FINISHING TOUCH: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy heads to goal in a game last year. Junior attacker Mackesy, who set a program record with 55 goals last year, figures to be the go-to finisher again for the Tigers this spring. No. 11 Princeton starts its 2024 campaign by playing at Monmouth on February 17 and then hosting Manhattan on February 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With nine of its senior stars from last season having entered the transfer portal to finish their college careers as graduate students at other schools, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse program is currently stocking such powers as Duke, Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and Michigan.

But while the exodus of such talent leaves a void for Princeton as it heads into the 2024 campaign, the cupboard is hardly bare for the Tigers as they welcome back a mix of battle-tested veterans and a stellar incoming freshman class that has been ranked No. 1 by Inside Lacrosse.

Princeton head coach Matt Madalon, who led the Tigers to an 8-7 record last year as they won the Ivy League tournament and fell 13-12 to Penn State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, believes his newcomers can make an immediate impact.

“The freshman class is really talented,” said Madalon, whose squad plays at Monmouth on February 17 in its season opener and then hosts Manhattan on February 20.

“We have some young attackmen playing. It has got a boatload of midfielders that are stepping in, it has a three-man defensive midfield crew. It has some really impressive poles and a good goalie. It is a really nice complete class.”

In its opening scrimmage against Villanova, the Tigers worked through some kinks as they incorporated the new faces.

“It was a good learning experience, just to get guys out there and play,” said Madalon, whose team is ranked No. 11 in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. “It was a little sloppy from our vantage point from a coaches’ view. This week has been a good week of practice. We are back on the horse, back in the film rooms, just trying to develop our systems. We are not buttoned up yet, we are in the process.”

In the wake of the first round exit in the NCAA tournament last spring, the Tigers are focused on getting back there for a third straight season.

“I think naturally there is always a hunger,” said Madalon, who guided the Tigers to the NCAA semis in 2022. “Once you taste that for the last couple of years, it becomes the expectation and standard.”

The squad’s three senior captains — goalie Michael Gianforcaro, attackman Bear Lockshin, and defenseman Pace Billings — have been setting a high standard.

“There is no better representations of Princeton lacrosse, all three personalities complement each other very well,” said Madalon. “All three are the truest of competitors. Just chip on your shoulder guys, hungry guys. They bring the intensity, set the tone. They have been doing a nice job for our program.”

Junior attacker Coulter Mackesy, who set a program record last year with 55 goals along with 23 assists, has been doing a great job leading the Tiger offense.

“Now that he is a junior, he is stepping into that role like offensive coordinator on the field,” said Madalon. “His relationship with coach [Jim] Mitchell has really grown. His command and maturity around the Xs and Os and his understanding of that continues to get better. His awareness of how to use his skill and his teammates is really impressive to watch. He is a really talented young guy, tough and durable. He is a team-first guy, he doesn’t care who scores.”

Two of the prized freshmen, Nate Kabiri and Colin Burns, should be starting on attack. “They are doing a really nice job,” said Madalon. “Kabiri is a really highly touted kid coming out of high school. He is really talented, he is really crafty. He has gotten better every single time he has stepped on the field.”

Such battle-tested veterans as junior Braedon Saris (5 goals, 6 assists in 2023), junior Jack Ringhofer (7 goals, 1 assist), and senior Lukas Stanat (10 goals, 10 assists) have been stepping up on attack.

“Those are all guys who have played great roles for us as underclassmen, now as they turn into upperclassmen, we are looking for them to lead the way with experience and perspective,” said Madalon. “Those are some guys who have been in some big moments before. They have executed but they also understand what it takes to get there in training and skill development. It is great for the young guys. Stewardship is really important in our program to get the young guys off the block. All of those guys are such experienced veterans, not only system-wise but program philosophy so they have been great.”

In the midfield, junior Sean Cameron (16 goals, 5 assists), senior Tommy Barnds (8 goals, 7 assists), sophomore Chad Palumbo (2 goals), sophomore John Dunphey (5 goals, 3 assists), sophomore Quinn Krammer, and sophomore Jackson Kane should provide some firepower.

“Cameron and Tommy Barnds are stepping up as is Jackson Kane,” said Madalon.

“Chad Palumbo is stepping into a nice role, he is doing a nice job there as is Quinn Krammer. Those are two sophomores who hope to take a big leap this year.”

The freshmen group figures to make a big impact in the midfield.

“Tucker Wade along with Brady Upton, Carson Krammer, Jake Todd, and Mark Marino, that is the offensive freshman crew,” said Madalon. “Cooper Mueller, Owen Fischer, and Jackson Green are three really big high-level, multi-sport athletes that will be in the defensive midfield. Fischer and Mueller are high level high school basketball players. Jackson Green is a wide receiver on our football team. That is the hardest position on the field. They are going to continue to learn and get better, that should be great for us.”

Sophomore Andrew McMeekin (90-183 on face-offs last year), senior Tyler Sandoval (48-107), and junior Koby Ginder (61-136) give the Tigers depth at the face-off X.

“We will still do a little bit of a rotation this year,” said Madalon. “McMeekin comes in, Tyler returns from an injury, and Koby is a great piece as well.”

Senior Billings (17 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers in 2023), junior Colin Mulshine  (19 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers), junior Michael Bath (18 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers),and sophomore Cooper Kistler (9 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers) along with freshmen Hunter Spiess and Jack Stahl will anchor the defensive unit for Princeton.

“Pace has been the mainstay down there along with Mulshine, they have taken steps forward and can be elite cover guys,” said Madalon, noting that sophomore Zach Friedman and sophomore Nick Crowley are excelling at the longstick midfield spot. “Guys like Cooper Kistler continue to make an incredible impact every day. Spiess and Stahl are two impressive guys who are going to fight for minutes immediately.”

In goal, senior Gianforcaro (10.61 goals against average and .577 save percentage in 2023) is looking impressive in the cage.

“Michael has been great, obviously he is a leader down there,” said Madalon, whose roster boasts two solid backup goalies in sophomore and former Hun School star Ryan Croddick and freshman Colin Vickrey. ”His intensity and his stature in the cage has been important. He has been great, we think he is one of the best goalies in the country. We want to do a good job in front of him to protect him. He is a really talented kid.”

With Princeton facing a gauntlet of road tests after the opening week of the season with games at Maryland on February 24, at North Carolina in March 1, at Duke on March 3, and at Rutgers on March 10, Madalon believes those contests will steel his squad for the Ivy campaign.

“The key to success for us is to continue to grow throughout the year,” said Madalon. “That is a big part of how we schedule as we get going in early in February and then we go right into a really heavy out of conference schedule. That way it sets us up well so when we get into the Ivy League, we have played some of the top teams in the country and then we are playing more of them in the Ivy League. it helps us continue to grow and learn. You always want your group to stay healthy and always play with a chip on their shoulder.”