GETTING DEFENSIVE: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player ­Jackson Andres, right, thwarts a foe in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior defender and Drexel University-bound Andres helped fourth-seeded PHS blank 13th-seeded Jackson Liberty 14-0 in the in the first round of the South Group 3 sectional. Andres contributed a goal and an assist as the Little Tigers improved to 8-8. PHS was slated to host fifth-seeded Hightstown in the sectional quarterfinals on May 19 with the winner advancing to the semis on May 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming off a 15-2 defeat by Princeton Day School in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament on May 9, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team went back to basics last week as it prepared for the state tournament.

“It was rough,” said PHS senior defenseman Jackson Andres. “We had a nice week with five days of practice. We worked on everything, offensive plays, defensive stuff, just to get back from that upsetting loss.”

The team’s hard work paid dividends last Saturday as fourth-seeded PHS blanked No. 13 Jackson Liberty 14-0 in the first round of the South Group 3 sectional. The win improved the little Tigers to 8-8 and earned them a spot in the sectional quarterfinals where they are slated to host fifth-seeded Hightstown in the sectional quarterfinals on May 19 with the winner advancing to the semis on May 21.

“We planned on coming out real strong,” said Andres. “We didn’t want to let anything up, no let-up goals, no nothing.”

Andres was a bit surprised that PHS was able to post a shutout. “It is rare, I think we were just talking more,” said Andres.

“Colin Buckley is the glue for the defense, he was shutting down their best player. Ian Jacobs is a freshman and he is really stepping up. Tooker Callaway is such a solid player. Kenan Glasgold was playing unbelievable in goal today. We are all just jelling.”

Showing his versatility, Andres picked up an assist and scored a point blank goal off a nice feed by classmate Chris Diver.

“It was just nice ball movement from me and Div,” said Andres, reflecting on his goal. “We are good friends. We know where each other is on the field. It is fun playing with my friend.”

Andres had fun helping out on the offensive end this season. “I have been looking to get involved,” said Andres. “We have been in need of an extra scorer so I have filled that role pretty nicely. I am just trying to do what I can to help the team out.”

PHS head coach Peter Stanton liked the way his guys went about their business in the wake of the loss to PDS.

“It is to the boys’ credit that they took a disappointment and they channeled it into hard work,” said Stanton.

“We were a more talented team today but we played really good lacrosse. That was the lacrosse that we thought we could play all season long.”

The Little Tigers played some stellar defensive lacrosse in stifling Jackson Liberty.

“Their player #40, Troy Wolf, is very talented; it looked on film that he could create offense for his team and it all started with him being able to beat his man,” said Stanton. “We put Colin Buckley on him and Colin frustrated him early. A really key sequence early in the game was when they were man up and we shut him off with Luis Lazo who didn’t give him an inch to breathe. He acted a little frustrated and I think he made a foul. We got the ball and scored right after and then it was OK, we are in their best player’s head.”

Andres has established himself as one of PHS’s best players. “Jackson is such a valuable defender, basically people don’t dodge at him,” said Stanton.

“It is like if he is guarding me, I am passing the ball. He is able to take players out of the game, he is able to take areas of the field away. He is a two-time All-American for a reason.”

Senior Diver showed some game on attack, tallying two goals and three assists in the win.

“Chris played at midfield last year and with what we graduated at attack, we converted him down there,” said Stanton, who got four goals and three assists from sophomore Johnny Lopez-Ona with junior Rory Helstrom chipping in four goals and two assists.

“He has really good sports sense but even still, it was a big adjustment for him. The field looks a lot different from attack. It was great to see him do well, exactly what he did today was what we had hoped he would be able to do for us this year, finish those balls in transition and make the extra pass.”

The way PHS rebounded last week has Stanton confident that the team can produce a big finish to the season.

“Sometimes a setback like we experienced last Saturday will make you doubt yourself and make you look forward to doing other things,” said Stanton.

“Our guys have really shown a lot. It started on Monday when we came back and we worked hard and we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves. We didn’t get down on ourselves, we just worked. If you have boys who are going to do that, you absolutely plan on making a run.”

Andres, for his part, wants to extend his PHS lax career as long as possible. “It went by so much faster than I thought it would; all the seniors in the past have always said it goes by so fast,” said Andres, who is headed to Drexel University where he will be playing for its men’s lacrosse program.

“The first three years are slow and then the fourth is just a blink. It is bittersweet, I don’t want it to end. It is going to be tough, it has been fun. I love these guys, I love this team. I have loved all four years.”