Biles siblings motivate each other in pursuit of titles

Recently, 'Prince' staff writer Mike Judd sat down with sister and brother Lindsey and Mike Biles, two important members of Princeton's lacrosse teams. Junior attack Lindsey Biles currenly leads the women's team in groundballs (31) and shares the top spot for goals (38) and overall points (48). Freshman midfielder Mike Biles has earned a starting position on the men's team.

'Prince': Mike, how much has Lindsey's example influenced you, both as you started playing lacrosse and as you decided to come to Princeton?

Mike Biles: Growing up around lacrosse, we'd always go the final four, and when I was younger, Princeton was always there and always winning. So from a young age, it was a dream of mine to come play here. When Lindsey came here, it became a little more realistic. I got to meet the coaches and the players, to look around campus, and it definitely motivated me to come here.

P: With both of you growing up and playing lacrosse together, how much competition is there between the two of you? Is it a positive thing or a negative thing?

Lindsey Biles: [Laughs] I would say there's quite a bit of competition. It's been positive and negative. We would play together growing up, and we would do one-on-one's in the yard, and I would always be telling him to make me better. It was always nice to have somebody of the same age to practice with.

MB: We would play together in the yard, teach each other, show each other. There is always a little criticism, constructively.

P: Men's and women's lacrosse, more than most other sports, have a lot of differences. Lindsey, why don't you tell me why women's lacrosse is better than men's lacrosse, and then Mike can argue the other side.

LB: I think the women's game is more "finesse," because obviously there's not [as much] contact. It's different in the way you defend — women's lacrosse plays more of a basketball defense, with a lot of zone sets and complex slides, whereas the men mostly play man-to-man, so it changes the way the attack plays [as well]. Especially when I would do one-on-one's [with Mike], I would always tell him, "You're playing the wrong defense!" Also, we don't have pockets, so you have to become a lot better with your sticks.

MB: I don't even know where to start. In my opinion, they are completely different sports. Technically, they are a little the same, because we both have sticks, but beyond that, all the rules are completely different, and the style of play — I would say that we are a little more organized, while they are a little more chaotic.

LB: See, I would say the opposite.

MB: Okay. So obviously we have very different opinions on that [both laugh ].

P: It's got to be exciting for Lindsey to have come [to Princeton] and won two national championships in her first two years. Mike, does that set a high standard for you? Is that something that you feel you have to live up to?

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MB: Yeah. Not only does she already have two national championships, but there is just a legacy in Princeton lacrosse in general — we have won six national championships since 1992. I would love to get a national championship while I am here, and I think it is something that could happen any given year, particularly with all the talent that we have. I think we will get one.

P: Why don't you each take a moment to talk about how your respective teams are coming together this year, and how you're playing at this point in the season.

LB: I think we're really coming together. Rather than individual play, we have been focusing a lot on playing as a team, finding each other's strengths and weaknesses and playing to that. I think that is the difference between our team and the other teams we face — our incredible teamwork. Princeton's style isn't a single superstar going to the goal every time, it is everyone working together. Every single person on our team is capable of stepping up at any given time. We are kind of unstoppable, in that sense.

MB: On the men's side, while we are Princeton lacrosse, we are a very young team. We have been building and finding out who we are as we progress through the season. We play more freshmen than any other team [we've faced]. We are doing so well right now because of our leadership, with players like [senior attack] Ryan Boyle and [junior attack] Jason Doneger who really understand the game and help teach it to the younger guys. We are finally starting to play the kind of lacrosse that we expect to play. I feel like by the end, we'll be right in there.

P: Instead of asking you for a prediction for your own teams, why don't the two of you give a forecast for the other team's season? Mike, how is the women's team going to do this year?

LB: Mike, come on.

MB: [Laughs] I think they should win it all. They haven't lost yet, and they have played almost all of the top teams. I think they can get themselves another one.

P: Lindsey?

LB: I think they're definitely in the running. In the beginning I was a little worried, but I think they have come together really well. Their freshman class is phenomenal — they don't play like freshmen. They have a lot of poise. They're just getting better, and I think they have a good chance. They'll have to deal with Johns Hopkins, but I think . . .

MB: Anything can happen.

LB: You're right — anything can happen.