(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) LONG DAY: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse sophomore defenseman Michael Irving heads up the field in recent action. Last Saturday, Irving and his teammates had a long day as fourth-seeded PHS fell 12-3 to No. 1 WW/P-S in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals. The Little Tigers, who dropped to 12-5 with the loss, will look to make amends in the state tournament where they were seeded fifth in the Public Group II tourney. PHS was slated to start play in the states by hosting No. 12 Wayne Valley on May 19.

PHS Boys’ Lax Whipped by WW/P-S in MCT; Looks to Make Amends in State Tournament

Bill Alden

After suffering a 16-6 loss to WW/P-S earlier this month, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team was chomping at the bit to get another shot at the Pirates in the Mercer County Tournament.

Although fourth-seeded PHS arrived late to Robbinsville High for the MCT semifinal clash last Saturday with No. 1 WW/P-S due to a transportation snafu, the Little Tigers felt it was their time to shine.

Sprinting through a spirited warm-up and cheering loudly as they broke their pregame huddle, the PHS players hit the field with a rush.

Seizing the momentum, Little Tiger junior star Allen Bryant found the back of the net 2:22 into the contest as PHS jumped into the lead.

Unfortunately, that was the high-water mark for PHS as WW/P-S reeled off seven unanswered goals to take a 7-1 lead into halftime.

In the second half, PHS tightened things up defensively but never could find a rhythm offensively as it fell 12-3.

Afterward, PHS head coach Peter Stanton acknowledged that WW/P-S was simply the better team.

“Listen, that team rolled us twice; at this point all you can say is hats off to the superior team,” said Stanton, who also got goals from Doug Bryant and Mike Olentine in the defeat as his team dropped to 12-5 on the season.

“You can see that they are a team led by their seniors. They are a savvy team that knows how to play the game well together.”

Stanton is hoping that his young team can learn some lessons from competing against the Pirates.

“We have four seniors on our team,” said Stanton, whose team features a core of junior stars including the Bryants, Olentine, Joe Sandford, and Jordan Metro.

“I would say that all 10 guys on the field for WW/P-S are players; hopefully we can learn from that. Everybody on the field has to be accountable and able to contribute and produce.”

PHS will look to produce this week when it starts play in the state tournament.

“Hopefully they take a sense of urgency from this,” said Stanton, whose team got seeded 5th in the Public Group II tourney and is slated to host No. 12 Wayne Valley on May 19. “You don’t want to lose a first-round game in the states.”

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