(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: EIGHT BALL: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse star Taylor Blair heads to goal in recent action. Last Saturday, senior attacker Blair fired in eight goals to help fourth-seeded PHS top No. 2 WW/P-N 11-8 in the Mercer County Tournament championship game. Blair added two goals this past Monday as PHS defeated Morristown 14-10 in the opening round of the state tournament to win its eighth straight game and improve to 11-4. PHS will look to keep rolling on May 19 when the sixth-seeded Little Tigers play at No. 3 West Morris (11-6) in the second round of the state tournament.

With Blair Exploding for 8 Goals, PHS Girls’ Lax Wins MCT Crown

Bill Alden

Taylor Blair went to the prom on Friday evening but she wasn’t about to party into the wee hours of the night.

The senior attacker for the Princeton High girls lacrosse team had a special engagement on Saturday morning as the fourth-seeded Little Tigers were facing No. 2 WW/P-N in the Mercer County Tournament championship game.

“I came home afterwards; I had to get a good night’s sleep,” said Blair, reflecting on her prom experience.

The well-rested Blair brought plenty of energy to the field Saturday, firing in eight goals as PHS topped the Northern Knights 11-8 at WW/P-S to win the title.

The win set off a wild celebration as the PHS players shrieked with joy at the final whistle and mobbed each other in the middle of the field.

“It is very, very exciting,” said Blair. “I know the girls really wanted it and it is a great time for this to happen.”

The win was particularly meaningful for Blair and the Little Tigers since they have gone through some very tough times over the last few weeks in the wake of the death of teammate Emma Brunskill in late April.

“I thought the situation made the team unity a lot stronger,” said Blair, reflecting on the passing of her friend and classmate.

“We knew we had to keep our spirits really high and we knew we had to move on. Lacrosse was a good distraction from anything that was going on.”

Blair wasn’t about to be distracted from her mission to get to goal on Saturday.

“I had a pretty good game,” said Blair modestly. “I was really nervous at first. I think with just the emotion and everything, we knew we had to put it all on the field.”

A jubilant PHS head coach Christie Cooper felt some strong emotions as she reflected on her team’s county crown, the first in program history.

“I can’t even describe what it means to me and these girls,” said Cooper. “A couple of weeks ago they could have put their heads down. We said we didn’t care if we win or if we lose because it was our team unity that mattered at that point.”

But Cooper soon realized that winning was a salve for her team’s pain. “Winning made them feel good and able to keep going,” asserted Cooper, whose team topped Morristown 14-10 last Monday in the opening round of the state tournament to win its eighth straight game and improve to 11-4.

“You knew you had another opportunity to win and keep going. It gives you another opportunity to have practice and a game where you don’t have to think about anything else except for lacrosse.”

That doesn’t mean, though, that Brunskill isn’t in the thoughts of the PHS players.

“They think about her all the time and I think she is always in the back of their heads,” said Cooper.

“It taught them what a team is. It’s being a support system for each other and pulling each other through on and off the field. That showed in the way we have played in our last seven games for sure.”

On Saturday, the Little Tigers showed that togetherness and resolve as they fought off a late rally which saw WW/P-N fight back from a four-goal deficit to narrow the gap to 10-8 with 12:04 remaining in the contest.

“No matter what North did, we scored,” said Cooper. “A couple of weeks ago we might have put our heads down and they would have scored three or four more. We answered back every time. That was key and then Devin coming up at the end with those major saves. That gave us an opportunity to keep possession of the ball and hold it and prevent them from scoring. “You can’t ask for anything more at the end of a game.”

Cooper couldn’t ask for anything more of the prolific Blair. “Taylor was on fire and she has been on fire for the last couple games,” added Cooper, whose team will look to keep rolling when the sixth-seeded Little Tigers play at No. 3 West Morris (11-6) on May 19 in the second round of the state tournament.

“When Taylor plays at her best, our entire team plays at its best. I love that she got to drive for that last goal and really secure that win for us at the end.”

Blair, for her part, believes the Little Tigers are in overdrive. “Our stick skills have gotten a lot better and we have come up with some really nice plays,” said Blair. “We are just working a lot better.”

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