After a career-high 15 saves in last week’s win over Yale, it seemed reasonable that sophomore goalie Tyler Fiorito might fall back to his average performance of just under eight saves per game. Fiorito, however, defied that logic with a new career high of 17 saves, as the men’s lacrosse team beat Brown 9-7 in a back-and-forth contest.
“I wasn’t very happy with the way I played at the beginning of the year,” Fiorito said of his improved performance. “Now I’m waiting on the game and not trying to do too much.”
No. 5 Princeton (7-1 overall, 3-0 Ivy League) broke open a 6-6 tie on a goal from junior attackman Chris McBride with just over five minutes left in the game. McBride’s score started a three-goal run, buoyed by goals from senior midfielder Paul Barnes and junior midfielder Tyler Moni, which put the game away.
No. 16 Brown (3-4, 1-1) outshot the Tigers 48-43, but Fiorito refused to let up. His big day included 12 saves in the second half, with eight in the final quarter. He also raised his save percentage to .534, from .455, and increased his saves-per-game average to almost 10.
“Tyler is the backbone of our team,” said junior attackman Jack McBride, who scored two goals in the game. “We want to hit our stride at the right time, and he has.”
The Bears entered the game averaging 12.7 goals per game, good for first in the Ivy League, but were held to their lowest output of the season. Saturday’s game marked the first time all season that Brown failed to score in double digits.
Part of the credit for the Tigers’ strong defensive performance goes to sophomore All-America defenseman Chad Wiedmaier, who limited one of Brown’s leading scorers, Thomas Muldoon, to just one goal. This was Wiedmaier’s second game back after missing the first half of the season with an injury.
His return has allowed his teammates to return to their traditional roles, as sophomore defenseman John Cunningham moved from defense to long-stick midfielder. The switch paid off, as Cunningham scored his second goal of the year in the first quarter.
“Now that Chad’s back, there’s less on my shoulders,” Fiorito said. “I can relax [and] be patient.”
Princeton’s game was the second of a doubleheader at the New England Lacrosse Classic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. In the first game, Ivy League power No. 6 Cornell lost in an 8-6 upset to Dartmouth, on the strength of 23 saves from Big Green goalie Fergus Campbell. Cornell’s loss leaves Princeton as the lone remaining team undefeated in conference play. Still, Fiorito said that the Tigers’ goal of running the table and winning the Ivy League title remains the same.
“Their loss gives us a little cushion, but we’re looking to win every game in the Ivy League,” Fiorito noted.
“I’d be lying if I said their loss wasn’t [a big deal],” Jack McBride said. “They’re always in the back of our heads in practice.”
Offensively, the Tigers received contributions from a variety of players on Saturday afternoon. Each of the McBride cousins, Chris and Jack, scored two goals to lead the way. Five different players scored one goal each, including the first of freshman midfielder Chris White’s career. Two others tallied an assist, with senior attackman Scott Mackenzie leading the way with two. Jack McBride said that head coach Chris Bates’s team-oriented offensive game-plan has paid major dividends this year.
“It’s tough for a defense to keep track of everyone when they all can score,” Jack McBride explained.
The Bears remained close for much of the game, led by two goals from attackman Andrew Feinberg. With scores tied at 1-1, 3-3, 5-5 and 6-6, the match was tight throughout. After Jack McBride scored a goal on a man-up opportunity to go up 6-5, Brown countered with a goal just five seconds later. The close game followed the theme of much of the Tigers’ season so far, as they have won their last three games by a total of four goals. Still, a win is a win.
“Close games can make or break a season,” Jack McBride said.
With five of Princeton’s wins this year coming by three goals or less, McBride’s words have never rung so true.
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