Tigers look to top Rutgers for first time in a decade

Over the past decade, the men's soccer team has had its share of successes. Princeton has won two Ivy League titles, received three bids to the NCAA tournament and seen several players advance into the professional and national team ranks. But in those same 10 years, there is one task the Tigers have never accomplished: defeating instate rival Rutgers.

This Wednesday's match at Lourie-Love Field will renew the longest rivalry in men's collegiate soccer when the Tigers (3-3 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) take on the Scarlett Knights (2-6, 1-3 Big East) in the teams' 51st meeting since 1942. Princeton hopes to use the match to avenge its two most recent losses to Rutgers in a rivalry that has spanned 63 years.

In 2002, the Tigers suffered one of their worst losses in team history when they dropped a 7-1 match to the Scarlet Knights. At the time, the blowout was the team's worst loss since 1972 and put an unsightly blemish on an otherwise solid season. The game's only bright spot was the play of then-freshman forward Darren Spicer, who scored Princeton's lone goal.

The following year saw another decisive game go into Rutgers' win column. Though the scoring gap narrowed, with the Scarlet Knights taking the match 3-1, the Tigers were outgunned offensively, getting off only eight shots to Rutgers' 24. The team once again found a silver lining, this time in the play of then-sophomore goalie Bobby Guelich, who was able to rein in the potent offense displayed by the Scarlet Knights in his first career start.

In the two years since Princeton and Rutgers last met, many things have changed: juniors and seniors have graduated, new players have arrived to take their places and even the Tigers' tactics have evolved. But for Princeton, two vital pieces remain in place: senior captain Spicer and senior goalie Guelich.

In the past six games, Spicer has continued the exceptional play that earned him the 2004 Ivy League Player of the Year award. His strong performances against Adelphi and Drexel led to Ivy League Player of the Week honors and, more importantly, to two Princeton victories. He currently leads the Tigers with four goals and nine points, both of which put him second in the league.

Meanwhile, after seeing limited action his first three seasons, Guelich finally has the box all to himself. He has quickly established himself as one of the best in the league, limiting opponents to less than one goal per game and tallying shutouts in each of his last two starts.

If Spicer and Guelich can continue their strong play, then Princeton may just be able to earn its first victory against the Scarlet Knights and improve its record above .500 for the first time this season. Any momentum the team could accrue would be a valuable bonus: Ivy League play begins Sunday in Hanover, N.H.