Men's Lacrosse: Princeton to face Cornell in Konica Minolta Big City Classic

The No. 12 men’s lacrosse team (8-4 overall, 3-2 Ivy League) will look to finish their season in style this Saturday, taking on No. 6 Cornell (11-2, 5-0) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The two Ivy League opponents will renew their storied rivalry to kick off the Konica Minolta Big City Classic. While the average fan might struggle to identify the sponsor’s industry, the eyes of the lacrosse world will turn to the Meadowlands for this double header, which showcases four of the nation’s premier programs — No. 3 Notre Dame takes on No. 9 Syracuse later in the day.

In past years, Princeton and Cornell have dominated Ivy League lacrosse; combined, the two schools have 53 Ivy League titles. First facing off against the Big Red in 1922, the Tigers lead the series 38-33-2. Matchups of late have seen the teams trading wins back and forth, with Princeton coming out on top by a score of 14-9 last year while falling in the 2011 season’s conclusion 9-7. 2010 saw a tight pair of Princeton-Cornell matchups, the first favoring Cornell 10-9 while the second had Princeton emerging victorious to crown the Tigers the Ivy League tournament champions after a 10-9 overtime decision.

The Ivy League tournament will be taking place in Ithaca two weekends from now, and three of the four seeds remain undecided. Cornell, having clinched the regular season championship with last week’s win over Brown, will retain the top spot regardless of this weekend’s outcomes. The Tigers too have clinched a tournament berth. Should Princeton beat the Big Red, it will lock down the second seed. The Tigers would also earn the second seed regardless of the outcome of their match if Harvard defeats Yale this weekend. Harvard, Yale, and Penn all have a shot at earning the last two berths. Additionally, a Princeton win at MetLife could bolster an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament should they fail to win the Ivy tournament.

Even with a noteworthy history and an imminent postseason, Princeton’s players have their focus on the game at hand.

“To be honest, I — and I think the team feels the same way — haven’t looked at any of that,” freshman midfielder Jake Froccaro said when asked about consideration of potential seeding. “We’re really just focused on winning this game. Whatever seed we get in the tournament, it really doesn’t matter to us. We’re going to have to face a very good Ivy League opponent.”

Last week, Princeton routed Harvard 14-6 in a win that helped solidify the Tigers’ positive mindset.

“Right now, we’re confident coming off a Harvard win,” senior captain and midfielder Chris White said. “But you don’t want to get too confident too early. I think we suffered from that a little bit earlier in the year. We’re humbly approaching the game, but at the same time, you have to walk on to the field with confidence and be prepared to dominate all facets.”

The Tigers will look to build momentum in overcoming the red hot Big Red. This will be no easy task, considering the particular array of talent Ithaca boasts. Cornell’s captain Rob Pannell has dazzled the NCAA with his play. His three-point effort against Brown won him a place in the record book as the Ivy League’s all-time leading scorer. His fellow senior Steve Mock leads the conference this year with 41 goals. Still, White explained that the Tigers will not succumb to the hype.

“Like you said, they’re a talented bunch,” he said. “But their systems aren’t that complicated. With guys like Pannell you just need to contain and limit their opportunities.”

Freshman midfielder Austin deButts explained that the defense plans to stick with what’s been working, adding, “We’re trying to stay with our fundamentals. We’re not trying to fit our game to their playing styles as much as focus on what we do.”

Princeton has proven this season that it should be feared when the ball is in its sticks. Junior captain and All-America midfielder Tom Schreiber has earned a place among the nation’s best through smart, athletic, and creative play, and he leads a versatile offensive cast brimming with talent and poise.

The Tigers’ assault starts with midfielders Schreiber, Jake Froccaro and sophomore Kip Orban. According to Froccaro, those three have had success this season dodging from anywhere on the field. The trio of starting attackmen — senior Jeff Froccaro, sophomore Mike McDonald and freshman Ryan Ambler — will look to find the goal early and often. White feels that this front six can have a big impact.

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

“I think we can really exploit their defense,” he said. “If you look at the last couple of years, I think every year I’ve been here they’ve pulled their goalie at some point. I think we can score on this team.”

Jake Froccaro earned his second Ivy League Rookie of the Week honor against Harvard, leading the team in points with three goals and two assists. His standout freshman season bodes well for the Tigers future. When asked to explain the keys to his offensive success, he noted the finesse that characterizes his style.

“I’m not the biggest guy, but I’m always using my body, whether it’s leaning to a guy or rolling away,” he explained. “And I think I’m savvy around the goal — or savvy enough — to finish when I need to and feed when I need to.”

Team health has proven no small factor this season, with injuries befalling a number of impact players. Ambler rejoined the offense last week. With junior midfielder Jack Strabo and sophomore defenseman Alex Beatty possibly returning to action, Princeton could finally be at full muster. Jake Froccaro noted that the Strabo’s return — in spite of noteworthy contributions by others — should shore up a thinned out defensive end.

“Having Jack back is definitely great for us from a leadership standpoint as well as his being a great player," Jake Froccaro said.

The leadership on this year’s squad is unmistakable. When asked to comment on his role as captain, White explained, “It’s pretty amazing. It’s an honor. It was probably the most flattering thing that’s ever happened to me to have people you care about elect you to that position. Right now it’s much more day-to-day. But I’m sure one day when all’s said and done, I’ll look back and be pretty awe-inspired.”