Men's Lacrosse: Tigers take 3-game win streak to Providence

In Princeton’s (5-2 overall, 2-0 Ivy League) most recent matchup against Yale, senior attackman Alex Capretta gave the Tigers an edge in the fifth overtime off of a pass from junior midfielder Tucker Shanley. In addition to the game-winning goal, Capretta tallied two other goals and an assist. The added stats gave Capretta 15 points so far this season after he earned a total of 10 in his first three seasons combined. Last Saturday marked the longest game in both programs’ histories.

The Tigers overcame the Bears (3-4, 0-1) last year in another marathon game, prevailing with a 5-4 victory in four overtimes. Shanley stepped up as a key player that game, scoring his second goal 1:04 into the fourth extra period at Class of 1952 Stadium. Last year, Princeton desperately needed to salvage its season after four straight losses in early-season play, but the Tigers are a healthier, stronger and more mature team this year.

Viewers of the Tiger-Bear matchup rarely witness high-scoring games; only one meeting in the past 20 years between the two rivals ended with both teams reaching double digits in goals (Princeton 12, Brown 10 in 2002). Princeton leads the all-time series against Brown 28-21 and has met its Rhode Island foe fewer times than any other Ivy League team.

The two teams have not faced a common opponent thus far in the season, but Brown lacks a win in the Ivy League while Princeton has captured two total, downing Penn and Yale. Both of those victories avenged 2011 defeats, including an 11-4 rout of Penn on March 17.

Senior All-America goalie Tyler Fiorito has allowed 7.29 goals per game this season, the best in the Ivy League. Brown’s Will Round holds a higher goals against average of 8.77 in his six games in the net, but his save rate is slightly higher at .542, while Fiorito’s percentage is .521, showing the strength of Princeton’s defensive unit. Senior defenseman Chad Wiedmaier leads the team with 14 caused turnovers out of a team total of 59. The third senior captain in a defensive role, longstick midfielder John Cunningham, tied for second on the team in caused turnovers last year and earned a draft spot in Major League Lacrosse with the Denver Outlaws.

Offensively, Princeton has made 54 assists this season and 76 goals, while Brown has scored just 59 goals. The Tigers have assisted 71 percent of their scores, compared to 54 percent by the Bears. Nick Piroli deserves attention on the attack end, as he earned the Ivy League co-Rookie of the Week after the Bears thrashed Vermont 14-5 last week. Piroli scored four goals and added an assist against the Catamounts. Against Duke, he scored two more times to bring his season total to 14.

Capturing a 3-0 standing in the Ivy League is critical to Princeton’s NCAA Tournament aspirations. After regular-season play, the Ivy League Tournament invites four teams to compete for an automatic bid to the 16-team NCAAs; three wins would give Princeton a great chance of finishing in the top four. The Tigers won the first Ivy League Tournament title in 2010 but did not qualify last year.

The Tigers will hit the road once again the following week, facing No. 14 Syracuse on April 7. Princeton has topped two ranked opponents already this season, Hofstra and Villanova.