CO-STAR: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Cody Triolo looks for an opening in recent action. Last Friday, junior midfield star Triolo scored three goals as PDS rallied for a 12-10 win over Morristown-Beard in the opening round of the state Prep B tournament. The fourth-seeded Panthers got knocked out of the Prep B tourney last Monday when they lost 8-5 at No. 1 Montclair Kimberley. PDS will look to make another postseason run when they compete in the Mercer County Tournament where the seventh-seeded Panthers host No. 10 Hightstown on May 12 in an opening round contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Even though the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team trailed Morristown-Beard 6-3 at halftime last Friday in a state Prep B tournament contest, Cody Triolo wasn’t overly concerned.

“Lacrosse is pretty much a game of runs,” said PDS star midfielder Triolo.

“At that point, we just talked about having our body language ready to play. We wanted to just keep playing. Even if we don’t win the game, if we put forth our best effort, that is what we are looking for and that is what the coaches are looking for.”

Triolo and the fourth-seeded Panthers produced a superb effort over the last 24 minutes of the contest, outscoring the fifth-seeded Crimson 5-1 in the third period to seize momentum on the way to a hard-earned 12-10 victory.

While junior standout Triolo chipped in two goals to help spark the second half rally, he wasn’t a one-man show.

“We kept our composure and we just kept working hard throughout,” said Triolo, who ended up with three goals and an assist in the victory. “It was really a team effort; a bunch of guys stepped up today.”

In Triolo’s view, team chemistry and character helped PDS overtake Mo-Beard.

“When we are scoring, the guys on the sideline are going crazy,” said Triolo. “It is just the environment that kept us going and we thrived off of that. I think it shows as a team, we can face adversity.”

Triolo draws inspiration from the unity on the Panthers. “I was just thriving off of everybody else’s energy,” said Triolo.

“I knew that they were going to play for me so I was going to play for them. I put my best effort out there. I like to just work hard and see what comes from it.”

Having already committed to Lehigh University and its lacrosse program, Triolo is working harder on a daily basis.

“That commitment makes me more serious,” said Triolo, noting that Lehigh is heading to the upcoming NCAA tournaments and has been ranked in the top 10 nationally for much of the season.

“It makes me want to get better everyday because at that next level you really have to be on top of your game everyday.”

PDS head coach Rob Tuckman believes that Triolo’s efforts help raise the level of everyone around him.

“Cody is an outstanding player and what he does is two things,” said Tuckman.

“Number one, he starts the offense which then creates opportunities for other guys. He also sets tempo. Cody plays at 150 percent so when he goes at that speed and that intensity, it picks up everybody else.”

In the victory over Mo-Beard, several different Panthers took advantage of opportunities as Taran Auslander and Tyler Olsson scored three goals apiece with Garret Jensen chipping in two.

“That is the kind of stuff we have been looking for,” said Tuckman. “Instead of leaning on just one guy we are now balancing and really getting it from all over which is great. We are getting it from both the attack and middies which is something teams are going to have to contend with.”

In addition to the offensive prowess, the Panthers have made progress defensively.

“Defense wins championships; that has been our motto,” said Tuckman, whose team fell short of the Prep B title as it lost 8-5 to top-seeded Montclair-Kimberley last Monday in a semifinal contest.

“When our defense tightens up and plays strong, our offense gets that energy that it needs. We really started setting up some transition goals and really creating opportunities.”

Sophomore midfielder Connor Bitterman played a key role in the PDS transition game in the win over Mo-Beard, excelling on face-offs and making some superb runs up the field.

“Connor was terrific; face-offs have been our Achilles heel,” said Tuckman, whose team dropped to 7-5 with the loss to Montclair-Kimberley.

“I don’t think we won a face-off in the first half so you start every possession on defense and you have to build out from there. Connor created opportunities so we didn’t have to just start on defense. Instead, we are dogfighting in the center of the field. He makes great decisions. He has such wheels; he is so fast.”

Senior star Jensen showed his usual fighting spirit, making a key steal and goal early in the third quarter to help trigger a 5-1 PDS run.

“Garret has been solid,” said Tuckman. “He is banged up, so for him it is a herculean effort every time he steps on the field. He is our senior captain; he has really been an incredible leader. His gutting it out through the pain is really a reflection of the leadership he provides.”

Building on its run to the Prep B semis, Tuckman believes his team can do some damage in the upcoming Mercer County Tournament.

“I think we are a good team,” asserted Tuckman, whose club is seeded seventh in the MCT and will host No. 10 Hightstown on May 12 in an opening round contest.

“I think we are playing our best right now. I think in the county, it is wide open. We are excited to be a part of that. If we can get a couple of wins under our belt early and get the momentum going, I think we can be a really effective team.”

In Triolo’s view, the Panthers have been building up momentum in training that can pay off.

“The environment in practice has been great, we have been working really hard,” said Triolo. “Our focus is there, I think, even though it is definitely a grind.”