the leadership experience necessary to guide what will most likely be a youthful Princeton team.

But after the underachievement of last season, the Tigers' youth and energy might be their greatest weapon.

That said, Princeton was forced to surrender the league title in 2002, but look for it to return to its rightful home, Princeton's Lourie Love Field, in 2003.