FIRING RANGE: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse star Cody Triolo fires the ball in a game last spring. Junior midfielder Triolo, a second-team All Prep B performer in 2011, should be a key weapon for the Panthers this spring. PDS starts the 2012 season by hosting the Academy of New Church on March 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Last spring, Rob Tuckman aimed to get his Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team back on the map.

The Panthers achieved that goal, going 10-5 and advancing to the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals and the state Prep B semis.

As the PDS head coach looks ahead to the 2012 campaign, he is looking for his squad to take another step up the ladder in local lax circles.

“We are setting our goals pretty high; there are a lot of solid programs in the area and I know they are doing the same thing,” said Tuckman, whose team opens the 2012 season by hosting the Academy of New Church on March 29.

“It just depends on who steps up on the day of important games. I think we can exceed our record last year, we are looking to make a mark.”

The Panthers have some marksmen at attack in seniors Garret Jensen and Tyler Olsson together with junior Bump Lisk and freshmen Jacob Shavel and Chris Azzarello.

“Garret is going to run the attack; Olsson is popping in and out,” said Tuckman.

“Bump just got out of hockey; I expect him to be a real factor by April. Jacob is the younger brother of Aaron Shavel (a senior star on the 2011 squad); he’s looking good. Like a lot of younger siblings of good players, he has taken some lumps but really knows the game. I think he could match or exceed what Aaron did for us. Chris is a great finisher. We are young on attack but we are playing at a high level.”

Junior star Cody Triolo provides PDS some high-level play in the midfield.

“Cody has all the shots; he is a game changer,” said Tuckman, noting that Triolo has recovered well from a collarbone injury he suffered while playing for the PDS hockey team this winter.

“He just signed with Lehigh so he is really excited about that. Having a player committed to a D-I program really ups the ante for everyone.”

Tuckman is excited about the rest of his midfield that includes junior Taran and a pair of sophomore standouts in Connor Bitterman and Lewis Blackburn.

“Taran Auslander is a real surprise; he has upped his game,” added Tuckman.

“He is one of our strongest players; he controls the pace for us in the midfield. Bitterman and Blackburn have a year under their belts; they are playing with more confidence and with more muscle on their bones.”

In Tuckman’s view, PDS’s defensive unit should provide some muscle this spring.

“I think defense is probably the strongest part of our team right now,” asserted Tuckman.

“Our senior captain Zack Higgins is a tenacious player for us back there. Derek Bell is a transfer from Hopewell Valley and he is very good. Walker Ward has really stepped up as a senior. He has great knowledge of the game and what we are trying to do.”

At goalie, the Panthers will be going with a tandem of freshman Griffin Thompson and sophomore Nelson Garrymore who have shown knowledge of the game beyond their years.

“Griffin is a really good shot blocker; he makes outstanding saves,” said Tuckman.

“He has been around the game a long time and he understands where players should be. He is a good distributor. He doesn’t act like a freshman, he is a good communicator and good leader on the field. Nelson is right there with him. He is a bigger kid and has a year under his belt. He is also a very good shot blocker.”

In Tuckman’s view, if the Panthers play smart, they could have a very good spring.

“We go at a fast pace; we have to make good decisions,” said Tuckman. “If we play with discipline and play hard, we should be successful.”