The Daily Princetonian
Wednesday
february 18, 2014
Spring Preview
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Key Questions Each Team Faces This Season
Men’s and Women’s Golf Preview
Track and Field Previews
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WOMEN’S LACROSSE McMann, Tigers hungrier than ever
By David Liu contributor
On February 21, the Princeton Women’s Lacrosse season will officially kick-off as the team faces No. 9 Loyola. After maintaining a nearly undefeated Ivy League record of 6-1 and reaching the second round of the NCAA championships last season, Princeton Women’s Lacrosse has earned its respected reputation; the team is currently ranked at No. 15 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). With a fresh influx of eight freshman players and star leadership, the team will work to build off last year’s phenomenal season and revive established rivalries. The Tigers finished the 20132014 season with an impressive 12- 7 overall and 6 -1 Ivy
League record, especially after facing top ranked NCAA teams including Virginia, Maryland, and Penn State. After only losing to Brown in the regular season, the team entered the Ivy League tournament with high confidence. Accordingly, Princeton dominated Cornell in the first round. Unfortunately, the championship game pitted Princeton against Penn, the top team in the conference. The rivalry between the two schools extends as early as 2007, when the Quakers stole the championship; since then, Penn has won every Ivy League championship. The Tigers fell to an early deficit but mounted a comeback in the second half. Unfortunately, Penn narrowly escaped with the title. Speaking on last year’s success and the expectations for See W. LAX page S2
JACQUELINE LI :: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Women’s lacrosse finished 12-7 last season and 6-1 in Ivy League games as they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, crashing out to Virginia 13-11.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Tigers look to fill the void left by Schreiber By Andrew Steele sports editor emeritus
Four Ivy League teams rank among the nation’s top twenty according to both the Inside Lacrosse and the US Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches polls. Surely Princeton, a school nearly as reputable for lacrosse prowess as for academic excellence, is among this elite cadre. Not this year. Cornell, Harvard, Penn and Yale have all found their respective ways into the rankings. As the past few years have evidenced, nothing can be taken for granted in college lacrosse. The last few Orange and Black campaigns, led by some of the nation’s most outstanding players and coaches, seem to have left potential unfulfilled. This season, expectations for the Tigers are somewhat murky following a mediocre 7-6 finish (2-4 in conference play) and the loss of a once-in-a-generation talent. Two-time Tewaaraton Trophy finalist – the award is annually awarded to the nation’s most outstanding college lacrosse player – Tom Schreiber graduated last spring and took his near-boundless talents to Major League Lacrosse’s Ohio Machine. And yet, as dynamic as the three-time all-America first teamer was, during his college career the Tigers
never advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament and only claimed one Ivy League regular season championship. Schreiber, a two-time captain, scored 60 points in his sophomore and junior along with 51 in his final year. How will Princeton replace this consistent and prolific offensive production? “It’s a natural question based on how much Tom impacted the game,” head
coach Chris Bates responded. “There’s going to be a redistribution of the ball, meaning more guys are going to step up.” Bates, who enters his sixth season at the helm with a record of 42-32, pointed to his team’s second through fourth-ranked scorers from last season: the midfield tag team of senior captain Kip Orban and junior Jake Froccaro and a dynamic attack See M. LAX page S4
YICHENG SUN :: PHOTO EDITOR
Coming off a resounding win against Manhattan College, the Tigers hope they can stay hot as the weather warms up.