Sports

(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) THIRD’S A CHARM: Members of the Princeton University men’s water polo team celebrate after they beat Loyola Marymount 6-5 last Sunday at DeNunzio Pool in the NCAA Final 4 consolation game to take third place in the tournament. The Tigers finished the season 16-12 by virtue of the win, which was their first ever in the NCAAs.

After Absorbing Rout to USC in NCAA Semis, PU Men’s Water Polo Rebounds to Place 3rd

Bill Alden

Eric Vreeland and his fellow seniors on the Princeton University men’s water polo team had worked four years for last weekend.

The Tigers were playing in the NCAA Final 4 and, as icing on the cake, the event was being held at Princeton’s DeNunzio Pool.

“It was kind of like a dream come true having the Final 4 at Princeton,” said Vreeland. “Our goal was to make the Final 4 because of this experience. It’s great.”

With Allgood Continuing to Grow in Post, PU Women’s Basketball Produces 5-2 Start

Bill Alden

Devona Allgood got a rude awakening when the Princeton University women’s basketball team played at perennial power Rutgers early last season.

Competing in just the second game of her college career, Allgood was held scoreless in nine minutes of play, grabbing one rebound and picking up three fouls as the Tigers got routed 83-35.

Last Saturday as Princeton hosted Rutgers for this year’s installment in the local rivalry, the 6’3 Allgood displayed the growth in her game, scoring 14 points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds as the Tigers put up a fierce battle before falling 60-50 to the Scarlet Knights.

In reflecting on her performance, Allgood was proud of how far she has come from that rough night against the Scarlet Knights last November.

Boasting Battle-Tested Core of Young Talent, PHS Boys’ Swimming Has the Depth to Excel

Bill Alden

As the Princeton High boys’ swimming team produced a stirring state tournament run last winter that culminated in a trip to the state Public B semifinals, PHS head coach Greg Hand saw his corps of freshman swimmers come of age.

While PHS featured a pair of stellar senior stars in Sean MacKenzie and Alex Zantal, it was the team’s corps of freshmen, Derek Colaizzo, Harun Filipovic, Addison Hebert, Victor Honore, Matt Kuhlik, and Nick Zantal, that provided the depth needed to earn the Central Jersey sectional title.

In the wake of seeing his team starting the 2009-10 season with a 111-59 win over Hightstown last week, Hand believes that last year’s tournament run is paying dividends.

With New Coach Herzog Bringing Toughness, PHS Girls’ Hockey Shooting for Big Winter

Bill Alden

As Christian Herzog takes the helm of the Princeton High girls’ ice hockey team this winter, he is taking a hard-line approach.

“I work them hard and they respond to that; they appreciate that,” said Herzog, who served as an assistant coach with the program last year and is taking over for Jeff Schneider.

“I am up front; I am blatantly honest. If a player asks me what she needs to do to play more, I will give her a laundry list of things to do.”

PDS Girls’ Hockey Looks to Raise the Bar as Smithson Emphasizes Serious Approach

Bill Alden

Kat Smithson has been exposed to some high-powered ice hockey programs over the years.

Smithson was a star and captain for the Millbrook School (N.Y.) girls’ hockey team before going on to become a three-year starter and captain for the St. Lawrence University women’s team.

Now, as Smithson takes over as the sole head coach for the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team, she is looking to bring some of that seriousness to the Panther program.