Preview and Prediction: No. 2 Maryland men's lacrosse at No. 5 Princeton
Fresh off a dominant win against previously second-ranked Syracuse, the Terps head up I95 to New Jersey to take on fifth-ranked Princeton. The Terps and Tigers have met five times over the past three seasons, including twice in the NCAA Tournament, and the Terps have won all five by an average of five goals.
Men's Lacrosse – Game 4, at No. 5 Princeton, Class of 1952 Stadium, Saturday at 12:00 PM
Season Records: #2 Maryland (3-0), #5 Princeton (1-0)
Series Record: Maryland, 36-12-1
Last Meeting: 2024, 16-8 Maryland, NCAA First Round
Media: ESPN+
Stats: HERE
Quick Preview
Fresh off a dominant win against previously second-ranked Syracuse, the Terps head up I95 to New Jersey to take on fifth-ranked Princeton. The Terps and Tigers have met five times over the past three seasons, including twice in the NCAA Tournament; and the Terps have won all five of those games by an average of five goals. Last season, the Tigers entered the NCAA Tournament as a trendy pick to defeat a seeded Terps team in College Park. A heretofore offensively challenged Terrapin team caught fire, defeated the Tigers 16-8, and began their improbable run to Memorial Day.
The Opponent
Just when the Terps thought they'd played the best attack unit they would face all season in the Syracuse Orange, along comes the three-headed attack monster of Coulter Mackesy (5g, 1a), Colin Burns (4g), and Nate Kabiri (1a).
Mackesy lives on the left wing and is a danger to shoot once he gets inside the restraining line. He isn't a one-dimensional shooter; Mackesy has improved his dodging and can see through defenses to throw skip passes. Kabiri scored 57 points during his freshman season as a slippery dodger from behind the goal and as the Tigers' main distributor. Burns, a Georgetown Prep alum along with Kabiri, played mostly as a finisher last season but has developed a strong dodging game.
The Princeton first midfield line has a mix of dodging, shooting, and distributing. Sean Cameron, a one-time Maryland verbal commit, has extensive experience. A quick dodger, Cameron, while not big, can get defenses spinning. Chad Palumbo (3a), a former attackman, has great size and can shoot. Tucker Wade (1a) is the most athletic of the bunch. Wade can dodge down the alleys with either hand or can get into the heart of a defense even with defenders hanging on him.
The Tigers will run a lot of bodies through the midfield, but that depth less experience. Carson Kramer (1g) cuts a huge physical figure and is a player to keep an eye on in the second midfield line. John Dunphy bounced between midfield lines last season, and Quinn Krammer tallied 11 points last season on the second midfield line.
Princeton's offense relies on picks up high and on the low wings to initiate action. The offense rarely lacks a presence in the crease. While many teams, Maryland included, will use simple "pass down, pick down" action from midfield to attack, Princeton will sometimes reverse that action. Attackers will pass up to midfielders and then pick for those midfielders to get downhill.
Kabiri is the straw stirring the Princeton offensive drink. He can initiate at X or invert up top. He and Burns share a connection, and Kabiri always seems to find Burns open in the crease. Mackesy's ability to shoot forces defenses to stretch out, which leaves space open in the crease and opportunities for others to dodge off passes.
Defensively, Princeton likes to create chaos between the restraining lines by pressing out. It helps to have big, athletic defensive personnel, which the Tigers' have in bunches. Michael Bath, Jack Stahl, and Colin Mulshine started at close defense in Princeton's overtime win at Penn State. Bath and Mulshine have multiyear starting experience. Mulshine provides the muscle for the group, Bath has elite technical skills and good athleticism, and Stahl looks and plays more like a LSM than a close defender.
Cooper Kistler bumped up from close defense last season to fill in at LSM for graduated seniors. Kistler has great size and athleticism. Nick Crowley operates also as an LSM.
The Tigers' short-stick defensive group took many losses to graduation but does return key pieces. Jackson Green (1g) plays wide receiver for the Tigers' football team but gained valuable experience toward the end of 2024 and is now the Tigers' top short stick. Michael Kelly earned top minutes last season and returns to the unit. Liam Fairback, a converted offensive player, also gained valuable experience last season. Cooper Mueller is the new member of the regular rotation.
Due to Ivy League rules, Princeton lost starting goalie Michael Gianforcaro to the transfer portal as a graduate student, and he now starts at North Carolina. In steps Ryan Croddick (9.5ga; 69 percent), and all he did in his first career start was make 21 saves against Penn State. Like his predecessor, Croddick will trigger transition with outlet passes; he had an assist against Penn State.
Andrew McMeekin (30 percent, 3gb) returns to man the FOGO position. His faceoff play last season was a bright spot for Princeton, so his opening game dud against Penn State is likely an anomaly. McMeekin is athletic and is a threat to score.
Inside the Match-Up
Princeton always plays to its style. That means an aggressive defense that likes to create transition and early offense. That style also creates transition opportunities for opponents. In many ways, the Terps' game plan against Syracuse last week provides a template for what they will likely do this week.
Princeton's attack presents danger at every moment. Will Schaller, as he has through three games, will draw the top dodging threat, which means he will take the slick Kabiri. How defensive coordinator Jesse Bernhardt deploys Colin Burlace and Jackson Canfield will be interesting. With Burns' size and improved dodging, will Burlace draw that matchup, or will he again cover Mackesy? Canfield can play on or off ball, and his fireplug build might come in useful against Burns.
Maryland's defensive midfield has played superbly this season and will again be a key position group. While Princeton has high end talent at midfield, especially in their first midfield line, and some depth in the midfield, the Terps will likely rather have Princeton try to win from their midfield instead of their attack.
Conversely, Maryland's game plan for their midfield last week should be a blueprint for this week. Princeton does have high end talent in their defensive midfield but, like Syracuse, doesn't have the depth. Expect the Terps to again run waves of midfielders at the Princeton defense.
Mulshine will likely match up against Eric Spanos in order to handle Spanos' size. Bath might slide inside to Daniel Kelly, and Stahl's length and ability to run might make him a better match up on Braden Erksa. So far, Terps' opponents have yet to send two long poles to Maryland's midfield; but every opponent has jumped into a zone at some point in their games against the Terps. Do not be surprised to see Princeton try to deploy both strategies if the Terps' midfield creates too many mismatches.
Given Princeton's style of play, this is also a game where Erksa can shine. If he can reduce his turnovers – he has 10 so far through three games – he will get opportunities to run past defenders.
To also reiterate, if McMeekin struggles against Shea Keethler and Sean Creter like he did against Penn State, the Terps will possess the ball too much and wear down Princeton's defense. It will take another 20-plus save performance from Croddick to stay in the game if the Terps dominate possession. Expect McMeekin to play better, which means the Terps will need to play as clean as possible. Also expect the Terps to get transition opportunities.
The Prediction
This game feels like a replay of the Terps regular season win against Princeton – a 13-7 Terps' romp – or even the Terps' 2023 win at Princeton – an 11-5 workmanlike game for the Terps. Princeton's sophomores – Kabiri, Burns, and Wade – are special players, and they have felt the Terps' strength in two previous match ups. You can bet that Coach Tillman, and his staff will have a game plan that minimizes the chances for Princeton's skilled players to feel comfortable. The Terps' defense is playing at an elite level early in the season, and they should replicate their previous performances.
IMS prediction: Terps, 13-9.
