Princeton to face off against red-hot Orange

This season, however, the historical powerhouse has found its way back to the top, and the No. 1 Orange hosts Princeton (4-3 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) at the Carrier Dome, where the team is unbeaten thus far.

Every player in a black and orange uniform will need to be physically and mentally ready to play for the Tigers to keep pace with what is arguably the best starting lineup in the nation. In its first game of the season, Syracuse (7-1) lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Virginia but has since won seven straight games.

Mike Leveille quarterbacks the Orange attack. He has notched 22 goals and 16 assists so far this season, putting him just one point short of his 2007 total. Leveille extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one point to 47 when he earned a hat trick in Syracuse’s most recent victory against No. 18 Loyola. In the win, the Orange’s talent-laden midfield contributed seven goals.

What makes Syracuse’s attacking six most lethal is their explosive ability. Syracuse is currently outshooting its opponents this season by 141 shots. Its offense is also incredibly balanced, as shown in the third quarter against Loyola, when six different Orange players scored. The Tiger defense will also need to be wary of midfielder Steven Brooks, who has made a habit of scoring big-time goals this season. Brooks has already given Syracuse two overtime wins with his late-game heroics.

John Galloway will be formidable for the Orange between the pipes. Despite his youth and inexperience, the freshman goalie beat out two-year starter Peter Coluccini for the job this season and has been remarkably consistent.

Should the Tigers find a way to win tomorrow, their shot at playing in the postseason would be greatly improved.

“In light of the Albany loss, each and every game is so much more important,” head coach Bill Tierney said. “Certainly a victory this weekend would put us right back in the hunt with all the big boys. [Syracuse] is the number-one big step.”

Junior attack Tommy Davis, who currently leads his team in points with 21, has been Mr. Consistency for the Tigers over the past two seasons and will be expected to produce against Syracuse. Princeton will also rely heavily on junior midfielder Mark Kovler, who had a career day in last season’s victory over the Orange, tallying four goals and one assist.

The Tiger attack cannot depend wholly on Kovler and Davis, though. One factor that could tip the balance in Princeton’s favor is freshman attack Jack McBride, who has been a steady contributor this season, with seven goals to his name. Tierney said he feels McBride is on the verge of having a breakout performance, and if there were ever a good time to do it, tomorrow’s game would be it.

“We continue to be a work in progress,” Tierney said. “We’re still giving up some un-Princeton-like goals … We seem to lose our focus at times in games, and we have to be more consistent in our defensive play and take advantage of our offensive opportunities. But if we can continue the improvement we’ve shown from Albany to Rutgers to Yale, then [tomorrow] will be a great step for us.”

Crucial to preventing “un-Princeton-like” goals is senior goalie Alex Hewit. Though Hewit struggled earlier this season, his performances in the last two games were critical to Princeton’s wins and earned him Ivy League Player of the Week honors.

“A lot of people wanted to blame Alex for the losses [earlier in the season], and that certainly wasn’t the case,” Tierney said. “And now everybody wants to anoint him for the wins, and I think that was certainly part of the case. We’re thrilled that he is back in the fold. The fact that he’s better than most maybe is something we’ve been spoiled with, but that’s Alex.”

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Princeton’s recent wins against Rutgers and Yale have been two small steps toward its ultimate goals. If the Tigers find a way to halt Syracuse’s seemingly unstoppable win streak tomorrow, however, that victory would surely be a huge leap forward.