By Bill Alden

For Makena Graham and her teammates on the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team, hosting Princeton High last Saturday in the opening round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament was an opportunity to turn the page on an uneven campaign.

“We have had a rough start to the season so we all said today is a reset, today nothing else matters,” said Graham of the Panthers who had gone 1-5 in their previous six games before the CVC opener.

“It didn’t matter that we beat them before (2-0 on September 24). Our record didn’t matter. It was come in like a new team. We were going to possess, we were going to play our way. We weren’t going to panic.” more

ON DECK: Princeton High girls’ tennis player Phoebe Decker hits a backhand last week as fourth-seeded PHS edged fifth seeded Summit 3-2 in the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 sectional. Sophomore Decker posted a 4-6, 6-2, 10-3 (match tiebreak) victory at second singles to clinch the win for PHS. The Tigers, who defeated top-seeded Ridge 3-2 in the sectional semis last Thursday, were slated to play at second-seeded WW/P-North in the final on October 15 with the victor advancing to the Group 3 state semis on October 17 at Mercer County Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Phoebe Decker fell 6-4 in the first set of her match at second singles for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team as it hosted Summit last week in the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 sectional.

But learning that both PHS doubles teams had won their matches, Decker raised the level of her game knowing that if she came through with a victory at second singles, the fourth-seeded Tigers would defeat fifth-seeded Summit and advance to the sectional semis.  more

HINDS PLAZA: Princeton High football player Ellington Hinds heads upfield against Nottingham last Saturday. Junior star receiver/defensive back Hinds made four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown and had an interception in the game but it wasn’t enough as PHS lost 28-14 to the Northstars. The Tigers, now 3-4, host Trenton Central (4-3) this Friday evening in their annual Homecoming contest under the lights. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton High football team played at Nottingham last Saturday afternoon, Ellington Hinds spent much of the second half lying prone on the sideline stretching out a sore back and ended the day with cotton stuffed in his left nostril to staunch a bloody nose.

But when junior star receiver/defensive back Hinds was on the field he hurt Nottingham, making a key interception at the end of the first half and racing to the end zone on a 39-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter as PHS battled to overcome an early 14-0 deficit. more

NO BACKING DOWN: Princeton Day School girls’ tennis player Arya Kalra smacks a backhand in recent action. Last Thursday, senior Kalra battled through illness to post a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles to help second-seeded PDS defeat third-seeded Donavan Catholic 5-0 in the semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South sectional. The Panthers, who improved to 8-4 with the win, were slated to host 16th-seeded Rutgers Prep in the final on October 15 with the victor advancing to the Non-Public state final on October 17 at Mercer County Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Earlier this month, Arya Kalra wasn’t sure if she would be well enough to compete for the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South state tournament.

“This past week, I got really, really sick; I was out that whole last week,” said senior Kalra. “When we started states, I wasn’t playing a lot. I still wanted to play in their state tournament.” more

GETTING HIS KICKS: Princeton High football player Carmine Carusone boots the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Friday night, junior star running back/defensive back Carusone kicked an 18-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation to provide the margin of victory as PHS defeated previously undefeated Holy Cross Prep 3-0. The Tigers, now 3-3, play at Nottingham on October 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In getting off to a 1-3 start this fall, the Princeton High football team was hampered by some injuries to key players.

But getting back to nearly full strength as it hosted Robbinsville on September 28, PHS gave a glimpse of its potential. Jumping out to a 34-0 halftime lead over the Ravens, the Tigers cruised to a 41-6 triumph. more

WALK THIS WAY: Princeton High field hockey player Sarah Cate Walker controls the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, junior forward Walker scored two goals as PHS defeated WW/P-North 7-1. The Tigers, who topped WW/P-South 7-0 on Monday to move to 5-5 with Walker chipping in three goals and one assist, host Hopewell Valley on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sarah Cate Walker set the tone for the Princeton High field hockey team when it hosted WW/P-North last Wednesday afternoon.

PHS junior forward Walker scored a pair of goals as the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 7-1 win over the Northern Knights.

Walker started the scoring on the day, tallying a goal five minutes into the contest. more

FIRING AWAY: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer goalie Oren Yakoby fires the ball up the field in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, senior Yakoby starred in a losing cause, making eight saves as PDS fell 2-0 to Lawrenceville. The Panthers, who moved to 3-7 with the loss, host Trenton Central on October 10 and Allentown on October 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Hosting rival Lawrenceville last Friday afternoon, the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team got off to a solid start.

Buoyed by a throng on hand at Baker Field for the school’s Fall Tailgate, PDS had the better of play against the Big Red in the early stages of the contest, gaining plenty of possession and generating chances. more

GETTING AFTER IT: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Ella McLaren, left, chases down a ball in recent action. Junior defender McLaren has been leading the back line for PDS this fall. The Panthers, who fell 3-0 to Shawnee last Friday to move to 5-4-1, play at Trenton Central on October 10 and at Allentown on October 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Ella McLaren moved to center back from midfield last fall for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team and formed a partnership with Tochi Owunna.

With the pair anchoring the PDS back line to stifle foes, the Panthers caught fire down the stretch, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A state title, blanking Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the final. more

SAVING GRACE: Stuart County Day School field hockey goalie Emily Harlan makes a save in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior Harlan made 15 saves in a losing cause as Stuart fell 1-0 to Delaware Valley and moved to 4-6. The Tartans are next in action when they play at the Peddie School on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Emily Harlan is following in the footsteps of her older sister Lily in her senior season for the Stuart County Day School field hockey, having developed into an inspiring performer for the Tartans.

“I think part of it is being Lily’s sister, she has always been my leader,” said senior goalie Harlan of her older sibling who starred at forward for Stuart and is now playing at Boston University. “She influenced me to get into the game at a young age. She was here when I was here. When I saw her as a leader and then she left, I thought I am going to be like my sister. I am going to step it up.” more

MO BETTER: Princeton University women’s rugby player Malinka Kwemo (carrying ball) wards off a tackler in a game earlier this season. On September 21, sophomore back Kwemo went 7 for 9 on conversion attempts as Princeton defeated Bowdoin 59-0 to post its first-ever victory in varsity 15s competition after losing 15 straight since 2022 when the program moved up to the varsity level. The Tigers, who fell 46-5 to Brown last Saturday to drop to 1-3, play at Quinnipiac on October 5. (Photo by Shelley Szwast, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Over its first two seasons as a varsity 15s program, the Princeton University women’s rugby team went winless, dropping all 13 games it played in 2022-23.

But heading into this fall, Princeton was confident that it was on the verge of a breakthrough win. more

BRIGHT STAR: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Azariah Breitman, right, chases after the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior forward and co-captain Breitman tallied two goals and an assist to help PHS defeat WW/P-North 7-1. The Tigers, who tied Westfield 2-2 last Saturday to move to 6-1-2, host Gill St. Bernard’s on October 5 and Steinert on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Azariah Breitman scored just one goal in the first five games this fall for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team.

In game six, though, senior forward and co-captain Breitman exploded for three goals in a 4-1 win over Hopewell Valley and that opened the floodgates for him. more

OUT OF THE WOODS: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Charlotte Woods sets a ball in a game last fall. Last Wednesday, junior star Woods contributed seven kills and eight digs as PHS defeated Woodbridge 2-0 (25-15, 25-21). The Tigers, who improved to 12-0 with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-8) win over Princeton Day School last Monday, play at Immaculate Heart on October 5 and at Notre Dame on October 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team hosted Woodbridge last Wednesday, Charlotte Woods didn’t take long to get into the flow.

“I feel like I was able to warm up and open up and take some really harder hits,” said junior outside hitter Woods. “The sets by Lois [Matsukawa] were awesome, — that made those big hits possible.” more

DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton High girls’ tennis first doubles player Maya-Alexandra Todorov, left, hits a backhand in action last fall as partner Ashna Bushan covers the net. Last Monday, the pair of Todorov and Bushan posted a 6-0, 6-1 win to help fourth-seeded PHS defeat 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional. The Tigers, who improved to 5-1, will play at Lawrence High on October 7 in a regular season match before hosting fifth-seeded Summit in the sectional quarterfinals on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Boasting a battle-tested core of veteran performers, the Princeton High girls’ tennis team has picked up where it left off last year.

After winning eight of its last nine matches in 2023, advancing the Central Jersey Group 3 final in the process, the Tigers have started 5-1 this fall with their latest victory coming last Monday when the fourth-seeded Tigers defeated 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional on October 8. more

PUSHING FORWARD: Hun School boys’ soccer player Luke Donahue, right, battles for the ball in a game earlier this season. Senior forward Donahue has tallied a goal and an assist so far this fall to help Hun get off to a 5-1-2 start. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at the Blair Academy on October 5 and at the Peddie School on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It is the only loss for the Hun School boys’ soccer team so far this fall, but it proved to be a sign of the squad’s quality.

Facing perennial powerhouse Pennington on September 18, Hun battled the Red Hawks to a scoreless stalemate in the first half and the foes were locked in a 1-1 tie late in the second half before the Raiders yielded two late goals to fall 3-1. more

STEPPING UP: Princeton Day School field hockey player Sammy Dandy, right, goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Sophomore Dandy has scored one goal so far this season for PDS. The Panthers, who lost 7-0 to Notre Dame last Monday to move to 3-5, play at Allentown on October 2 and at WW/P-North on October 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Undeterred by a steady rain that fell as it played at Hopewell Valley High last Friday afternoon, the Princeton Day School field hockey team came out firing.

Cashing in on some deft passing, PDS jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 6:41 left in the first quarter as Reagan Falconi blasted the ball into the cage, converting an insert by Olivia Herscovici on a penalty corner. more

CENTURY CLUB: Princeton High girls’ soccer goalie Julia Zaldarriaga boots the ball last Saturday against the Hun School. Sophomore star Zaldarriaga earned a shutout and made her 100th career save in the process as the local foes battled to a 0-0 draw. PHS, which moved to 1-2-2 with the tie, hosts WW/P-North on September 26 and Hopewell Valley on September 28 before playing at Notre Dame on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Julia Zaldarriaga is only a sophomore but she has already hit a special milestone for the Princeton High girls’ soccer team.

Last Saturday, sophomore goalie Zaldarriaga recorded the 100th save of her career, helping PHS play to a 0-0 draw with crosstown rival Hun School. more

DUAL THREAT: Aspen Swanson scoops up the ball in action last spring for the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team. This fall, junior Swanson has been stepping up for the Hun field hockey team. Last Wednesday, Swanson scored the lone goal for the Raiders as they fell 2-1 to Pennington in overtime. Hun, which lost 3-2 to Penn Charter (Pa.) last Friday to move to 2-3, plays at the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on September 28 before hosting Stuart County Day School on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Her left thigh was heavily taped, but Aspen Swanson kept racing up the field as the Hun School field hockey team battled Pennington last Wednesday.

With Hun trailing the Red Hawks 1-0 in the fourth quarter, Swanson was moved from her usual defender spot into the Raider attack and ended up scoring a goal with 1:42 left in regulation. more

HEADY PLAY: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Todd Devin heads the ball in a game earlier this season. Senior midfielder Devin scored the lone goal for PDS as it fell 5-1 to Lawrence High last Thursday. The Panthers, who lost 3-1 to Steinert last Saturday to move to 3-3, play at Hamilton West on September 26 before hosting Hopewell Valley on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team bringing a 3-1 record into its game against Lawrence High last Thursday, Todd Devin and his Panther teammates were looking to build on the progress they have made since enduring a rough 3-16-1 season last fall.

“We have improved a lot from last year, we didn’t score a goal until well past halfway of the season,” said senior midfielder Devin. “Last year, we didn’t have an identity. This year we are creating our identity and we are learning. In the past two years, we didn’t have a lot of the ball so we know how to play without the ball. With coach [Gary] Roberts coming in, we are getting an identity with the ball. We are working on getting the ball off of our feet quicker with more patterns of play and ways to create chances on goal.” more

By Bill Alden

Having scaled down its match schedule this fall, the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team is hoping that extra training time will lead to some high level play as the season unfolds.

“This is our second year in the conference (the Colonial Valley Conference), we have reduced the number of matches from what we played last year,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger. “That will give us a little more time to work on things we need to improve on in practice. I think that we are in a good position to compete for the sectional, just like in the last couple of years.”

The Panthers showed some improvement as they nearly toppled perennial CVC powerhouse WW/P-South on September 12, falling 3-2 to the Pirates. more

MAY DAY: Stuart Country Day School field hockey Maya Dev dribbles the ball in recent action. Senior co-captain Dev has helped lead the Stuart back line as the Tartans have gotten off to a promising 4-3 start. Stuart will be playing at the Hun School on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Maya Dev is paying forward some support she received as an underclassman in taking a leading role on the back line for the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team this fall in her senior campaign.

“The seniors that I had when I was a freshman and a sophomore were good at communicating,” said co-captain Dev. “That is something I want to be for the team. When I was a freshman, I was playing on defense and I wasn’t really sure where to go. Having someone there to help guide you is really important. It helps you behold your confidence because you know that there is someone there to help you.” more

SKILL SET: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Lois Matsukawa sets up a hit in a 2023 game. Last Wednesday, senior star Matsukawa contributed 34 assists, 14 digs, and six service points as PHS defeated Southern 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 26-28, 25-17) in a clash of defending state champions. The Tigers, who improved to 6-0 with a 2-0 (25-13, 25-17) win over Notre Dame last Monday, host WW/P-South on September 18, Westfield on September 20, and Hopewell Valley on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Lois Matsukawa and her teammates on the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team were primed for the challenge as they hosted Southern High last Thursday evening in a rare clash of defending state champions.

Coming off a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title run in 2023 with a core of five stars returning, the Tigers have brought plenty of self-belief into this fall. more

GOAL-ORIENTED: Princeton High field hockey player Mia Ramirez dribbles the ball last Friday as PHS hosted Notre Dame in its season opener. Senior star Ramirez scored all three goals for PHS as it fell 5-3 to the Irish. The Tigers, who lost 8-1 to Agnes Irwin (Pa.) last Monday as Ramirez scored the lone goal for the Tigers, play at Princeton Day School on September 18, at Robbinsville on September 21, and at Hightstown on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mia Ramirez started her senior season for the Princeton High field hockey team with a bang last Friday.

With PHS hosting Notre Dame in its season opener, star forward/midfielder and co-captain Ramirez blasted in a goal three minutes into the contest. more

IN HINDSIGHT: Princeton High football player Ellington Hinds surveys the scene in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, junior star Hinds made five catches for 112 yards and one TD and a 17-yard run on a sweep as PHS topped Ewing 20-13 to notch its first win of the season. The Tigers, now 1-2, play at Hamilton West on September 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High football team having started 0-2, Charlie Gallagher decided that it was time for some trickery as the Tigers played at Ewing last Friday night in their West Jersey Football League (WJFL) Valley Division opener.

“We started with a little bit of dazzle dazzle, and it paid off,” said PHS head coach Gallagher.  more