STICKING WITH IT: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Ben Drezner unloads the ball in recent action. Junior attacker Drezner and the Little Tigers, now 5-7, start play in the Mercer County Tournament this week where they are seeded fourth and slated to host a quarterfinal contest on May 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Playing at undefeated Hightstown last Friday, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team faced an uphill battle.

“We were a little strapped, we had some guys injured,” said PHS head coach Chip Casto, whose team brought a three-game winning streak into the contest.

“Ian Jacobs is out, Jay Jackson is out. That team is talented and physical; they are a very good team.”

While Hightstown displayed that talent by jumping out to an 8-3 halftime lead, the Little Tigers weren’t fazed.

“At halftime, we not trying to do anything different, it was just going back to basics,” recalled Casto. “There was no panic, it was let’s get the first score and get the second one.”

PHS followed that plan, scoring two straight goals to open the second half and make it an 8-5 contest but the Rams responded with a 3-1 run to end the quarter and never looked back on the way to a 16-8 win.

“If we could have gotten it to 8-6, I think something changes maybe,” lamented Casto.

“They got it to 9-5; it made it a little tougher and with a small squad, you get worn out. Guys are playing positions that they are not used to, but that is no excuse.”

PHS sophomore midfielder Dylan Westerman showed toughness, playing through pain to tally a team-high four goals.

“He is picking it up, he is a little banged up, but he can shoot,” said Casto, who got two goals apiece from Evan Filion and Alex Park in the loss to the Rams.

With PHS having a history of saving its best for last, Casto is hoping his squad can pick things up down the stretch.

“Once we get Ian back, people can go back to their natural spots and it will give us a chance to get better,” said Casto.

“We are getting better really slowly but we haven’t had that big jump. We keep waiting for that big jump.”

With the Mercer County Tournament starting this week and PHS, now 5-7, getting seeded fourth and slated to host a quarterfinal contest on May 5, Casto is hoping that the Little Tigers can jump into a semifinal matchup against top-seeded Hightstown.

“We’re just talking as coaches and hopefully we see them again in that 4-1 matchup in the county tournament,” said Casto, who guided the Little Tigers to the MCT title game last spring.

“We see what they had in terms of maybe playing them again. We see who they are and who they have.”