When the pressure is on, great teams do anything and everything within their power to win. Such was the case Saturday, when No. 8 men's lacrosse (8-3 overall, 4-1 Ivy League) defeated No. 20 Dartmouth (7-5, 2-3) by a score of 10-8. With the win in Hanover the Tigers stayed alive in the hunt for the Ivy League title.
A crucial illegal stick challenge by head coach Bill Tierney late in the third quarter proved to be the turning point in the closely contested game.
The score had been even at 6-6 for most of the half, with brilliant defense being played by both sides, when Big Green attack Russell Radebaugh slipped a shot by Princeton sophomore goalie Dave Law with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter.
Caught cheating
Dartmouth's jubilation was cut short, however, by Tierney's challenge to the officials. Asked about it after the game, Tierney admitted he had noticed the stick infraction prior to the game, and waited until that moment to reveal the penalty. As a result of Tierney's vigilance, Radebaugh's goal was taken away, and the Tigers were given a three minute non-releasable man-advantage, which they used to score two quick goals and swing the momentum in their direction.
Dartmouth's Brad Heritage opened the day's scoring only 43 seconds into the game when he put in a shot with the assist going to Radebaugh. The quick goal must have given Princeton visions of its crushing upset loss to the Big Green last season, as it quickly responded with five goals of its own.
Freshman attack Peter Trombino was the first Tiger to score on the day, on an assist from senior attack Ryan Boyle. Trombino's goal gave him the Princeton record for most consecutive games with at least one goal to start a freshman campaign, with his 11th in a row taking him one over Lorne Smith's '99 10. Trombino had two goals and an assist in the game.
Halfway through the second quarter the tide turned again, as Dartmouth scored four goals in under seven minutes to tie the game going into halftime. Those four goals included two assists by midfielder Ben Grinnell, who was the heart of the Big Green's offense with five assists, accounting for more than half of his team's points.
A goal by freshman attack Scott Sowanick gave the lead back to the Tigers four minutes into the third quarter on one of Boyle's four assists, but this was quickly matched by Dartmouth attack Jamie Coffin.
The game remained even for seven and a half minutes while the two teams probed each other for weaknesses.
Radebaugh, a senior, thought he had pushed his team ahead with 2:04 to play in the third quarter when he netted one past Law which would have given his team the momentum and the lead.
But Tierney, who has been coaching collegiate lacrosse for two decades, had no compunctions about invoking an oft-neglected rule to give his team the advantage.
With their team up a man, and the Big Green feeling not quite so big anymore, the Tigers surged in front. Boyle took the leadership role for the Orange and Black with 1:11 to play, scoring an unassisted goal past Dartmouth goalie Andrew Goldstein who had proved to be his nemesis one year earlier.
Boyle's goal was followed 18 seconds later with one by senior midfielder Drew Casino, assisted by Sowanick. Those two goals gave Princeton a nice cushion going into the fourth quarter and seemed to throw the Big Green off its game for the duration.
Heritage tried to get Dartmouth going again a few minutes into the fourth quarter with a goal on another assist by Grinnell, but the Tigers' defense refused to crack.
Game winner
With six minutes remaining in the game, Casino scored the eventual game-winning to put Princeton up, 9-7. After a lengthy Tiger possession following the face-off, Coffin gave the Big Green their last breath of hope with a goal at 3:07. Despite two more desperate shots, Dartmouth would score no more, and Princeton recovered the ball for a final unassisted goal by Boyle in the last minute of the game.
At the same time the Tigers were fighting to save their season in Hanover, a game was taking place two states over which had the potential to affect the Princeton's season almost as much. That game, being played in Ithaca, N.Y. between Cornell and Brown, was also a contest between one of the two teams tied for first in the Ivies and one of the two teams in second place.
Despite a 7-1 run late in the game by Brown, Cornell pulled out its fourth consecutive one-goal victory, 10-9, to clinch at least a share of the Ivy League championship.
With Cornell's win, Princeton must defeat Brown next weekend to earn its tenth straight first-place finish.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.