| NEWS |
  
 |
| FEATURES |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
  
|
| COLUMNS |
     |
| CONTACT US |
|
| HOW TO SUBMIT |
|
|
| BACK ISSUES |
|
|
caption:
|
PDS Boys' Hockey Rides Defense In Earning Shot at 7th Prep Crown
By Bill Alden
With the Princeton Day School boys' ice hockey team having won six straight Prep B state titles, it isn't surprising that the squad is a bit blasé about the tourney.
As the Panthers hosted Montclair Kimberley last Monday in a state Prep semifinal contest, PDS got off to a sluggish start, essentially controlling the puck but squandering several scoring opportunities. After 14 scoreless minutes, PDS broke through as senior defender Peter Rossi scored a goal with 47 seconds left in the first period as he cashed in on a diving shot.
Another senior defender, John Siemann, added a goal in the second period on a Rossi feed to give PDS a little breathing room heading into the final 15 minutes.
Laddie Sanford and Jon Siani then tallied in the third period as PDS pulled away to a 4-0 win, earning a spot in the state title game on February 18 when it will host Morristown-Beard.
Siemann acknowledged that the team might have lacked a little fire as it took on Montclair Kimberley, a team that PDS had blanked 7-0 in last year's title game.
"Maybe because we've been here so many times, we were a little complacent," said Siemann. "I think we definitely learned today that if we don't go hard every shift, we don't have the natural talent to just go out there and win."
While the Panthers may have gotten off to a slow start Monday, Siemann made it clear that he and his classmates aren't taking another title shot for granted.
"It's always a great feeling to play for a championship," said Siemann. ³You definitely don't want to be the first team here to not get there. We definitely want it."
PDS head coach Chris Barcless admitted he wasn't so sure how hard his team wanted it in the early going Monday.
"We were sluggish to start," said Barcless, who did get a sharp effort out of goalie T.J. Krall as he turned away 16 shots in recording the shutout in helping the Panthers improve to 13-4-1. "It's just mental. Mentally, we weren't there at the start of the game. A win is a win and we'll take it."
The seventh year head coach acknowledges that his team does have a bull's eye on its back when it comes to the state tournament.
"I think we do feel some pressure," explained Barcless. "We do look at it as a streak. We've been defending champs all these years and no matter how tough it is or isn't in terms of the competition, you still have got to win. It's tough to go out there and win every time."
Barcless believes his seniors are primed to go 4-for-4 when it comes to state titles. "It would be satisfying absolutely," said Barcless, whose Class of 2004 includes Michael Crowley, Sean Rochford, and Mitch DePace in addition to Siemann, Rossi, and Sanford.
"This would be the fourth class I've had to win all four titles, It's something that's on their minds. It would be a nice way for them to finish their careers."
Siemann, for his part, believes he and his classmates have what it takes to keep the PDS title streak alive.
"I think we need to do what got us here," maintained Siemann. "We're confident that if we play the way Chris has taught us we'll be able to take out anyone."
