Offense produces many shots, only six goals

Much of what has been said about this year's men's lacrosse team has been about its new fast-paced offense. In Saturday's double-overtime, 7-6 loss to Johns Hopkins, Princeton fired 43 times, including 23 times on goal and several more off the pipes. So what was the problem?

The Tigers only scored six goals.

"When you work as hard as we do and as hard as we have, and we still can't throw the ball in the goal," head coach Bill Tierney said, "it's discouraging."

Princeton outshot Johns Hopkins, 43-35, but it was junior goalie Alex Hewit with 10 saves and his Blue Jay counterpart Jesse Schwartzman with 17 who stole the show. Both net-minders were forced to make spectacular stops and seemed to be trading saves with each other at times during the match.

"I thought both goaltenders were fabulous," Tierney said. "[Schwartzman] made some great saves. I think we're going in the right direction but eventually you've got to throw the ball in the goal."

While Schwartzman deserves credit for his spectacular play, Princeton missed several key opportunities that could have won the game. Late in the second quarter, sophomore midfielder Mark Kovler received a pass to the right of the goal and had an uncontested look at the net from less than five yards out. Kovler, a natural lefty, ripped a right-handed shot that seem destined for the back of the net before being caromed coolly by Schwartzman.

"[Schwartzman] crushed us," Tierney said, "especially in that second quarter."

The Tigers also saw several good chances during the first overtime period.

After winning the initial face-off, Princeton held the ball for over three minutes in the Hopkins zone and produced three shots. One, a whistler from sophomore midfielder Josh Lesko, sailed long, and another — the Tigers' best chance of the period — was an attempt from seven yards out by junior attack Alex Haynie that bounced off a defender's helmet.

"If Alex scores that goal, we're the ones sitting here with smiles on our faces," Tierney said.

But the question remains whether the lack of goal production — a recurring theme against top competition last year — is part of growing pains with the new offense or simply a frustrating inability to put the ball in the net. Two of the team's stars saw it as the latter.

"It means nothing if we don't score goals," sophomore attack Tommy Davis said. "It has nothing to do with how the offense is structured. We had our opportunities."

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"I think we're very comfortable with [the offense]," senior midfielder and tri-captain Scott Sowanick said. "The offense we put in is much more natural, it's not as set."

With the offense producing plenty of shots but few goals, one might think the Tigers would work on shooting in practice this week.

"Yeah, you think? The trouble is we've been working on shooting all year," Tierney said. "You can shoot the ball a million miles an hour with these sticks, but when it takes you a while to get it out the goalie can get a good read on it, and the defense can get on it."

Princeton's defense was stifling as usual.

The Tigers limited the Blue Jays' chances in their offensive sets, leaving few shots uncontested and forcing several poor, low-angle attempts from the outside.

During the first half especially, the majority of Johns Hopkins' best chances came in the transition game.

"I thought our defense played really well on those guys," Tierney said. "But if you hold a team to six goals you expect to win."

While it is certain the men's lacrosse team will work hard in practice after such a heartbreaking loss, what is uncertain is which offense will show up against Virginia next weekend.

Will it be the one that managed only six goals against the Blue Jays or the explosive unit that lit up Canisius for 18 in Princeton's season-opener?

How the offense fares against another top team will be indicative of how far it will be able to take the team come the tournament in May.