Sophomore attack Jason Donegar had five goals, including four in the decisive third quarter, in leading Princeton to a 16-10 victory over Albany in the first round of the NCAA Championship Saturday (May 10).
Princeton (11-3) broke a 5-5 halftime tie with five consecutive goals in the third period. Senior midfielder Will MacColl, who had a season-high four goals and added one assist, put his team on top for good when he drove around Albany's Matthew Fiasconaro and scored from the right side with 10:36 left in the quarter.
The Tigers, who have won six national titles and reached the championship final two other times since 1992, then scored three more times over the next two minutes. Josh White, who had two goals and two assists, connected from eight yards out on an extra-man opportunity. Donegar then found an open net 16 seconds later after the Great Danes turned the ball over deep in their territory.
Donegar, who has 40 goals on the season, later scored from the top of the crease, before MacColl finished off a drive from the left side for a 10-5 lead with 4:14 remaining in the period. Donegar added two more goals in the final three minutes of the stanza to provide his club with a comfortable 12-6 cushion heading into the final quarter.
Albany (10-6) gave the fourth-seed Tigers all they could handle in the first half. Princeton took a 4-3 lead on back-to-back goals by Sean Hartofilis and Donegar. But the Great Danes came back when freshmen Chris Martocchia, who had three goals and two assists, and Matthew Green scored consecutively to regain the lead. White drew the Tigers even with four seconds to play in the half, as he drove from the right and placed a high shot over Albany goalkeeper Kevin Rae.
Albany's Chris Driscoll added a pair of goals, including a spin move that gave the Great Danes a 2-1 lead early in the second stanza. Rae finished with 11 saves, the eleventh time he has reached double figures this season.