TWO GOOD: Princeton University men’s basketball players Caden Pierce, left, and Xaivian Lee got up for a rebound in a game last winter. The return of junior stars Pierce, the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year, and Lee, a fellow first-team All-Ivy selection, has the Tigers primed for another big campaign. Princeton, which went 24-5 overall and 12-2 Ivy last winter in winning its third straight league regular season title, opens its 2024-25 campaign by hosting Iona on November 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University men’s basketball team held its annual media day earlier this month in Jadwin Gym, junior stars Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce mugged for the cameras when asked to pose together for photos.

The one-two punch could have been broken up as Lee entered the NBA Draft process before deciding to return to Princeton and Pierce was a potential target of the transfer portal.

For Pierce, the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year, his connection with Lee, a fellow first-team All-Ivy selection, played a key role in him remaining with the Tigers. more

ROSY OUTLOOK: Princeton University women’s basketball player Madison St. Rose looks to dribble past a foe in action last season. Junior star guard St. Rose figures to be a go-to player this winter for Princeton. The Tigers, who went 25-5 overall and 13-1 Ivy League last winter on the way to a fifth straight Ivy Tournament championship, start their 2024-25 campaign by playing at Duquesne on November 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Madison St. Rose spent her summer in Philadelphia playing basketball against other college players.

It gave the Princeton University women’s basketball junior star more scrimmaging opportunities than she’d had the summer before when she returned to her Old Bridge home, plus more of a chance to build her game for her third year with the Tiger program. more

MURPHY’S LAW: Princeton University football player Dareion Murphy takes a handoff in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, junior running back Murphy rushed for 21 yards as Princeton fell 45-13 to Harvard. The Tigers, now 2-4 overall and 1-2 Ivy League, host Cornell (2-4 overall, 1-2 Ivy) on November 2. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

In its six contests against archrival Harvard between 2017-23, the Princeton University football team went undefeated, outscoring the Crimson by an average of 31.2-17 in those matchups.

As Princeton headed up to New England for its clash at Harvard on Saturday, Tiger head coach Bob Surace was cautiously optimistic that the winning streak would continue. more

HIP HIP HOORAY: Princeton University quarterback Blaine Hipa gets ready to unload the ball last Friday night against Brown. Junior Hipa completed 15-of-26 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another score as Princeton held off a late rally by the Bears to prevail 29-17 and improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 Ivy League. The Tigers play at Harvard (4-1 overall, 1-1 Ivy) on October 26. (Photo by Sideline Photos, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Blaine Hipa struggled in his first three career starts this fall for the Princeton University football team, completing 46 percent of his passes with nine interceptions and three touchdowns as the Tigers lost all three games.

As Princeton hosted Brown last Friday night, Hipa was primed to put that rough stretch behind him. more

MOMENT OF BRILLIANCE: Princeton University men’s soccer player Gabe Duchovny, left, goes after the ball in a 2023 game. Last Saturday, junior midfielder Duchovny scored the winning goal as Princeton rallied to edge Columbia 2-1. The Tigers, now 6-5 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, host Yale on October 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Gabe Duchovny wasn’t thinking about his shot or he might not have taken it.

It wasn’t a high percentage shot, but the junior midfielder couldn’t have hit his rocket from 30 yards any better for the game-winner in the Princeton University men’s soccer team’s 2-1 comeback win at Columbia on Saturday. more

TIGER LILY: Princeton University women’s soccer player Lily Bryant boots the ball against Penn last Wednesday evening. Senior star forward/midfielder Bryant scored the lone goal in the contest as Princeton prevailed 1-0. The Tigers, who fell 2-1 at Yale last Sunday to move to 6-4 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, host Harvard on October 19 before playing at UMBC on October 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Lily Bryant helped the Princeton University women’s soccer team put the heat on visiting Penn in the first half last Wednesday night at Roberts Stadium.

With Princeton coming off an 8-0 win over Brown on October 5, senior Bryant fired two shots as the Tigers outshot the Quakers 12-2 and built an 8-3 edge in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of the contest. more

BREAKING THROUGH: Princeton University running back Ethan Clark (No. 21) bursts through the line in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore Clark rushed for a career-high 117 yards in a losing cause as Princeton fell 34-7 at No. 7 Mercer. Clark came into the game having rushed for a total of 37 yards in his college career. The Tigers, now 1-3 overall and 0-1 Ivy League, host Brown (2-2 overall, 1-0 Ivy) this Friday night as they head into the league stretch drive. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton University football team trailing No. 7 Mercer 17-0 heading into the second quarter last Saturday, it would appear that the Tiger defense was getting shredded.

But with the undefeated Bears scoring one touchdown on a punt return and another on a fumble recovery in the end zone, the Princeton defense was actually holding the fort. more

FULL SPEED AHEAD: Princeton University women’s hockey player Emerson O’Leary races up the ice in a game last season. Junior forward O’Leary figures to be an offensive catalyst for the Tigers this season. Princeton opens up its 2024-25 campaign by playing at Robert Morris on October 18 and 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The Princeton University women’s hockey team will feel a void this winter with the graduation of superstar forward Sarah Fillier, an Olympic gold medalist with Canada’s women’s national squad and the fourth all-time scorer in program history (194 points on 93 goals and 101 assists).

But the exit of Fillier will open things up for the Tiger veterans and newcomers. more

BLAINE GAME: Princeton University quarterback Blaine McAllister fires a pass last Saturday against Howard. Making his first career start, McAllister passed for one touchdown and ran for another as Princeton topped the Bison 30-13. The Tigers, now 1-1, start their Ivy League campaign by playing at Columbia (1-1) on October 5. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

By Bill Alden

For Blaine McAllister, being patient over the last four seasons was rewarded last Saturday as he made his first start at quarterback for the Princeton University football team.

Toiling on the Princeton junior varsity team in 2021 and 2022 and making one varsity appearance last fall, senior McAllister got the starting nod against visiting Howard with opening day starter Blaine Hipa sidelined by injury. more

OFF AND RUNNING: Princeton University football running back John Volker heads upfield in a 2023 game. Last Saturday, senior Volker scored on a three-yard touchdown run in a losing cause as Princeton fell 35-20 to Lehigh in its season opener. The Tigers will look to get on the winning track as they host Howard (2-2) on September 28 in its home opener. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Opening its 2024 season last Saturday by facing a rugged Lehigh squad that already had three games under its belt, the Princeton University football team got off to a rough start.

Princeton trailed 21-7 at halftime, getting outscored 14-0 in the second quarter as it struggled on both sides of the ball. more

POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace is all smiles as he fields a question at the program’s media day last month. With Princeton returning starters at 19 positions, Surace is confident that the Tigers can take a leap forward after going 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League last fall. Princeton starts its 2024 campaign by playing at Lehigh (2-1) this Saturday. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Reflecting its rich history, the Princeton University football program will be commemorating the anniversary of three of its greatest teams this fall — the legendary undefeated 1964 Ivy League champions along with the 1969 and 1989 league winners.

Princeton head coach Bob Surace, a star center on the 1989 squad who bonded with members of the 1964 team while working their 25th reunion, is hoping that his battle-tested 2024 crew will join the pantheon of Tiger champions.  more

COOL HAND LUKE: Princeton University star receiver Luke Colella heads upfield in a game last fall. Coming off a season where he made 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition, Colella is primed for a big senior campaign. The Tigers kick off their 2024 season by playing at Lehigh on September 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After making just three receptions in the first two seasons with the Princeton University football team, Luke Colella produced a breakout season last fall in emerging as one of the top receivers in the Ivy League.

Colella hauled in 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition in the process. more

COMING UP BIG: Princeton University women’s soccer goalie Tyler McCamey dives to make a save in 2023 action. Last Sunday, senior star McCamey recorded seven saves in a losing cause as Princeton fell 1-0 to visiting Georgetown. The Tigers, now 4-2, play at Fairfield on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tyler McCamey had a hectic day in her office in goal for the Princeton University women’s soccer team as it hosted Georgetown last Sunday evening.

Senior keeper McCamey recorded seven saves, knocked aside several crosses, and faced a penalty kick as Georgetown put the heat on all game long, outshooting Princeton 13-5 overall and 8-2 in attempts on goal on the way to a hard-earned 1-0 victory. more

NEE-JERK REACTION: Princeton University men’s soccer player Nico Nee gets ready to boot the ball in a game last fall. Senior forward Nee, who tallied three goals and five assists last season to earn Second-Team All-Ivy League honors, will be looking to produce a big final campaign for the Tigers. Princeton opens its 2024 season by playing at Rutgers on August 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As it went 1-4-2 in Ivy League play last fall, the Princeton University men’s soccer team yielded 3.25 goals a game in its league setbacks.

Looking ahead to the program’s 2024 campaign, which starts on August 30 when Princeton makes the short trip to Rutgers, Tiger head coach Jim Barlow’s top priority is getting sharper play on the back line. more

SPECIAL K: Princeton University women’s soccer player Kayla Wong, right, defends a foe in a game last fall. Last Saturday, sophomore midfielder Wong picked up an assist and helped key a strong defensive effort as Princeton defeated Miami 1-0 in its season opener. The Tigers will look to keep on the winning track when they host Seton Hall on August 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

If Saturday’s season opener is any indication, it could be a very good — albeit unpredictable — season for the Princeton University women’s soccer team.

The Tigers used players in different spots than they’d been accustomed to in the past, were missing two stars to begin with, got thinner with a key injury minutes into the game, didn’t possess the ball the way they would like to, and yet still posted a 1-0 win over a visiting Miami team that had two games under its belt and unveiled a new style that took Princeton by surprise. more

LOGAN’S RUN: Logan McCarroll gets ready to unload the ball in action last fall in his sophomore season for the Princeton University men’s water polo team. McCarroll scored 28 goals with seven assists in 2023 to help Princeton go 28-6 and make the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA semis since the tournament was expanded in 2015. McCarroll will look to be a greater offensive threat this season as the Tigers open their 2024 campaign by playing in the Navy Invitational from September 7-8 in Annapolis, Md. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

For Logan McCarroll, a skiing injury to his older brother led him to get into water polo as a 10-year-old.

“My family used to be a whole bunch of skiers, we had a house in Mammoth and we used to go up there every weekend to ski,” said McCarroll, a native of Laguna Beach, Calif.

“My sister (Lela), brother (Larsen), and I were all on the Mammoth ski team, we competed doing that every year. My older brother tore his ACL skiing and he got into water polo. I watched a few of his practices and that is how I ultimately started with water polo.” more

CARRYING THE FLAG: Nick Mead poses with the U.S. flag during the Closing Ceremony on August 11 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former Princeton University men’s heavyweight crew star Mead ’17 served as one of the U.S. flag bearers at the ceremony along with swimming star Katie Ledecky, becoming the first American rower to be so honored. Ten days earlier, Mead rowed for the U.S. men’s four that won the gold medal, earning the first victory in the event for the Americans since the Rome 1960 Games. (Photo provided by Nick Mead)

By Bill Alden

Nick Mead made history on and off the water as he rowed for the U.S. men’s four at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

At the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium flat-water course, former Princeton University men’s heavyweight star Mead ’17 helped his boat win gold on August 1 as it edged runner-up New Zealand in the A final, earning the first victory in the event for the Americans since the Rome 1960 Games.

A week later, Mead was named as one of the flag bearers along with Katie Ledecky for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony, becoming the first American rower to be so honored. more

DORA THE EXPLORER: Haven Dora heads to goal this past spring in her sophomore season for the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team. Star attacker Dora, who tallied 20 goals and team-high 49 assists in the 2024 campaign for the Tigers, will be competing for Team USA in the Women’s U20 Championships from August 15-24 in Hong Kong, China.

By Justin Feil

She may not need a map, but Haven Dora is quite the explorer.

Dora was in Italy on the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team’s overseas trip last fall, just months after traveling to London. Now lacrosse will take her to Hong Kong, China, to compete for Team USA in the Women’s U20 Championships from August 15-24.

“It’s really exciting,” said Dora, who will be a junior at Princeton this fall. “I’m honored to be on the team and represent the USA. I think it’ll be really fun to be able to play with a lot of the players that we play against in college and that I’ve played with growing up. I think it’ll be a really awesome experience to go over to Hong Kong and compete against all the other countries.” more