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Vol. LXIII, No. 17
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 17
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction)
GETTING RICH: Princeton University men’s lacrosse star Rich Sgalardi heads to goal in recent action. Last Saturday, senior midfielder Sgalardi chipped in three assists as No. 4 Princeton topped Dartmouth 14-7 to improve to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in Ivy League play. The win set up an Ivy title clash when 10th-ranked Brown (12-2 overall, 4-1 Ivy) comes to Class of 1952 Stadium on May 2. Cornell has finished the league season at 5-1 and will tie for the league title with the winner of the Brown-Princeton clash. |
Rich Sgalardi cut a forlorn figure last year on the bench as the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team lost at Dartmouth.
Sidelined due to a sprained ankle, Sgalardi could only watch as the Tigers fell 11-9 and squandered a chance at clinching a bid to the NCAA tournament.
“I can’t even describe it, my teammate and linemate Mark Kovler was also injured for that game and I remember both of us on the sideline,” said senior midfielder Sgalardi, recalling that dark day which was followed by a loss to Brown as the Tigers failed in their last chance to qualify for the NCAAs.
It wasn’t a thing of beauty but Christine Casaceli and the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team weren’t in a position to worry about style points.
With No. 5 Princeton locked in a 6-6 tie against upset-minded Brown midway through the second half last Saturday, senior attacker Casaceli prepared to take a free-position shot just outside the crease.
While Casaceli had visions of burying a top shelf volley that snapped the back of the net, she bounced a shot that glanced off the Brown goalie and barely trickled cross the line for a score.
For the Princeton High girls’ track team, its annual meet with Trenton High has generally been a losing proposition.
With a tradition of champion sprinters and good athletes throughout the lineup, Trenton has topped the Little Tigers year in, year out.
But earlier this month, PHS made a statement about its balance and competitiveness as it edged Trenton 76-63.
The temperature was hovering around 90 degrees last Monday and the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team was struggling to cool off a fired-up Peddie School squad.
With the teams meeting in the state Prep semifinals, second-seeded Hun and No. 3 Peddie were locked in a 5-5 stalemate at halftime.
In the third quarter, though, Hun put Peddie in the deep freeze, holding the Falcons scoreless.
The Raiders, meanwhile, got goals from senior stars Harry Blackburn and Zach Martin to take a 7-5 lead going into the final period.
It was a defeat but it represented progress for the Stuart Country Day lacrosse team.
Hosting undefeated Peddie School last week, Stuart got off to a strong start and built a 5-4 lead as the teams headed into halftime.
The powerful Falcons battled back and took the lead. But with two minutes left, it was anybody’s game as Stuart trailed by just 10-8.
Peddie, however, scored three unanswered goals in the last 1:41 to pull away to a 13-8 win.