Law, Larkin battle for playing time

Despite having replaced junior goalie Dave Law with senior goalie Matt Larkin in two of the men's lacrosse team's first three games, head coach Bill Tierney is far from declaring an early season goalie controversy.

A year ago, the idea of a goalie controversy would have seemed ridiculous. Law started every game last year for the Tigers, the first Princeton goalie to do so since 1995. Law posted a .529 save percentage and 7.76 goals against average on the season; the goals against average ranked 10th in Division-I.

Larkin, on the other hand, saw action in only four games last year, recording a .533 save percentage and 10.58 goals against average in 79 minutes of play.

This spring, though, the choice to start Law was by no means clearcut.

"This year David won the job because he was the incumbent and was still playing really well," Tierney said "But the gap between the two was miniscule, and Matty has been playing really well."

Larkin first saw action when Tierney pulled Law from the Johns Hopkins game at the end of the first quarter. At the time, Hopkins led, 4-0, and the game had the potential to get out of hand.

He next saw the field against Hofstra, when Tierney took Law out with five minutes remaining in the third quarter after the Pride scored its second consecutive goal to tie the game at seven.

"[Against Hopkins] it wasn't David's fault at all, but I felt like, 'let's try and stop them just by having a different look,'" Tierney said. "With Hofstra, I really thought Matty could win the game for us because he's been playing so well."

Tierney credits Larkin for his commitment to the team despite having spent the first three seasons on the bench. But he makes it clear that Larkin's improved play is the reason he has been seeing time on the field in important situations.

Third wheel

The situation is further complicated by a third able goalie on the roster: freshman Alex Hewit, one of the most sought-after high school goalies in the country a year ago.

"We've got this third kid [Hewitt] who is totally different — he's a left-hander, he's a freshman — and right now he's playing as well as the other two," Tierney said. "You may see all three of them in the next couple weeks."

The availability of three equally competent goalies gives Tierney strategic options and reliable backups in case a switch is needed, but he admits that it's not always the best for the team.

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"It's a nice dilemma, but it's one you hope you can settle in on so that the team can get some stability to it," Tierney said.

While the goalie situation might be a dilemma, calling it a controversy may be an overstatement.

Tierney commends the attitudes of both Larkin and Law and has faith that either player can be a positive force on the field and contribute to a Princeton victory.

Tierney said he is unsure of his plans for this weekend, but don't be surprised — or unnerved — by who is between the pipes for the Tigers when the game is on the line.