Around the Ivy League: Lacrosse

After a disappointing loss to Hofstra on March 14, the Orange and Black comfortably defeated No. 20 Albany (6-4) before trouncing Rutgers (4-8) and Yale (5-5, 1-3).

The Tigers then entered a more daunting stretch, facing defending national champion Syracuse, Penn and Harvard. The then-No. 2 Orange (12-2) looked to be a formidable opponent for the Tigers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. In front of a record-breaking crowd of more than 22,000 spectators, Princeton displayed incredible tenacity and topped Syracuse 12-8.

Three days later, the Tigers went to Franklin Field to face Penn (3-7, 2-4). Perhaps still reveling in their weekend victory, or perhaps looking ahead to a showdown with Harvard, the Tigers were nearly upset by a feisty Quaker squad. Penn outshot Princeton 33-23, but senior attack Tommy Davis scored with four minutes, 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, before adding the game-winner 90 seconds into the extra period.

Returning home for the weekend showdown with then-No. 15 Harvard (5-4, 1-2), the Tigers knew another test was on the way. After three quarters, Princeton looked to protect an 8-5 lead. Halfway through the fourth, the Orange and Black was comfortably up 9-6. Two Harvard scores in the span of 90 seconds, however, left the Tigers with a one-goal lead. Sophomore attack Jack McBride found the net with 1:58 remaining, putting the Tigers up 10-8 for good.

Looking ahead, Princeton will have its hands full, traveling to No. 4 Cornell this weekend for a Saturday showdown in Ithaca, N.Y. Then the Tigers will finish the season at home, facing Dartmouth and No. 14 Brown on subsequent Saturdays.

Brown (9-2, 2-1)

Ranked No. 11 for much of the season, the Bears ran off an eight-game winning streak before last weekend’s showdown with Penn. Just as Penn gave Princeton trouble a week earlier, Brown suffered a disappointing loss to the unranked Quakers, dropping the Bears to No. 14. Brown has a tough road ahead of it, facing Harvard and Cornell before finishing the Ivy season with Princeton.

Cornell (8-2, 4-0)

The other power of the Ivy League, Cornell is ranked No. 1 nationally by laxpower.com’s computer-generated rankings. The Big Red, currently tied for the No. 4 ranking with Syracuse in the coaches poll, have big games with Princeton and Brown left in its Ivy season.

Dartmouth (3-8, 0-3)

The Big Green has struggled for much of the season. Its record, however, reflects poorly on its play. Dartmouth has lost half of its games by three goals or fewer. Dartmouth should have a chance to record its first Ivy League win when it faces Yale this weekend.

Harvard (5-4, 1-2)

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A squad that figures to contend for third in the Ivy League at this point, Harvard suffered one-goal losses to both Princeton and Cornell each of the last two weekends. Having fallen all the way to No. 17 nationally, the Crimson has a must-win game against No. 14 Brown if they are to make up ground in the standings.

Penn (3-7, 2-4)

A pesky team known for its delaying tactics, the Quakers have made a name for themselves holding on to the ball and extending possessions throughout the 2009 campaign. That tactic has worked particularly well for Penn, which nearly toppled the Tigers before it scored a huge upset over then-No. 11 Brown.

Yale (5-5, 1-3)

The Bulldogs, mired in a frustrating year, will contend with Dartmouth to stay out of the Ivy cellar. Yale has struggled to compete with stronger Ivy League competition, losing to Princeton, Cornell and Brown already this season.