Sports: November 5, 1997
Road house romp for football
Tigers sock Brown, 30-13, rock Colgate 31-28
DEPRIVED OF ITS HOME for 1997, the football team has made itself very comfortable on the road. On October 11 and 18, the Tigers (4-1 overall, 1-1 Ivy) traveled to Brown and Colgate respectively, the two top-rated offensive teams in Division I-AA football, and outscored both. Princeton dominated the Bears, 30-13, then won a 31-28 squeaker over the Red Raiders, giving the team its fourth consecutive win with five vital Ivy contests remaining. "Guys are believing, guys are playing well, guys are making plays," said a very pleased Steve Tosches after the Colgate win. "We keep getting better. I hope it can continue."
In Providence, Brown scored a field goal on its first possession, and the Tigers punted the ball away twice before an interception by Gerry Wilson '00 put Princeton on its own 43 with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter. Senior QB Harry Nakielny got three quick first downs on two completions to fullback Mike Clifford '98, and one to wide receiver Ray Canole '99. Facing third down and seven on the Brown 12, Nakielny found Ryan Crowley '99 on a crossing pattern in the end zone for the TD.
Defensive back Rocky Fittizzi '00 blocked his third punt of the year just minutes later, and Nakielny needed only one play to hit tight end Ken Nevarez '98 in the end zone for the Tigers' second touchdown. An Alex Sierk '99 field goal with 10:49 remaining in the second quarter made the score 17-3, before another Brown turnover set up the Tigers' third TD. Defensive tackle Mark Whaling '98 intercepted a pass at the Brown 12, and three plays later, Nakielny found Canole on a cross in the end zone to make the score 24-3 after Sierk kicked the point after.
Brown put together a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, but Princeton countered with two field goals from Sierk, one of which was a career-best 46-yarder.
NAILBITER AT COLGATE
If the Brown game was a bit of a yawner, the Colgate game was just the opposite. The fired-up Red Raiders had won four in a row and were playing in front of a homecoming crowd of 8,000. After forcing a Princeton punt on the game's opening possession, Colgate got the ball on its own 20 and covered 80 yards in six plays, scoring on a 13-yard dash by running back Daymon Smith.
The Tigers went through their first three possessions without a completed pass or a first down, once even resorting to a third-down quick-kick by Nakielny from the end zone. The defense, however, gave the attack time to find its feet. Defensive back Tom Ludwig '98 starred: He ended one Colgate possession with his first of two interceptions on the day. On the Red Raiders' next drive, he scooped up a fumble and returned it 11 yards. Along with his turnovers, Ludwig ended the game as the Tigers' leading tackler with eight overall, five of them unassisted.
Moments into the second quarter, Damani Leech '98 picked a Ryan Vena pass out of a receiver's hands at the Colgate 45-yard line. A 16-yard completion from Nakielny to Nevarez set up a Sierk field goal from the 24 to put the Tigers on the board. The 41-yarder was the junior's 11th without a miss (10 this year, and one last season), tying a record set by Rob Goodwin '88 in 1986 and 1987.
The kick began a series of scores by both teams. The Tigers took possession again at their own 23 with 4:41 to play in the half, and six plays later it was third and inches at the Colgate 25. With the defense looking for a short run, Nakielny dropped back on a play-action fake and threw to tight end Jason Glotzbach '99, who was all alone as he stepped into the end zone.
Undeterred, Colgate stormed back for a TD in the half's waning seconds to take a 14-10 halftime lead.
Ludwig's second interception (one of five INTs by the Tigers) ended Colgate's first possession of the second half. A pass-interference call against Colgate gave Princeton the ball at the seven, and then running back Gerry Giurato (24 carries for 99 yards) ran through the right side for the score.
Colgate missed a 21-yard field goal on its next possession, and the Tigers took the ball 80 yards on nine plays, scoring on Nakielny's 24-yard option run through the right side.
THE WINNING DRIVE
Princeton, having lived by the turnover all day, then nearly died by it. Colgate set up one touchdown on a blocked Matt Evans punt with 9:48 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within three points, 24-21. On the seventh play of the ensuing Princeton drive, Colgate's Blair Hicks intercepted a Nakielny pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. The point-after put the Red Raiders ahead, 28-24, with 2:53 left.
Nakielny, who afterward said he was "devastated" by the interception, nevertheless came out for the final try. He led the team on a hurry-up, 13-play drive highlighted by a clutch fourth-and-six reception by Crowley at the Colgate 35. With 1:03 left, Nakielny hit Nevarez on a slant from five yards out for the go-ahead TD. Sierk's PAT made it 31-28.
Colgate gamely fought its way down-field, but with eight seconds remaining, sophomore defensive back Ryan Demler intercepted Vena in the end zone to end the game.
The final drive capped a career-high passing day for Nakielny, who threw to seven different receivers for 265 yards (21-for-40, one interception). The Tigers were outgained 527 yards to 373 in total offense, as Colgate running back Ed Weiss and receiver Corey Hill each had career-high performances.
--Rob Garver
Rob Garver is an editor at Town Topics in Princeton.
Breaking the ice: Men's, women's hockey
THE GAUDY ORANGE JERSEYS commemorating the 250th are gone, more likely to return as part of Reunions costumes than as hockey uniforms, and the men's team is again clad in black and white. The Tigers' story this year is just as simple: their talent level is high, and so are the expectations.
Depth is a key for the Tigers, who reached the ECAC semifinals last year and were picked for fourth place by league coaches last month. All three members of the "Orange Line," which accounted for nearly 30 percent of the team's goals and assists, are back: leading scorers Scott Bertoli '99 and Jeff Halpern '99 and cocaptain Casson Masters '98.
"We're especially deep up front," said cocaptain Robbie Sinclair '98. "We have four full lines of forwards coming back, plus the freshmen."
The defense is strong despite the loss of Dominique Auger '00, who's playing junior hockey in Quebec. Steve Shirreffs '99 leads a squad with size and experience, backed by net-minders with strong statistics last year.
"We have a balanced team and are good defensively in our own end," said Sinclair. "We're also fast--that's our strength."
In all, 15 juniors and seniors dot the roster, a lineup not unlike the one that reached the ECAC championship game in 1995. The record of 18 wins set that season, equaled last year, may be bettered this season. According to Sinclair, the team is looking for more, however: "I think we can win the league and win the tournament. We're not satisfied with being the Princeton team that won the most games."
The Tigers started their season on October 31 at Omaha-Nebraska. They host St. Lawrence and Clarkson on November 7 and 8.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY
The women will take their cues from second-year head coach Jeff Kampersal '92. A former defenseman on the men's team who averaged nearly 40 minutes of ice time per game as a senior, Kampersal preaches hard work and bound-less effort.
"He has these sayings, 'No one's ever going to outwork us,' and 'We're never going to lose because we're tired,' " said captain Erin O'Dea '99.
That approach was evident during pre-season captains' workouts, led by O'Dea and assistant captains Amy Macklin '98 and Dani Holtschlag '00. Along with sessions on the ice, the team lifted weights four days and ran two days per week. "We used to just play pickup hockey . . . but now we do drills," said O'Dea. "It has definitely helped."
The Tigers are solid up front, led by Ali Coughlin '99 (22-14--36) and are strong in goal behind honorable mention all-Ivy pick Tammy Orlow '98, but are relatively inexperienced defensively, with just two returnees. After losing some important players to graduation, the team will need to play with plenty of determination early in the season.
Princeton starts its season hosting Cornell and St. Lawrence on November 8 and 9.
--Mike Jackman '92
Terps shell field hockey
QUICKNESS, USUALLY A DEADLY WEAPON for the Tigers, deserted them in the first half of an important game at Maryland, and the third-ranked Terrapins took advantage to beat fifth-ranked Princeton, 7-2, on October 16. Maryland shelled the Tigers, 5-0, in the first half, using team speed, superb stickwork, and excellent passing to dominate a sluggish Princeton team that was outshot 16-0 before halftime.
The Tigers (10-1 overall, 4-0 Ivy) regained their form in the second half despite some evident discouragement, matching the Terps' two goals with two of their own. Attack Amy MacFarlane '98 hit the first on a penalty corner at 32:28; attack Molly O'Malley '98 tallied the second, deflecting in a nice feed from attack Kirsty Hale '98 at 7:43. Goalie Gia Fruscione '00 again showed why she is one of the country's most respected goalies, making 12 saves.
Before the setback against the Terps, Princeton's only scare had come against Syracuse on September 21, when the team gave back an early two-goal lead before getting a 3-2 win. Its offense has struggled early a number of times (Princeton led Yale and Brown only 1-0 at the half- before blowing them both out by a score of 7-1), but the team was flat on offense and defense against Maryland. The team appeared confident before the game, according to coach Beth Bozman, but came out "hesitant" in the first half. "We haven't played anyone of this caliber all season," she said. "We needed to immediately rise and didn't."
TIGERS BOUNCE BACK
The following weekend, the Tigers beat 14th-ranked Connecticut, 3-2, at 1952 Stadium. Hale scored twice and got an assist; midfielder Aviva Meerschwam '01 scored the game-winner on a penalty corner with 9:47 left in the first half. "We needed to bounce back and regain our confidence," said Bozman after the game. "We recognized that this was an important game for us, and we did enough to win."
At press time Princeton was still on track for its fourth-straight Ivy title and the accompanying NCAA tournament bid. The team headed north for an important league game on grass at Harvard on October 25; the game was likely to be the toughest Ivy contest that remained in the Tigers' season. Princeton played at Boston University three days later, then headed south to warmer climes and a tough match at top-ranked Old Dominion on November 1. The team faced Richmond the next day, then came home to meet Columbia today. The Tigers end their Ivy season playing at Penn on November 7.
Looking toward the postseason, Bozman said, "Somebody is going to see this team down the road, and I know from our second half [at Maryland] that this loss is going to be a very positive lesson for us."
Carril inducted into hoops Hall of Fame
FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES, buses on the way to basketball games at Dartmouth passed through Springfield, Massachusetts, with coach Pete Carril aboard. On September 29, he stopped off in Springfield, where he was one of seven inductees to the Basketball Hall of Fame. More than 50 former players and another 100 fans and friends attended the enshrinement dinner. The Hall-of-Famer is pictured with former players (left to right) John Rogers '80, Craig
Robinson '83, Chris Thomforde '68, Bob Slaughter '78, Kevin "Moon" Mullin '84, and Roger Schmitt '79.
The Carril contingent was easily the largest single group in the crowd of 1,200 and gave him the only standing ovation of the evening when he was introduced. Welcomed by Senator Bill Bradley '65 (a 1982 inductee), and Willem "Butch" van Breda Kolff '45, Carril gave a classic acceptance speech. Recalling his youth in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Carril had his players exchanging knowing glances with tales of junior-high teachers who'd grab him by the ears. ("to noticeable effect"). He also spoke of his father, "who may have drank a bit at times," and of his first day as a junior-high coach, when one of his players thought he was the janitor ("Hey buddy, where are the lights?"). That player's name has been lost in the mists of time (thankfully for him)--Carril's induction to the Hall of Fame means his name won't be.
--Matthew T. Henshon '91
Matt Henshon played guard for Carril's Tigers from 1987 to 1991.
Soccer: Rea shines for women; men snag comeback wins
AMONG the dozens of athletes at Princeton, more than a few are intelligent and hard-working. But how many are so impressive that they're fondly teased about their talents by friends and teammates? According to soccer coach Julie Shackford, the "amazing" Susan Rea '00 is one: "We kid her, 'Is there anything you can't do?' " says Shackford. "Look at her two goals against Bucknell [a 5-1 win on October 7]: One perfect with her left foot. One perfect with her right. I don't know if she feels any pressure--she's done everything so well in her life--but if so it doesn't show." Rea's accomplishments thus far approach the inspirational. The native of Palo Alto, California, is not only a defender on the soccer team, she's also a guard on the basketball team. On top of that, she plans to major in chemical engineering and get a certificate in engineering biology. Says basketball coach Liz Feeley, "I don't think just anyone could juggle everything she juggles. It's impressive how she handles it all, especially with her academics."
POSITIVE CHEMISTRY
So far this year, Rea has played a leading role for Princeton's young soccer team. Following a trio of experienced captains, middie Samantha Sacks '99 and defenders Meredith Cage '99 and Janet Santo '99, she and several other underclassmen have infused a dose of top-flight talent into the Tigers' program. Last year, the team had a 7-8-2 record and beat in-state rivals Seton Hall and Rutgers. This year, they beat Seton Hall again, 1-0, on October 14.
With additional strength and experience, Princeton hoped for a top-three Ivy finish, despite early losses to Dartmouth, 2-1, and at Brown, 2-1. Princeton (8-3-1 overall, 2-2-0 Ivy) handed Yale its first defeat of the year on October 4, winning 2-1, and beat Cornell on October 17, 2-1. Princeton will finish its season at Penn on November 8.
"Everyone is starting to shoulder responsibility for staying involved," says Shackford. "There's a positive chemistry on the field." With Rea's talents in science, one might suspect she had a lot to do with that chemistry, but so do midfielder Andrea Herschman '00 and attack Dana DeCore '00, who are both scoring threats.
If the saying about perspiration leading to success is true, expect to hear much more from this team, and especially from Rea. She began one day last month at the gym, arriving at 6:45 to lift weights with her basketball teammates, then went to classes in cognitive neuroscience and genetics. By noon she was working at her campus job, programming the Athletics Web page; after that came precepts for American classics and fluid mechanics. Later on, Rea practiced with her soccer teammates, then traveled to Brown, where the team played the next day. Why does Rea keep this schedule? How does she maintain her energy? "It's my choice, and I enjoy doing it," she says. "I owe it to myself to stay motivated."
MEN'S SOCCER
The men (6-4-1 overall, 1-1-1 Ivy) got two come-from-behind wins in a row last month, tallying three goals in the second half to beat Adelphi, 3-1, on October 4 and getting two straight to beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-1, four days later. Defense got them a 0-0 tie at Dartmouth on October 11. Princeton lost in overtime at Brown, 2-1, on October 18. In upcoming action, the men play at Penn November 8, then finish the season hosting Yale a week later.
--Paul Hagar '91
Scoreboard and Highlights
FOOTBALL
(4-1 overall, 1-1 Ivy)
W at Brown, 30-13
W at Colgate, 31-28
M. CROSS-COUNTRY
(4-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy)
IC4As-1st
W. CROSS-COUNTRY
(3-1 overall, 1-1 Ivy)
ECAC Champs.-2nd
FIELD HOCKEY
(10-1 overall, 4-0 Ivy)
W at Rutgers, 3-0
W at Brown, 7-1
L at Maryland, 2-7
W vs. U.Conn., 3-2
W. GOLF
Rutgers Invit.-1st
ECAC Champs.-6th
LTWT. FOOTBALL
(0-4 ELFL)
L vs. Army, 3-55
L at Cornell, 21-28
M. SOCCER
(6-4-1 overall, 1-1-1 Ivy)
W vs. FDU, 2-1 (ot)
T at Dartmouth, 0-0
W at Lafayette, 3-0
L at Brown, 1-2 (ot)
W. SOCCER
(8-3-1 overall, 2-2-0 Ivy)
W vs. Bucknell, 5-1
L at Brown, 1-2
W at Seton Hall, 1-0
W vs. Cornell, 2-1
W at St. John's, 1-0
W. VOLLEYBALL
(10-5 overall, 4-1 Ivy)
W vs. Manhattan, 3-1
W vs. St. Peter's, 3-0
W vs. Juniata, 3-1
L vs. Harvard, 2-3
W vs. Dartmouth, 3-1
M. WATER POLO
(11-10 overall, 3-5 So. Div.)
L at Geo. Wash., 12-15
Claremont Convergence
W vs. Whittier, 11-7
W vs. Loy.-Marymt., 13-11
W vs. Pomona-Pitz., 10-6
W vs. Chapman, 15-5
L vs. Redlands, 9-11 (ot)
Highlights
M. Cross country: Tony Barroco '98 ran 24:48.7 to win individual title at IC4A meet. Field hockey: On 10/7, midfielder Amy MacFarlane '98 named Ivy Player of Week, attack Melanie Meerschwam '01 named Ivy Rookie of Week for 2nd time. Football: Defensive end Nathan Podsakoff '01 named Ivy Rookie of Week 10/13. W. Golf: Julia Alison '01 shot 74-74 to win indiv. title at Rutgers. W. Volleyball: Outside hitter Stephanie Edwards '98 named Ivy Player of Week 10/7.