Lacrosse Preview: Princeton (1-2) at Navy (3-1)
The Navy Midshipmen welcome the Princeton Tigers to Annapolis on Tuesday afternoon for men’s lacrosse action. The 4:00 pm ET game will be the first meeting of the two programs on the lacrosse field in 15 years.
Princeton is 1-2 on the season, after losing two heartbreakers late against Virginia and Johns Hopkins. On the opposite side, Navy brings a 3-1 record with them to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. On Saturday, the Midshipmen beat Bucknell, 14-8. As a result, for the first time this season, the Mids appear in both the USILA and media polls this week, at 20th and 19th respectively.
Despite their losing record, Princeton holds a number of impressive statistics that Navy would do best not to overlook. In scoring offense, the Tigers rank fifth in Division 1 schools with a 15.33 goals per game average. Additionally, their 42 ground balls per game tops all Div. 1 schools. With a 9.0 assists per game average, Princeton is tied for fourth in the division.
Individually, the Tigers hold up well under scrutiny, as well. Michael Sowers, junior attackman, holds the 10th longest scoring streak in the nation at 31. (Navy’s senior midfielder, Ryan Wade, owns the 11th longest streak at 28.)
Senior attackman, Emmet Cordrey has already scored eight goals for Princeton this season and is ranked third in Div. 1 in shooting percentage at .571. Finally, sophomore attackman, Chris Brown, has scored a goal in all 16 games of his career, recording 31 total in his time with the Tigers. (Navy’s sophomore attackman, Christian Daniel, holds a 15-game goal streak.)
In spite of the difference records, Tuesday’s match against Princeton should not only be an exciting one for all lacrosse fans to watch, it should be a real test for the Midshipmen on the field.
