SU Faces Road Test At Princeton

#1 Syracuse (8-0) at Princeton (2-5)
Details	Saturday, April 9 \| Princeton, N.J. \| 4 p.m. Princeton Stadium \| Tickets \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: ESPNU \| Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @suorangeempire
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Guide \| Notes
Princeton Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Guide \| Notes

PRINCETON, N.J. - Two of the most highly decorated programs in college lacrosse square off when top-ranked Syracuse visits Princeton on Saturday, April 9 at 4 p.m. The Orange (11) and Tigers (6) have won 17 NCAA championships between them. In addition, the two schools have combined for 49 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Syracuse carries a perfect 8-0 record into the game. Princeton is 2-5 after defeating Brown in the second-longest game in school history, 5-4, in four overtimes on April 2.

Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Fans can also hear the action live on the radio home of the Orange - TK 99 (99.5 FM). Live streaming audio is available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.

FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Overall, Syracuse and Princeton have combined to win 17 of the last 23 NCAA championships. The two teams have played one another for the national title four times (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002). The two sides split those meetings with SU winning in 2000 and 2002, and the Tigers emerging victorious in 1992 and 2001.

DECADE OF DOMINATION
During the 1990s Syracuse and Princeton ruled the college lacrosse world, combining to win eight of the 10 national championships during the decade. The Orange claimed the championship in 1990, 1993, and 1995. The Tigers took home the crown in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

THE NEW MILLENNIUM
SU and Princeton's dominance continued into the 2000s. The two programs have won six of the 11 national championships handed out since the turn of the century. The Orange and Tigers met in the NCAA title game three straight years (2000, 2001, 2002). SU emerged victorious in those championship meetings in 2000 and 2002. The Orange also won titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. Princeton claimed the 2001 crown.

DESKO REACHES 200
Saturday's game at Princeton is the 200th of John Desko's head coaching career. Desko is 155-44 (.779) since taking over the Orange in 1999. Of the four head coaches in program history, Desko is third behind Roy Simmons Jr. (386) and Roy Simmons Sr. (384) for the most games coached at SU.

SIMPLY THE BEST
Syracuse head coach John Desko is the winningest active coach by percentage in Division I lacrosse and ranks fifth all-time in career winning percentage. His overall coaching record stands at 155-44 (.779). Desko picked up his milestone 150th career win on March 4, 2011 against Virginia. Desko is also the NCAA Tournament career leader in winning percentage at .818 (27-6).

SCORING MACHINE
Senior Stephen Keogh continues to pile up goals, adding to his career total with three against Duke. Keogh has 117 career goals, the sixth-highest active total in the nation. He is also the Orange's active leader with 135 total points. He has 18 career hat tricks and has scored at least one goal in 52 of his 59 career games. Since becoming a starter in 2009, he's scored at least once in 39-of-41 games.

MILLER HAS CAREER DAY
Senior Jovan Miller put together the best offensive performance of his career on the biggest of stages. Miller tallied a personal-best four points to lead the Orange past Duke in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at New Meadowlands Stadium. Miller scored two goals and passed out two assists against the Blue Devils. He had a hand in three of the team's nine first-half goals, scoring once and assisting on two more. He also added a goal in the third quarter.

Miller is Syracuse's highest scoring midfielder this season with nine goals and 15 points.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Injuries have taken their toll on Princeton and have contributed heavily to the team's 2-5 start. All-American Jack McBride (90 career goals), who tried to play in the season opener, will miss the remainder of the season with a groin injury. Starting midfielder Mike Chanenchuk withdrew from school in the fall after breaking his collarbone. Rob Castelo, a starting defenseman, tore two knee ligaments and and broke his kneecap in the team's win against Johns Hopkins on March 5. The Tigers have also been without other key players like rookie Tom Schreiber and Jonathan Meyers at times this season.

Minus several of its offensive stars, Princeton is averaging 6.57 goals per game, which is tied for 55th nationally out of 60 Division I teams. Schreiber leads the Tigers with 15 points, including a squad-best six assists. Forest Sonnenfeldt is Princeton's goals leader with 10.

Defensively, on the other hand, the Tigers have been solid despite the rash of injuries. They rank 10th nationally in scoring defense (7.57 goals allowed per game). Goalie Tyler Fiorito has played every minute in the cage and is 10th in the NCAA in goals-against average (7.34). Junior defender Chad Wiedmaier has started all seven games and leads the team in caused turnovers (11).

Second-year head coach Chris Bates is 13-10 since replacing Bill Tierney ast the Tigers' head coach in 2010. Bates led Princeton to an 11-5 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance last year. Prior to joining the Tigers, Bates spent 10 successful seasons at Drexel.

MORE ON THE PRINCETON SERIES
The Orange has won six of the last eight meetings with the Tigers and holds a 17-9 advantage in the all-time series. Ten of the 26 series meetings have come in the NCAA playoffs. In 1999, the two clubs played an epic four-overtime game won by the Tigers, 15-14, which stands as the longest game in SU history.

UP NEXT
Syracuse returns home to face another Ivy League opponent. The Orange will host Central New York rival Cornell on Tuesday, April 12. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome.

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