Web Update: Rain-soaked Tigers extinguish Crimson

While Princeton’s motto might read “Dei sub numine viget” — “Under God’s light she flourishes” — on Saturday, it was God’s rain that aided the men’s lacrosse team to a key Ivy League victory. Princeton (6-4 overall, 3-0 Ivy)’s 9-8 overtime win over Harvard (4-6, 0-3) featured almost two different games, linked by a rainstorm that Cambridge residents and Harvard fans will remember for ages.

Statistically, Princeton’s chances did not look good at the start of the game, as the Tigers had been winless on the road this season. Having never led in any of those losses this season, Princeton found itself down less than four minutes into the game, when Harvard midfielder Francis Ellis snuck one by senior goalie Alex Hewit.

Playing without star junior midfielder Mark Kovler, who broke his ankle earlier in the week in practice, the Tigers looked lackadaisical on offense and couldn’t seem to find their rhythm. In the first three quarters, freshman attack Jack McBride and senior attack Bob Schneider provided the only offense for Princeton with two goals apiece. After 45 minutes of play, Harvard had built a 7-4 lead and looked to be on the verge of breaking a 17-game losing streak against the Tigers.

That’s when the weather intervened. The sun suddenly took refuge behind dark clouds, and the Cambridge sky unleashed up a downpour for the down and stricken Tiger attack.

“I don’t really want to say it was supernatural or anything,” head coach Bill Tierney said. “It was just one of those crazy weird happenings. But I don’t think it affected anybody’s game physically. All the guys were desperate as it is, and the rain just heightened that desperation.

“I don’t know if it affected Harvard at all, it’s hard to tell. It was just one of those really freaky things that people will talk about. “

Less than seven minutes into the fourth quarter, senior attack Alex Haynie scored off a junior attack Tommy Davis assist to bring the Tigers within two. Each of Haynie’s seven goals this season have come in the fourth quarter. After winning the ensuing faceoff, the Tigers took two quick shots, but both were directed right at goalie Joe Pike.

Two minutes later, however, senior midfielder Pete Striebel found Davis, who zoomed the ball by Pike to bring the score to 6-7.

Harvard came up with a big answer, as midfielder Jeff Wannop immediately retaliated. With four minutes, 58 seconds remaining in regulation, Princeton trailed 6-8, battling both the Crimson ‘D’ and the clock to maintain its pristine Ivy League record.

With 2:04 left, Striebel once again found an open Davis, and Princeton’s junior offensive leader found the twine, bringing Princeton within one. Senior midfielder and faceoff man Alex Berg came up huge for the Tigers by winning 15 of 21 faceoffs — but none more important than the one after Davis’ goal.

Princeton called timeout with 1:49 left to set up the offense. With the rain beating down on Jordan Field and a drenched 1,601 Crimson faithful watching expectantly, junior midfielder Rich Sgalardi found Schneider, who beat his man and scored with 1:20 on the clock.

As the Tigers headed into the four minute sudden-death overtime period, head coach Bill Tierney needed one final heroic play from his squad. He got two in return.

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All-American goalie Hewit produced the first play, making a crucial save on Harvard midfielder Zach Widbin’s rasping shot.

Schneider provided the final heroics, firing past Pike for the game winner and his career-high fourth goal of the game. Sgalardi provided the assists in both of Schneider’s scores in the comeback run.

In addition to Schneider, McBride’s two early goals kept the Tigers in the game. Davis’ two key goals in the fourth quarter fueled the comeback, while Streibel and Sgalardi combined for six assists in the contest.

The transformation that took place at the start of the fourth quarter seemed to have arisen as suddenly and unexpectedly as the rain. The motivation that fueled Princeton’s comeback, however, had unusual roots for the perennial power.

“It wasn’t me at all — it was their total desperation. They knew they could not lose this game,” Tierney said.

The defense played consistently throughout the game. Solid man-on-man defense forced numerous Crimson turnovers as Hewit — per usual — recorded some key saves. For the second straight game, senior defenseman Dan Cocoziello shut out the best attacker for the opposing team. Everywhere Crimson’s star midfielder Jason Duboe turned, one of the nation’s top defenseman was there waiting for him.

The Tigers, however, have the misfortune of playing the rest of the season without Kovler, who led the Tigers with 16 goals coming into the Harvard game. His absence will be tangible in future games.

“Mark is the hardest working playing we have on our team,” Tierney said. “We can count on him to stretch the defense, and we’re not the same without him. On the other hand, it’s an opportunity for others to step up.”