OVERDUE: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Alex Capretta heads up field in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star Capretta tallied three goals and an assist, including the game-winning score, as Princeton edged Yale 10-9 in five overtimes. It was the longest game in the history of both programs. No. 11 Princeton, now 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Ivy League action, plays at Brown (3-3 overall, 0-1 Ivy) on March 31. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team dropped a 1-goal decision to North Carolina earlier this month, Chris Bates pointed to the Tigers’ lack of composure in the clutch as a decisive factor.

After that 9-8 loss to the Tar Heels on March 10, Princeton didn’t have a nailbiter in its next two contests as it cruised to wins over Penn and Villanova.

But last Saturday at Yale, the Tigers got ample opportunity to display their poise as they found themselves in a marathon pressure cooker for the ages as the rivals played into five overtimes, the longest game in the history of both programs.

Showing composure and persistence, Princeton outlasted the feisty Bulldogs as an Alex Capretta goal gave the Tigers a 10-9 win after 18:21 of overtime before 1,057 at Reese Stadium.

A relieved head coach Bates was proud of his team’s resolve as it improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Ivy League play while Yale dropped to 2-4 overall, 0-2 Ivy.

“We are happy to get away with a win and be 2-0 in the Ivy League but we still have room to grow,” said Bates.

“We can put that in our memory bank. We played with good poise. We executed in trying times. It is a good to win a game like that; it gives you confidence.”

At earlier points in the game, it looked like Princeton was going to win with ease. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter, seemingly picking up where it left off from an impressive 11-4 win over Penn a week earlier.

“We started off well,” said Bates. “We were scoring goals in a flurry which is good. We got three relatively quick goals and then the game settled down.”

The teams went back and forth over the next two quarters with Yale outscoring Princeton 4-2 to make it a 5-5 game heading into the fourth quarter.

Once again, it looked like the Tigers seized the momentum as they reeled off a 4-1 run to take a 9-6 lead with 3:35 remaining in regulation.

“We had another little burst, Alex had two goals and Tucker [Shanley] had one,” recalled Bates.

But then showing the kind of lapse that plagued it earlier in the season, Princeton yielded three unanswered goals as Yale forced overtime.

“It was uncharacteristic of us,” said Bates, reflecting on the waning moments of the fourth quarter.

“They got one in transition and it was 9-7 and you could feel that the momentum shifted. They got some face-offs and scored. They are a good team.”

There were wild swings of momentum in the marathon extra session as the foes combined for 26 shots, seven turnovers, nine saves, and three extra-man opportunities.

“It was frenetic; each period had its own personality,” recalled Bates, whose team outshot Yale 18-8 in the overtimes and 49-38 on the day.

“We had some shots that I was sure were going in. There were a lot of penalties. They dominated one period; we only had possession for 20 seconds.”

In Bates’ view, it was fitting that Capretta notched the game-winner. “Finally at the end, Alex got one,” said Bates of Capretta, who had tallied three goals and an assist in the win, giving him 15 points so far this spring after scoring a total of 10 in his first three seasons.

“He had a good game; he is having a really good senior year. He is playing with poise and under control. It was good to see him get that one.”

The Tigers got a poised effort from senior star goalie Tyler Fiorito. “Tyler took the next step; he made two really big saves,” said Bates of tri-captain Fiorito, who made 13 saves in the game and now has a 7.29 goals against average this season. “There was one in the fourth overtime and one in the fifth. They were All-American saves to keep them from winning the game.”

Bates also tipped his hat to his defensive unit which features such standouts as senior tri-captains Chad Wiedmaier and John Cunningham together with classmate Jonathan Meters and sophomore Rob Castelo.

“It is always a work in progress: I think we have some of the most talented individuals in the country there,” said Bates. “But it comes down to how we communicate and operate as a unit.”

With 11th-ranked Princeton playing at Brown (3-3 overall, 0-1 Ivy) on Saturday, Bates is expecting another nailbiter.

“It is going to be a battle; we had a very close game with them last year (a 5-4 win in four overtimes),” said Bates. “Every Ivy game is up for grabs.”

But with Princeton developing an ability to stay cool under pressure, Bates likes his team’s chances.

“It is a pretty mature group; the leadership is solid and it is not just the captains,” said Bates.

“The guys are growing up. I think we have guys who want to step up and make plays. As evidenced Saturday, the guys are willing to take shots. You need the payoff and we are getting it.”