Princeton Pulls Away from Big Green, 17-7
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4/22/2023 | 1:00 PM
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History { element.remove(); }); } else{ let elementsToRemove = document.querySelectorAll(‘.postgame_3_nextgame’); elementsToRemove.forEach(element => { element.remove(); }); } ]]> HANOVER, N.H. — Freshman goaltender Sam Cooper stopped the first five shots sent his way and seven of the first eight, finishing with a career-high 17 stops, but it wasn’t enough as No. 20 Princeton surged to a 17-7 win over the Dartmouth men’s lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon at Scully-Fahey Field. The Big Green scored the first two goals of the third quarter to pull within 7-3, but Princeton responded with the next three and later, before adding the first five fourth-quarter goals to erase any doubt.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 5-5 overall, 3-1 in Ivy League play. Dartmouth falls to 6-4 and 1-3 in the league.
“I thought there were certainly some things today that were a step forward for us — with the middle of the field and the clearing game,” said Dartmouth head coach Brendan Callahan. “I thought Sam Cooper in goal was great today. For stretches and for periods today, we really competed.
𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐲.
Sam Cooper finished with a career-high 17 saves today, none better than this incredible doorstep save.#SCTop10 | #TheWoods pic.twitter.com/N10gfflBRr
— Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) April 15, 2023
“Ultimately, on the offensive side of the ball, we struggled to get it going, scoring one goal in the first half,” Callahan continued. “After some turnovers, failing to get back in transition the other way [hurt us]. I thought transition was where Princeton really took over the game.”
Sophomore Nate Davis led Dartmouth offensively with three goals to tie a career high, good for his third-career hat trick, second of which was against Princeton. Sophomore Colin McGill scored twice, good for the 50th and 51st goals of his career. The other goals came from freshmen Emmett Paradine and Cameron Brown. Junior Peter Lapina dished two assists.
Fifth-year Peter Rizzotti led the defense with three groundballs and four caused turnovers.
Saturday was Alumni Day, with Dartmouth’s 2003 Ivy League Championship team among those returning to reunite and celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Big Green got on the board first, just 3:05 into the game, behind McGill’s 50th career tally. The sophomore finished a transition opportunity from junior Ben DiGiovanni.
Colin McGill opens the scoring in this one!
Watch on @ESPNPlus: https://t.co/3PvEmn9CI3 #TheWoods | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/KqtuTrK4bt
— Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) April 15, 2023
From there, though, the Tigers reeled off seven unanswered goals to end the first half. On the other end of the field, Tigers’ goaltender Michael Gianforcaro stopped the final seven shots sent his way over the first 30 minutes.
Goals from Davis and Brown quickly pulled Dartmouth within 7-3 just 1:21 into the third quarter, giving the Big Green some life.
Nate Davis with two third-quarter goals, including this ROCKET, but the Tigers lead 11-5 as we head to the fourth.
Watch on @ESPNPlus: https://t.co/3PvEmn9CI3 #TheWoods | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/8reYFKduzz
— Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) April 15, 2023
Princeton had an answer, scoring three straight before a Paradine man-up tally from Lapina at the 5:12 mark got the Big Green within 10-4. Dartmouth trailed heading to the fourth, 11-5.
The Tigers erased any doubt early in the fourth with five consecutive goals, including a Princeton goal from its defensive zone on Dartmouth’s 10-man ride. The Big Green scored two of the game’s final three goals via Davis (man up) and McGill, but it was too little, too late.
Final shots were 51-32 in favor of Princeton while the Tigers held a 33-28 edge in groundballs. After the Tigers won 4-of-5 first-quarter faceoffs, the Big Green responded by winning 13 of the final 22. Senior Mitchell Myers finished the day 9-for-17 with three groundballs while sophomore Vincent Gandolfo was 5-for-10.
Cooper’s 17 saves marked his second straight week with a career high (after 15 at Yale last Saturday). Gianforcaro stopped 12-of-17 shots sent his way for Princeton before being relieved by Griffen Rakower, who made one stop, allowing two goals.
“We’ve started slowly the last couple weeks and Sam gave us a chance to start fast and get going today by making a few big saves right out of the gate,” said Callahan. “Every week, he’s continued to get better and better. That was really exciting to see. In our sport right now, a lot of it comes down to shooters versus goaltending. We need to shoot the ball better and we need him to keep making saves for us.”
The Big Green now hit the road for the final time this regular season when they travel to Penn next Saturday to face the Quakers. Opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
We caught up with head coach Brendan Callahan following today’s loss to No. 20 Princeton.#TheWoods | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/Y76ht9RZI6
— Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) April 15, 2023
