NOT FOR THE MEEK: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Andrew McMeekin, left, goes after a face-off in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore McMeekin won 20-of-26 face-offs and scooped up 17 ground balls to help Princeton defeat Yale 15-8 and clinch a spot in the Ivy League Tournament. He was later named the Ivy Defensive Player of the Week. Second-seeded Princeton will have a rematch with third-seeded Yale in one semifinal on May 3 in Ithaca, N.Y. The victor will advance to the final on May 5 to face the winner of the other semi clash between top-seeded Cornell and fourth-seeded Penn. The champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Matt Madalon vowed that his Princeton University men’s lacrosse team would put its nose to the grindstone as it prepared to play at Yale last Saturday, knowing that a win would clinch a spot in the Ivy League Tournament.

“We have an opportunity to solidify that,” said Princeton head coach Madalon, whose squad also faced the possibility of getting get shut out of the four-team tourney if it lost to Yale and Brown beat Harvard. “We are going to put all of our effort into these next five days of practice.”

That effort paid dividends as No. 13 Princeton jumped out to a 9-4 lead over the No. 8 Bulldogs by halftime and never looked back on the way to a comprehensive 15-8 triumph.

Junior star attacker Coulter Mackesy sparked the Tiger offense, scoring five goals as Princeton improved to 9-4 overall and 4-2 Ivy. Sophomore Andrew McMeekin played a key role in the win, securing possession for the Tiger most of the day as he won 20 of 26 face-offs and scooped up 17 ground balls. Senior goalie Michael Gianforcaro made 16 saves as he helped shut down a Yale attack that came into the day averaging 16.54 goals a game.

Mackesy was later named the Ivy Offensive Player of the Week while McMeekin was selected as the Ivy Defensive Player of the Week.

By virtue of the victory, Princeton earned the No. 2 seed in the Ivy tourney and will have a rematch with third-seeded Yale (11-3 overall, 4-2 Ivy) in one semifinal on May 3 in Ithaca, N.Y. The victor will advance to the final on May 5 to face the winner of the other semi clash between top-seeded Cornell (9-4 overall, 5-1 Ivy) and fourth-seeded Penn (8-5 overall, 4-2 Ivy). The champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

While the Princeton women’s lax team clinched its spot in the Ivy tourney weeks ago, it got a good tune-up for postseason intensity as it edged Harvard 18-17 in overtime last Saturday in Cambridge, Mass.

Rallying from a 15-12 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, the No. 18 Tigers outscored the No. 25 Crimson 5-2 over the last 15 minutes of regulation to force overtime. Junior attacker McKenzie Blake score the game-winner in OT to cap a five-goal performance as Princeton improved to 10-5 overall and 6-1 Ivy.

The Tigers earned the No. 2 seed in the Ivy tourney and will face third-seeded Penn (12-3 overall, 5-2 Ivy) in a semifinal clash on May at New Haven, Conn. The victor will advance to the title game on May 5 to face the winner of other semi which pits top-seeded Yale (13-2 overall, 7-0 Ivy) against fourth-seeded Harvard (10-4 overall, 4-3 Ivy). The champion will earn the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

After Princeton defeated Dartmouth 17-11 on April 20 in its home finale, Tiger head coach Jenn Cook asserted that her squad was primed for a big postseason run.

“I think we could turn some heads in the Ivy tournament,” said Cook. “I also think we could make a really phenomenal run in the NCAA tournament as well. It is continuing to grow, continuing to play connected.”