2024 NCAA Lacrosse Preview: No. 14 Princeton (Men)

The 2024 Division I men's college lacrosse season kicks off February 2. As is our annual tradition, we’re featuring every team ranked in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 in the lead up to opening night. Check back to USALaxMagazine.com each weekday this month for new previews, scouting reports and rival analysis.

NO. 14 PRINCETON

2023 record: 8-7 (4-2 Ivy League)   
Final ranking (2023): No. 12   
Head coach: Matt Madalon (51-32 in seven seasons)   
Assistants: Jim Mitchell (offensive coordinator), Jeremy Hirsch (defensive coordinator), Casey Dowd

If Princeton’s NCAA tournament appearance and subsequent run to Memorial Day Weekend in 2022 was an announcement the Tigers were well and truly back, last year’s return trip added a hint of permanence to the whole thing.

Nothing is guaranteed to any program in any given year, but Princeton still backed up its revival with an Ivy League tournament title. It is one of eight teams to appear in the last two postseasons.

“Backs against the wall a little bit, some injuries, we lost for four straight weeks,” coach Matt Madalon said. “But being able to figure that out, I think that will help us moving forward this year, just the problem solving as a program over the last two years and the resiliency of our guys to power through that and keep getting better throughout the year. Hopefully, that’s where Princeton stands as we continue to move forward.”

Now, can the Tigers make it three in a row?

That’s the imperative question, especially with so much youth scattered across the offense. Princeton’s resurgence has come as the likes of Sam English, Christian Ronda, Alex Slusher, Jake Stevens and Alexander Vardaro have become household names.

And while Princeton has rightfully received plaudits for its strong incoming class, one of the best tests of a program’s strength is how well-equipped it is to replace graduating stars with those who have already been in the system for a year or two.

“That’s where we take a lot of pride, in the ability to develop guys as they become older and mature and step into these game day roles and step right in and excel,” Madalon said.

TOP RETURNERS

Pace Billings, D, Sr. (11 CT, 17 GB)   
Michael Gianforcaro, G, Sr. (.577 SV%, 10.61 GAA)   
Coulter Mackesy, A, Jr. (55 G, 23 A)

Gianforcaro didn’t even start until the Tigers’ Ivy League opener last year. He wound up second in the country in save percentage and the most outstanding player of the Ivy League tournament. Little wonder Madalon said at this time last year that Princeton would be fine with whoever emerged from its goalie competition — and why he sees it as an even greater strength heading into 2024.

“I think he’s such a total package goalie, from stopper to communicator to leader,” Madalon said. “Just a really impressive young guy and impressive player and teammate. I think all three of those attributes and being able to do all of that for us consistently are what make him really special.”

KEY ADDITIONS

Colin Burns, A, Fr. (35 G, 34 A at Georgetown Prep, Md.)   
Nate Kabiri, A, Fr. (40 G, 28 A at Georgetown Prep, Md.)   
Hunter Spiess, D, Fr. (Brunswick School, Conn.)

The best thing for Burns and Kabiri is they won’t have to carry the load on attack, given the presence of the exceptional Coulter Mackesy. Nonetheless, some bumpy moments are almost built in if a starting attack features a couple freshmen who could find themselves defended by 22- or 23-year-old defensemen while facing certain opponents.

Madalon pointed to holdovers Chad Palumbo, Jack Ringhofer, Braedon Saris and Lukas Stanat as other potential options on attack. Stanat (10 G, 10 A) and Saris (6 G, 11 A) were both productive when they played last year, and all but Palumbo started at least three games in 2023.

“As young as we are there and potentially could be there as a starting lineup, we do have some depth, and guys are waiting their turn to step up,” Madalon said.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Weston Carpenter, A; Ben Finlay, D   
Transfers: Sam English, M (Syracuse); Beau Pederson, SSDM (Michigan), Griffen Rakower, G (Duke); Cathal Roberts, LSM (Michigan); Christian Ronda, M (Michigan); Alex Slusher, A (Duke); Jake Stevens, M (Syracuse); Jacob Stoebner, D (Johns Hopkins); Alexander Vardaro, M (Georgetown)

X-FACTOR

Cooper Kistler, LSM, So. (4 CT, 9 GB)

The roster-wide exodus of players with a year of eligibility left — just not in the Ivy League — touched on even a defense that has a lot of knowns. And while the likes of Pace Billings and Colin Mulshine should anchor the close unit (with Zach Friedman impressing the staff with his smarts and communication skills in the fall to emerge as a potential third starter), there’s still a place for the promising Kistler.

“He’ll probably start the year up in the LSM role,” Madalon said.

The Californian got into eight games last season and forced a pair of turnovers in the Ivy League final against Yale. If he settled into a role as an on-field disruptor, it will only further fortify what should be a capable Princeton defense.

THE NARRATIVE

OK, here’s an admission: Despite its success the last two seasons, Princeton probably isn’t the 14th-best team in the country on the eve of the season. A more accurate placement for a team leaning on so many inexperienced players would be borderline Top 20, if not a little lower.

And here’s a prediction: By the time May rolls around, the Tigers could very well be better than the 14th-best team in the country. Maybe a lot better.

Those two thoughts are a direct byproduct of Princeton’s most obvious traits. The Tigers are youthful, and they could also be more than a handful.

“We’re definitely going to be young in certain spots,” Madalon said. “We’ll also have some veterans in certain spots, especially on the defensive end. We’ll be young offensively. We’ll be inexperienced and young in the midfield. We are young around the faceoff X. We are young. Dangerous? I hope so. We have a lot of talented young guys, but we have to learn to play well as a team, and I imagine that’s going to take a minute.”

The question of just how long it takes is pertinent, because the schedule is unforgiving. The Tigers have a five-game stretch against Maryland, North Carolina, Duke, Rutgers and Cornell starting Feb. 24, with only the Ivy League opener against the Big Red at home.

The potential for a hole not unlike last year’s 2-4 start exists, but the Tigers also have plenty of chances to build a postseason profile well before they navigate Ivy play.

ENEMY LINES 
WHAT RIVALS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE TIGERS

“The only issue with them is they say they’re going to start two freshmen on attack. They have to figure themselves out. If you look at their schedule, they play ACCs and do a whole bunch of stuff. They’ll be interesting because they were OK last year. I think they have a very good goalie. They have to figure things out, and the issue is if they don’t early on they could get some knockout blows to them.”

BEYOND THE BASICS 
POWERED BY LACROSSE REFERENCE

Princeton’s defense ranked 6th nationally, showcasing the ability to disrupt offenses with a formidable third place in opponent-adjusted shooting percentage and efficiency. Yet, the Tigers’ struggle in late-clock situations, allowing goals on 28.7% of possessions longer than 60 seconds, points to an area ripe for improvement. This vulnerability against sustained attacks is a blemish of an otherwise robust defensive unit.

Lacrosse Reference Glossary