A preview for a men’s lacrosse game between Syracuse and Princeton ordinarily would lead with some poetic opening about two storied programs clashing in lacrosse’s version of a heavyweight bout. It would wax on the tradition of the two programs, which have won 13 of the last 18 national titles.

But not this season’s preview. Not with this Syracuse team.

SU is struggling; that’s old news. The schedule is tough; that’s even older news. Princeton is a rival; that’s almost ancient news. But none of that matters on Saturday at 2 p.m., when the Orange hosts the Tigers.

What matters is a combination of each: SU is 2-4 with all but two of its six remaining games against top 20 teams. One of those is Princeton, No. 5 in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and stands as another opponent between SU and the NCAA Tournament.

‘Both programs have a lot of pride and a lot of tradition, and you have two head coaches like (Princeton’s Bill) Tierney and (Syracuse’s John) Desko, so this game goes back a long way,’ SU junior defenseman Steve Panarelli said. ‘But both teams need a win right now. This is an important game for both teams.’

It’s probably more important for the Orange than the Tigers. A team ‘needing a win’ seems like a redundant phrase, but SU has to march to at least the .500 mark for postseason consideration. Princeton is 5-2 and winners of its last three. Saturday is its final non-conference game of the season.

SU earned its second win of the season last Saturday against Loyola, but because of the Orange’s independent status and the program’s willingness to take on anyone, it follows Princeton with No. 6 Cornell on Tuesday night in Ithaca. A loss for SU on Saturday would be a setback for a team which earned a significant confidence-boost after beating Loyola.

‘I sense a little less urgency,’ Desko said. ‘I think anytime you pull off a win, you feel good about yourself and your confidence level goes up.’

The team’s attitude is undoubtedly a positive sign. A team of SU’s prestige and talent isn’t used to a four-game losing streak. Now, it’s bunkered down and focused on tallying its third win.

‘It’s always nice to have the (win) because you’re not beating yourself up and thinking about what you have to do right,’ said sophomore goalie Pete Coluccini, who had his best game of the season against Loyola with 15 saves. ‘There’s still a lot of things we have to change and work on. But it’s nice to have the win and not have to worry about a loss.’

Coluccini’s performance is among the many positives the Orange can carry from Loyola to Princeton. There was also the performance of the freshmen – Dan Hardy, Pat Perritt and Matt Abbott all scored goals last Saturday – and the team looked sharper than it did in a stunning loss to Hobart on March 28.

But whenever playing Princeton, there is an adjustment for the opponent. The Tigers feature a methodical, possession-oriented style. They work the ball around, seeking a high-quality shot. They also returned four of their five leading scorers from a team that was uncharacteristically 5-7 last season.

Desko identified faceoffs as one of the keys to the game. When playing a team like Princeton, there’s more of a premium on possessions than when playing a team like Virginia, which is known for its fast-paced offense. Coincidentally, SU’s faceoff percentage – 45.2 percent – is nearly identical to Princeton’s – 45.3 percent.

But even the recognition of the X’s and O’s component of Saturday’s game is an example of its importance. Syracuse-Princeton is a longstanding rivalry, sure, but this year is different. There’s only been one time in the matchup’s history when SU faced Princeton with a losing record. That was last season, when the Orange entered the game 1-3 and topped Princeton, 10-8, to start a four-game winning streak. SU is hoping for a similar fate this season.

‘It’s always been a very big game for both teams, and you look at the two teams being in the many national championships over the years, so there’s a lot of mutual respect between both teams,’ Desko said. ‘Of course right now, we’re playing for wins. We need wins. Whether it’s Princeton or whoever, we have to go to for the win on Saturday at 2.’

Published on April 6, 2006 at 12:00 pm