For the first time in Ivy League history, a team finished regular-season conference play without conceding a single goal. Princeton men’s soccer, ranked No. 3 nationally, shut out every opponent they faced on their way to the Ivy League Title.
“Shutouts in general really speak to the team’s overall commitment to defending and outworking opponents,” junior goalkeeper Andrew Samuels wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “[B]ut to do it to every team is truly mind-blowing.”
Princeton didn’t overwhelm opponents with huge scorelines this season, averaging slightly under two goals a game, and their highest showing at four goals coming against Yale. Instead, a dominant defensive performance — shaped by team chemistry, strong organization, a fierce mentality, and a defense that sprawled the entire field — proved largely responsible for Princeton’s incredible success this season.
“If you’re not getting after it defensively, you’re going to be giving up goals left and right,” head coach Jim Barlow ’91 told the ‘Prince.’
Barlow stresses both active pressing and proactive defending, which he dubs “rest defense.” The goal is not simply chasing the ball, Barlow explained, but “to take away where that guy wants to go.”
An unbeatable back line
The Tigers’ defensive success begins with an experienced, cohesive back line. Running a four-man setup, Princeton has kept its core largely intact for the past two seasons: sophomore Dash Papez and senior Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch anchoring the center, flanked by sophomore Roka Tsunehara and senior Jack Jasinski on the outside. Behind them, Samuels provides a steady presence in goal.
Those five have played the most minutes for the Tigers this season. That continuity has built strong chemistry and a fluid understanding within Princeton’s defensive core.
“We know each other’s tendencies, where each other like to have the ball in certain situations, and where guys are comfortable,” Jasinski told the ‘Prince’.
When Tsunehara often steps up to intercept a pass, for example, the other three defenders instinctually shift to cover the space he’s left behind. Beyond instinct, active communication and organization between the defenders aid their formidable defense.
“[Samuels] does a very good job helping the guys with the rest defense ... and helping them know what might happen when the ball turns over,” Barlow said.
“Whitchurch and Papez are also both very good at keeping the back four connected,” he said, noting how they direct teammates to close gaps between the defenders and midfield to keep the team “compact and connected.”
“I think we’ve gotten really good at keeping the lines tight,” Jaskinski noted. “It means we’re more organized, and then when we do win the ball, we have more guys around us to play it out and make things happen.”
And when teams do break through, Samuels has been nearly unbeatable. The junior leads the nation in save percentage (goals conceded divided by number of saves). After only surrendering five goals in eighteen games, he was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
His biggest moments have come under pressure, including three penalty saves this season, one of which preserved Princeton’s clean sheet in the Ivy League Tournament final.
Full field buy-in
Princeton’s forwards have also played key defensive roles. At the top of the pitch, senior forward Danny Ittycheria, junior forward Bardia Hormozi, and first-year forward Jackson Martin relentlessly pursue the ball, pressuring the opposing defense. The work rate of the forwards is a critical feature of the Tiger defense.
“[I’ve] never really pressed and ran as much as I have at Princeton,” said Ittycheria, who has scored nine goals so far this year.
The entire team has bought into this mentality, with every single member of the Tigers embracing the responsibility to limit the opposition’s options and go after the ball to regain possession for the Tigers.
“It takes a lot of the pressure off of the defense,” Jasinski explained. “It’s not like we’re getting pelted with balls and attacks for the full 90 minutes.”
Winning the ball closer to goal creates chances without needing to break down an entire defense.
“So many of [Ittycheria and Hormozi’s] chances come from them stepping into passing lanes, pressing, winning loose balls up the field and then getting somewhere with some urgency,” Barlow said said.
A mentality shift
The defensive prowess is a reflects the fierce work ethic, hunger, and intense focus that the Tigers bring to every aspect of the game.
“We’ve only given up one goal in the run of play,” he said. “And that’s all about checking your mark and knowing where you are, not taking breaks.”
That focus and intensity begin in training, where individual efforts push the entire squad’s level. Barlow highlighted senior defenders Stephan Duncan and Ian MacIver and junior defender Sebastian Swary — players who may not see game minutes — for setting the tone in practice with their relentless intensity and work ethic.
“Even the guys that aren’t playing show up every day to training, give their max effort and not just keep the level up, but really raise it,” Jasinski added.
This mentality carries through to the game. For the Tigers, every match is do-or-die.
“We’ve treated every game up to this point like it’s a final,” Whitchurch said. “Our energy and focus going into every game has been as if that one game means everything for our season.”
Looking forward
Princeton earned the overall No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a bye in the first round. They are set to face Duke at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium on Sunday, where their formidable back line will face yet another test.
“I’m hungry for more records, more wins, and more championships,” Samuels said.
Papez echoed this sentiment. “I want people to remember this year’s Princeton team as the best team in Princeton men’s soccer history.”
Leila Eshaghpour-Silberman is a staff Sports writer and contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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