1992 — Princeton 10, Syracuse 9 (2OT)
NCAA Final
In a span of five years, Princeton went from a 2-10 laughingstock in Bill Tierney’s first season to NCAA champion at the onset of a new college lacrosse dynasty. Punctuating the turnaround was one of the most thrilling and pivotal championship games in NCAA history. Syracuse erased a six-goal deficit, with Tom Marechek capitalizing on a goalie miscue to tie the game with 42 seconds left in regulation. But Princeton’s Andy Moe (pictured above) retrieved the ball off the faceoff to start the second sudden-death overtime and scored nine seconds into the extra frame to give the Tigers (and Tierney) the first of their six NCAA titles in the next decade.
1993 — Syracuse 15, Princeton 9
NCAA Semifinal
New dynasty talk would have to wait a while, however. Syracuse was still king. While Princeton returned to championship weekend the following year, the Tigers were overpowered by the Orange, who put up 55 shots and overcame a strong effort by goalie Scott Bacigalupo (17 saves) to prevail at then-Byrd Stadium. Syracuse went on to defeat North Carolina 13-12 in the championship game. Matt Riter scored the game-winning goal with eight seconds left. True to their high-volume approach, the Orange fired 66 shots in that game.
1993 — Syracuse 15, Princeton 11
NCAA Quarterfinal
A freshman sensation named Casey Powell scored four goals, while long pole Ric Beardsley and All-America midfielder Roy Colsey added two apiece as the Orange prevailed over the Tigers, who had claimed their second NCAA title the previous year. Syracuse goalie Alex Rosier kept Princeton at bay with 19 saves. The Orange went on to defeat Maryland 13-9 in the championship game despite an MVP effort by Terps goalie Brian Dougherty (46 saves in final four).
1996 — Princeton 11, Syracuse 9
NCAA Semifinal
Ben Strutt and Chris Massey scored fourth-quarter goals to break a 9-9 tie and send Princeton to the NCAA championship game. Tierney famously put in backup goalie Pancho Gutstein in the fourth quarter, and Gutstein responded with four saves while blanking Syracuse for the final 15 minutes. The Orange had previously erased a six-goal deficit. Two days later, Princeton defeated Virginia 10-9 in overtime to claim the first of three straight national championships.
1998 — Princeton 11, Syracuse 10
NCAA Semifinal
Princeton trailed Syracuse 8-4 in the third quarter before rallying to win, as Seamus Grooms scored twice in the fourth quarter and Josh Sims snapped a 10-10 tie with five minutes left. Syracuse had a final chance to tie the game but couldn't in Casey Powell's final game with the Orange. As for Princeton, the Tigers had a much easier time against Maryland in the final, defeating the Terps 15-5 to cement their three-peat. No team has since won three straight NCAA titles, though Notre Dame remains in the running to do so this year.
1999 — Syracuse 7, Princeton 5
NCAA First Round
Liam Banks scored twice and Rob Mulligan made 16 saves to start eighth-seeded Syracuse on a run to the NCAA final, where the Orange ultimately fell to Virginia. This game paled in comparison to Princeton’s 15-14 win at the then-Carrier Dome, where Sims scored in quadruple overtime to end a wild back-and-forth game that was tied at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
2000 — Syracuse 13, Princeton 7
NCAA Final
The Orange ushered in the new millennium with their seventh NCAA championship, throttling the Tigers at Byrd Stadium. Princeton was previously 5-0 in NCAA finals, but Banks (six goals) and Ryan Powell (six points) made quick work of the Tigers. Banks was named NCAA championship MVP.
2001 — Princeton 10, Syracuse 9 (OT)
NCAA Final
This game marked the arrival of a pair of turn-of-the-century attackmen who would author legendary college and pro careers. Princeton’s Ryan Boyle and Syracuse’s Mikey Powell were freshmen who shone on the sport’s biggest stage. Powell scored with 16 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime, but Boyle set up B.J. Prager for the game-winning goal with 41 seconds left in overtime to lift the Tigers to their sixth NCAA championship.
2002 — Syracuse 13, Princeton 12
NCAA Final
Powell’s turn. The teams met on Memorial Day for the third straight year, and Powell went off for four goals and three assists, including the go-ahead tally with 11:35 remaining. Syracuse held off Princeton the rest of the way. The game was played at Rutgers, the last final to be played on a college campus before the NCAA moved championship weekend to NFL venues to accommodate ballooning crowds.
2003 — Syracuse 15, Princeton 5
NCAA Quarterfinal
More Mikey magic. Powell again had four goals and three assists. Syracuse led 11-1 at one point, cruising to a 10-goal victory to punch its ticket to championship weekend. It seems unfathomable today, but from 1983-2004 the Orange made 22 consecutive final four appearances.
