LEAPING INTO HISTORY: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Michael Sowers leaps into a shot in a recent game. Last Saturday, junior attackman Sowers tallied three goals and seven assists in Princeton’s 19-15 win over Harvard, tying Kevin Lowe for the program record for points with 247 in the process. The Tigers, now 7-6 overall and 2-3 Ivy League, play at Cornell on April 27, needing a win to stay alive in their bid to make the league postseason tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Michael Sowers doesn’t dwell on his glittering stats for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team but he does have a deep appreciation for the program’s storied past.

So last Saturday, when junior attacker Sowers tallied three goals and seven assists in Princeton’s 19-15 win over Harvard, tying Kevin Lowe  ’94 for the program record in career points with 247, his thoughts turned to the stars who came before him.

“To be mentioned in the same sentence as those guys is an unbelievable honor,” said Sowers, who needed just 41 games to pile up 98 goals and 149 assists to achieve the record while it took Lowe 60 to hit the mark.

“Those guys are the greatest to ever do it and they will always be the greatest for this program. What they did and those banners behind me, I don’t think that will ever be matched. So it is truly an honor.” more

SHINING LIGHTS: Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight shows its form in a race this spring. Second-ranked Princeton, now 8-1, hosts the Harvard and Yale on April 27 in the race for the Goldthwait/Vogel Cups. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Last spring, the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight crew ended up less than a second away from a national title.

Princeton placed second to Columbia at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta, clocking a time of 6:19.514 over the 2,000-meter course at Mercer Lake, just behind the 6:18.782 posted by the Lions.

With eight returning members of the top boat competing in the Henley Regatta last summer in England, the Tigers entered the 2018-19 school year primed to take the next step.

“There is a lot of excitement. With that extra month of rowing we got, we were really able to hit the ground running,” said Princeton head coach Marty Crotty. “September and October were that much more productive.” more

GO TIME: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Alex Argo, middle, guards the crease in a game last year. Last Saturday, senior defender Argo picked up two ground balls and had two caused turnovers to help Princeton defeat Harvard 14-12 as the program held its annual Senior Day celebration. The 10th-ranked Tigers, now 9-3 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, head to Philadelphia on April 17 for a clash with No. 12 Penn (9-3 overall, 3-1 Ivy) and then play at Yale (6-6 overall, 1-4 Ivy) on April 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Alex Argo hasn’t scored a point in her four seasons on the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team, but she has established herself as a key performer for the Tigers.

Starting on defense from her freshman campaign in 2016, Argo has been a steadying presence on the Princeton back line, gobbling up ground balls, causing turnovers, and directing traffic.

Along the way she has developed some deep bonds with her six classmates on the squad, who have all emerged as valuable contributors in their own right. more

HEAVY DUTY: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight churns through the water in a recent regatta. Last Saturday, Princeton’s top boat defeated Penn and Columbia at Overpeck Lake Park in Leonia, N.J., to earn the Childs Cup, the oldest collegiate rowing trophy. The seventh-ranked Tigers, now 4-0, host third-ranked Harvard on April 20 in the race for the Compton Cup. (Photo by Beverly Schaefer, provided courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Losing some senior stalwarts from its top boats due to graduation, the Princeton University men’s heavyweight rowing team entered this spring in a state of flux.

But with a group of returning veterans seizing opportunity, the proud program is on course for another superb campaign.

“So far it has been going well; we graduated some real talent and some significant role players,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes, whose top boat is 4-0 and ranked seventh nationally.

“Whenever that happens, there is an opportunity there and there are some roles that open up. It is an interesting time seeing how people step up. A lot of the guys might have been playing a more supporting role with those guys and now they are filling those shoes. It has been fun to watch, lots of guys have done a great job stepping up and seizing that opportunity.” more

WESTERN HERO: Princeton University baseball player Max West takes a cut in recent action. Senior catcher West had three hits in a losing cause as Princeton fell 2-1 to visiting Columbia last Sunday. The Tigers, now 6-18 overall and 3-6 Ivy League, host Seton Hall for a single game on April 10 and then head to Penn for a three-game set this weekend with a doubleheader slated for April 13 and a single game on April 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Max West has traveled an unusual route to stardom for the Princeton University baseball team.

After graduating from the Singapore American School, West served two and a half years as a combat diver and naval officer in the Singapore Navy. He then applied to U.S. colleges and ultimately decided to matriculate to Princeton, arriving in the fall of 2015.

“Initially coming to college as a 21-year-old freshman, I was older than everyone else and felt a little out of place,” said West.

“That has made my college experience much more valuable. I was definitely more mature at 21 than I was at 18. Spending that time back home in the military has allowed me to get the most out of this experience here at Princeton.” more

MAC ATTACK: Princeton University softball player Mackenzie Meyer takes a swing in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore outfielder Meyer with 3-for-4 with a homer, double, three runs scored, and three RBIs to help Princeton defeat Columbia 11-5 in the opener of a three-game set between the foes. The Lions rebounded to sweep a doubleheader a day later, edging Princeton 2-1 and 5-4. The Tigers, now 6-15 overall and 3-3 Ivy League, host a doubleheader against Rider on April 3 before heading to Brown this weekend for a three-game set with a doubleheader slated for April 6 and a single game on April 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mackenzie Meyer came into last weekend mired in a batting slump as the Princeton University softball team hosted Columbia for a three-game set.

The Princeton sophomore outfielder had gone 2-for-17 in her previous six games as her batting average dipped to .175.

But with Princeton trailing Columbia 2-0 in the second inning last Friday afternoon, Meyer found her stoke blasting a homer over the right field fence.

“The first pitch was high and outside and my swing was a little late,” said Meyer, a 5’8 native of Lakewood Ranch, Fla. reflecting on her at-bat.

“She pitched me the same pitch the next one and I said ‘I don’t want to sit back and let it be a strike,’ so I just swung. When I hit it, it was, shoot, this could go out.” more

By Bill Alden

After pulling out a dramatic 14-13 win over No. 9 Denver University to start the week, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team picked up where it left off as it hosted Brown last Saturday afternoon.

Princeton jumped out to a 4-0 lead as Alexander Vardaro, Emmet Cordrey, Philip Robertson, and Michael Sowers all found the back of the net in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

But things went downhill from there for the Tigers in the critical Ivy League clash. The Bears outscored Princeton 6-1 over the rest of the half to forge ahead 6-5 at intermission.

Brown extended its lead to 8-6 early in the third quarter before senior attacker Cordrey scored two straight goals to make it 8-8. The Bears responded with a 6-1 run to pull away to a 14-10 win. more

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Bill Tierney stalks the sidelines last week as he guided his Denver University men’s lacrosse team against Princeton. It marked the return of the legendary former Tiger head coach for his first game at Class of 1952 Stadium since he left the Tiger program in 2009 after 22 seasons and six NCAA titles. Princeton, though, made it a tough homecoming for Tierney, pulling out a 14-13 win over the ninth-ranked Pioneers. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Bill Tierney didn’t get the chance to hone in on his Denver University men’s lacrosse team as it went through its pregame paces before its contest at Princeton last week.

With legendary former Princeton head coach Tierney returning on March 26 for his first game at Class of 1952 Stadium since he left the program in 2009 after guiding the Tigers to six NCAA titles in 22 seasons, the warmup turned into an extended meet and greet session.

Wearing a crimson and white Denver ball cap and Oakley sunglasses, the silver haired Tierney, 66, grinned broadly as he chatted with former colleagues on the field, shook hands with old friends, and responded to well wishes shouted from supporters in the stands. more

CENTURY CLUB: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Elizabeth George looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, senior attacker George tallied six points on two goals and four assists, including the 100th goal of her career, but it wasn’t enough as Princeton lost 12-11 to Brown. The 16th-ranked Tigers, now 5-2 overall and 1-1 Ivy League,  play at No. 2 Maryland (10-0) on March 27 and at Villanova (5-5) on April 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Elizabeth George came into last Saturday needing two goals to hit the contrary mark in her career with the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team.

As Princeton hosted Brown, George scored 7:36 into the contest to hit 99 and then 1:40 later notched her 100th as the Tigers jumped out to an 8-2 lead.

“We started out hot which was good, we saw a lot of looks there,” said George.

Minutes later, Princeton stretched its advantage to 9-2 as George assisted on a tally by Kyla Sears but that ended up being the high water mark for the Tigers. Brown proceeded to score 10 unanswered goals over the rest of the first half and into the second and held off a late Princeton rally to pull out a 12-11 victory. more

By Bill Alden

Coming off a 19-10 loss to Penn and hosting defending national champion Yale last Saturday, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team looked like it might be getting routed again as it fell behind the Bulldogs 3-1 in the second quarter.

But showing pluck, Princeton reeled off four unanswered goals to pull ahead 5-3 at halftime.

“We sunk into our game plan at that point,” said Princeton head coach Matt Madalon. “They got a couple of good ones and once we got possession of the ball, we had an opportunity to capitalize and the guys hit some shots.”

In the second half, the Tigers led 7-6 midway through the third quarter but saw the game slip away as Yale, ranked No. 1 in the USILA Coaches Poll, reeled off five unanswered goals on the way to a 15-10 victory before a crowd on 1,843 at Class of ‘52 Stadium. more

ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Members of the Princeton University women’s basketball team celebrate during their 68-47 win over Cornell last Saturday in the semifinals of the Ivy League postseason tournament. A day later, the Tigers topped Penn 65-54 in the championship game to win their second straight Ivy tourney. The Tigers, now 22-9, will now compete in the NCAA tournament where they were selected as a No. 11 seed in the Greensboro Region, facing 6th-seeded Kentucky on March 23 in Raleigh, N.C. in a first-round contest. (Photo by Noel Valero)

By Bill Alden

Gabrielle Rush couldn’t find a shooting rhythm in her final regular season weekend for the Princeton University women’s basketball team.

The sharpshooting senior guard went a combined 4-of-25 from the floor, including 1-of-15 from the three-point line, as Princeton topped Brown 88-68 and Yale 80-68 on March 8-9 to clinch a share of the Ivy League title and the top seed for the league’s postseason tournament.

Last weekend, though, Rush was on target as Princeton rolled to the title at the Ivy tournament at Yale. Rush went 4-of-5 for the floor and scored 12 points as the Tigers topped Cornell 68-47 in the semis on Saturday and then made 6-of-11 shots and totaled 18 points as Princeton defeated Penn 65-54 a day later in the final, earning its second straight Ivy tourney title. more

ROAD TO GLORY: Princeton University wrestler Patrick Glory, left, battles a foe earlier this season in a bout at 125 pounds. Freshman Glory, who won the EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) title at 125 earlier this month, will be going after a national title this weekend as he takes part in the NCAA Championships this weekend in Pittsburgh, Pa. He will be joined at the competition by Tiger teammates Patrick Brucki (197), Matthew Kolodzik (149), Quincy Monday (157), Travis Stefanik (174), and Kevin Parker (184). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Patrick Glory takes pride in standing atop the podium at the EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) Championships on March 9 in Binghamton, N.Y.

But what the Princeton University freshman really wants is to be standing at the top of another one when the NCAA Championships conclude this Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pa.

“It’s something I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” said Glory, a native of Randolph, N.J.

“It’s something I’ve been dreaming of. When you’re in third or fourth grade, you think, ‘Imagine how cool it would be to wrestle at the NCAA championships, imagine how cool it would be to win a national title.’ I’ve dreamed about me standing on the podium and winning the national title and jumping into my coach’s arms and talking to my family afterward. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I was 8-9 years old. And now it’s here.” more

GOAL ORIENTED: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sarah Fillier chases down the puck in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman star forward Filler scored both goals for Princeton as it fell 5-2 to second-seeded Minnesota in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Tigers ended the winter with a record of 20-8-5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton University women’s hockey team played at Minnesota in the 2016 NCAA quarterfinals, the Tigers got on the scoreboard first but then yielded six unanswered goals on the way to a 6-2 loss.

Last Saturday, when Princeton headed to Minnesota for a rematch in the 2019 NCAA quarters, it took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman star Sarah Fillier.

This time, the game turned into a nail-biter rather than a rout. After Minnesota forged ahead 2-1 in the second period, Princeton knotted the game at 2-2 on another tally by Fillion. more

PRO QUALITY: Princeton University men’s hockey player Ryan Kuffner heads up the ice in recent action. Senior star Kuffner ended his college career by tallying two goals and two assists in Princeton’s 6-5 triple overtime loss to Brown on March 9 as the Tigers were swept in best-of-three ECAC Hockey first round playoff series. Last week, Kuffner, Princeton’s all-time leading goal scorer with 75, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Classmate and star forward Max Veronneau entered into a two-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators and made his NHL debut on March 14 in Ottawa’s 2-0 win over St. Louis. Last Saturday, Veronneau tallied his first NHL point, picking up an assist as the Senators defeated Toronto 6-2. A third senior, defenseman Josh Teves, inked a one-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having played a key role in the resurgence of the Princeton University men’s hockey program which saw the Tigers win the ECAC Hockey tournament last winter, the team’s seniors weren’t about to go down without a fight as they faced playoff elimination earlier this month.

Playing at Brown in the best-of-three ECACH first round series, Princeton lost the first game 3-0 on March 8 and trailed 5-2 with 4:37 left in regulation a day later.

But with senior stars Max Veronneau, Ryan Kuffner, Josh Teves and Alex Riche hitting the ice together, the Tigers produced a dramatic comeback, scoring three goals in 3:48 to knot the game at 5-5 and force overtime. more

GOING FOR IT: Princeton University women’s hockey player Karlie Lund goes after a puck in recent action. Last Saturday, senior forward and co-captain Lund contributed an assist as Princeton fell 3-2 in double overtime to Cornell in the ECAC Hockey semifinals. The disappointment over that loss turned to joy a day later as the Tigers were awarded an at-large bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament. Princeton, now 20-7-5 overall, will play at second-seeded Minnesota (30-5-1) in a national quarterfinal contest on March 16. The selection marks the program’s third NCAA appearance overall and first trip to the national tourney since it fell 6-2 to the Gophers in the 2016 quarterfinals at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last weekend turned out to be nerve-wracking for the Princeton University women’s hockey team.

On Saturday, Princeton headed north to play at Cornell in the ECAC Hockey semis, knowing that a loss could doom its chances of getting invited to the NCAA tournament.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period on goals by Claire Thompson and Carly Bullock but couldn’t hold off the Big Red, losing 3-2 in double overtime.

“I thought it was a really tight, even game obviously, it was back and forth,” said Princeton head coach Cara Morey. more

SIX SHOOTER: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Kyla Sears handles the ball last Saturday against Stony Brook. Sophomore attacker Sears tallied six goals and two assists to help the Tigers rally to a 15-14 win. Sears was lated named the Ivy League Player of the Week for her performance. Princeton, now 4-1 and ranked eighth nationally, is next in action when it plays at Florida on March 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After piling up 64 goals in 19 games last spring during her freshman year for the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team, Kyla Sears wasn’t as prolific in the early going this season.

Entering Princeton’s game against visiting Stony Brook last Saturday, star attacker Sears had seven goals in the first four games in the 2019 campaign.

But finding her finishing touch, Sears erupted for five goals in the first half as the Tigers took a 9-8 lead over the Seawolves.

“Our offense really clicked; we were finding each other, we were giving each other good looks,” said Sears a 5’4 native of Skaneateles, N.Y. “Any player is as successful as their teammates around them; we found each other’s strengths today. more

FINAL MILE: Princeton University men’s basketball player Myles Stephens dribbles up the floor in recent action. Senior star and captain Stephens played well in his final weekend at Jadwin Gym but it wasn’t enough as Princeton fell 67-63 to Brown on Friday and 81-59 to Yale a day later. Stephens had 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss to the Bears and then chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds against the Bulldogs. Princeton, now 16-11 overall and 8-6 Ivy League, is next in action when it competes in the Ivy postseason tournament. The third-seeded Tigers will face second-seeded and host Yale in the semis on March 16 in New Haven, Conn. with the victor advancing to the title game the next day. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Myles Stephens left the floor at Jadwin Gym last Saturday for the last time in his career with the Princeton University men’s basketball team, he hugged his coaches and teammates one by one as he went to the end of the bench.

Moments after Princeton’s 81-59 loss to Yale in the home finale, he embraced some of his former teammates gathered courtside as he made his away to the locker room.

Stephens acknowledged that he had a lot on his mind as the evening unfolded.

“Four years is a long time and as a student athlete, you spend so much time coming down here every day, lifting, conditioning and practicing,” said Stephens. “I was definitely a little emotional.” more

FRESH APPROACH: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sarah Fillier chases down the puck last Friday evening as Princeton hosted St. Lawrence in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals. Freshman forward Fillier tallied four goals and two assists on the weekend as fourth-seeded Princeton swept the fifth-seeded Saints in the  best-of-three series, winning 4-1 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday. The Tigers, now 20-6-5 overall, play at top-seeded Cornell (22-4-6) in the ECACH semis on March 9 with the victor advancing to the title game a day later. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton University women’s hockey team mired in a three-game losing streak and locked in a scoreless game with St. Lawrence last Friday at Hobey Baker Rink heading into the second period of their ECAC Hockey quarterfinal opener, the Tigers needed a jolt.

Princeton freshman forward Sarah Fillier provided that spark, tallying three straight goals in the second period as the Tigers built a 3-0 lead on the way to a 4-1 triumph.

“One of the main things we said in the room going into the second was just bear down in front of the net and just keep going with the good habits that we had,” recalled Fillier. more

ON THE MARK: Princeton University men’s hockey player Mark Paolini sends the puck up the ice in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore defenseman Paolini contributed a goal and two assists as Princeton won 5-1 at Brown to improve to 10-16-3 overall and 8-12-2 ECAC Hockey. This weekend, the Tigers will head back to Brown where they will face the Bears in a best-of-three ECACH first round playoff series starting on March 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University men’s hockey team heads into its first round ECAC Hockey best-of-three playoff series at Brown next weekend, it is looking to make history repeat itself.

Last winter, the Tigers caught fire late, going 2-1-1 in the final two regular season weekends and riding that surge to a stunning run in the ECACH playoffs. The seventh-seeded Tigers swept visiting Brown in the opening round and then headed north and swept Union in the quarterfinals. Princeton proceeded to top Cornell and Clarkson in the ECACH final four to win the title and make the NCAA tournament. more

AHEAD OF THE FIELD: Princeton University women’s basketball player Carlie Littlefield heads to the hoop in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore point guard Littlefield tallied a game-high 18 points to help the Tigers pull away to a 64-47 win over visiting Dartmouth and clinch a spot in the upcoming Ivy League postseason tourney. A day later, Littlefield chipped in 17 points to help the Tigers edge Harvard 61-58 and improve to 18-9 overall and 10-2 Ivy. The Tigers will wrap up regular season play with games at Brown on March 8 and at Yale on March 9. Princeton will start play in the Ivy tourney on March 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having played three games in a five-day stretch from February 22-26, the Princeton University women’s basketball team came out a little sluggish as it hosted Dartmouth last Friday evening.

With junior star Bella Alarie banged up and senior Qalea Ismail leaving the game with a knee injury, Princeton struggled to find a rhythm, missing all eight of its three-point attempts in the half.

Sensing that the Tigers needed someone to step up, sophomore point guard Carlie Littlefield took charge, scoring 10 points to serve as a catalyst with the Tigers trailing 28-27 at halftime. more