MAN POWER: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Jonah Tuckman fires the ball in third-seeded PDS’s 15-2 win over sixth-seeded and two-time defending champions Princeton High in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinal last Saturday. Junior star Tuckman tallied three goals and an assist in the win. On Monday, PDS fell 11-10 to Rutgers Prep in the state Prep B semifinals to drop to 10-6. PDS was slated to face second-seeded Allentown on May 12 in the MCT semis with the winner advancing to the title game on May 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Playing through an intermittent drizzle, the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team built a 3-1 first quarter lead against crosstown rival Princeton High in a Mercer County Tournament quarterfinal clash last Saturday.

But in the second quarter, Jonah Tuckman and his PDS teammates poured it on visiting PHS, as the third-seeded outscored the sixth-seeded and two-time defending county champion Little Tigers 7-0 to take a 10-1 halftime lead.

“I think we just started to click; I think everyone started to move the ball well,” said junior star Tuckman.

“Every one of our goals was just multi touch, everyone was helping each other. We didn’t really dodge through and shoot. We were all playing really  unselfishly and that is what we were looking for today.”

PDS never looked back, rolling to a 15-2 win over PHS. The Panthers are slated to face second-seeded Allentown on May 12 in the MCT semis with the winner advancing to the title game on May 14.

Tuckman ended up with three goals and an assist in the win over PHS and formed a productive partnership with younger brother, freshman Elon, who chipped in two goals and three assists.

“It is fun, we just go back to playing in the backyard,” said a smiling Tuckman, reflecting on the connection he feels with his brother.

“We used to come out here on the turf over the summer and stand by the crease, pass it back and forth and just try and finish on an empty net. It is showing on the field; it is a really good time to have him out there.”

Tuckman’s bond with senior star Jacob Shavel, who added three goals and an assist in the win over PHS, exemplifies the team’s on-field chemistry.

“Jacob is one of my best friends and throughout the whole offseason we have been playing together and we have been working hard in the weight room,” said Tuckman.

“We have really built a lot of chemistry throughout the whole team. It is not just Jacob and I or Elon and I, the whole team has a lot of chemistry. It is really working well.”

The team came to the aid of the Tuckman brothers earlier this season after their mother passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“The day after it happened, I was downstairs in my basement and I looked up and seven or eight of the guys on the team were just standing there to hang out with me and my brother  the whole day and just be with us,” recalled Tuckman.

“The team has been doing that the whole time, we have really been there for each other, it has been great.”

Tuckman has worked hard to be there for for his teammates. “I put a lot of work in over the offseason; it was a lot  of growth both in the weight room and mentally so I have been playing well,” said Tuckman, who scored three goals and two assists in a losing cause as PDS fell 11-10 at Rutgers Prep last Monday in the state Prep B semifinals.

“Also, our whole team has been playing well together. That definitely has a lot to do with my numbers boosting.”

As PDS looks ahead to the MCT semis, Tuckman believes the Panthers are saving their best for last.

“We pumped up our schedule like no other this year,” said Tuckman. “Early in the year our record wasn’t showing what we were but we knew we were playing good lacrosse and then we ended up just turning around. We knew we were playing well and now we are just thriving, playing our best lacrosse when it matters.”

PDS head coach Rich D’Andrea was thrilled with the way his team played in its second quarter outburst against PHS.

“We have been trying to dictate the pace the entire year,” said D’Andrea. “That is one of the big things for us, having guys understand, based on the makeup of our team, that there is always a premium on possession. Guys have really worked on clearing the ball. If you clear the ball well, it gives way to more possession and luckily, we were able to capitalize on some of those today.”

The dominant play of sophomore Nick Day on face-offs helped PDS control possession against the Little Tigers.

“Nick was fantastic at the X, we are lucky to have Nick,” said D’Andrea of the WW/P-N transfer.

“He is a hardworking guy; he is a locker room guy. He has worked really, really hard. In the few last weeks, he has become really disciplined. He is doing all the right things now at the right time.”

Day’s good work has freed up the older Tuckman to focus on his offensive production. “Last year, Jonah was a guy we relied on for face-off, man-up, man-down, and defense,” said D’Andrea.

“It was rare that he left the field. Having Nick with us this year has taken a little pressure off of him. He has really worked hard to develop his shot. He is dodging hard, he is moving the ball well. Jonah is a special player; he is one of our spiritual lightning rods.”

Senior star Shavel is another spiritual leader for the Panthers. “Jacob has a nose for the ball, he does some great things for us,” said D’Andrea.

“He finishes the ball, he is one of our guys who handles and possesses well. Jacob has a way of finding ground balls in big spots; it has been fours years of that. He brings such good experience to the field, that is why he is one of our captains.”

The Panthers’ experienced defensive unit, spearheaded by seniors Christian Vik and Kevin Towle, juniors Amir Melvin and James Fragale, along with senior goalie Chris Markey, shut the door on PHS.

“They did a great job, they pressured hands the whole time,” said D’Andrea.

“They knew the assignments, right, left. Those guys have a way of backing each other up. Not only are they a talented group but knowing that you have Chris Markey in goal for you is a big help. He made some big ones when he needed to; he has done that for us all year.”

No matter how the year ends for PDS, D’Andrea likes the way his players have gone about their business.

“I think for us, it hasn’t been about one game the entire year, it is about showing steady progress,” said D’Andrea.

“There is an art to when teams peak; it is an inexact science. Most importantly, the guys are more focused than they have been, they are working hard, they are tweaking on a daily basis. That is all you can ask for, who knows what is going to happen.”

Tuckman, for his part, is confident that the Panthers will show their teamwork to the end.

“We just have to keep moving the ball and keep playing together,” said Tuckman. “The whole year we have been preaching family and togetherness; that is what we have to look for. We have to have each other’s back and play together.”