RISING TO THE OCCASION: Princeton University men’s soccer player Kevin O’Toole goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star O’Toole scored two goals to help Princeton defeat Columbia 3-0. O’Toole, the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, has three goals and three assists in three Ivy contests this fall. The Tigers, who improved to 6-5 overall and 3-0 Ivy with the win, return to league action when they play at Harvard (4-4-3 overall, 0-2-1 Ivy) on October 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Kevin O’Toole has demonstrated a knack for rising to the occasion for the Princeton University men’s soccer team in the heat of Ivy League competition.

The senior forward had tallied a goal and two assists in Princeton’s first two Ivy contests this season as the Tigers defeated Dartmouth 3-2 and Brown 3-1.

Last Saturday against visiting Columbia, O’Toole took things to a higher level, scoring two goals to help Princeton pull away to a 3-0 win over the Lions as it improved to 6-5 overall and 3-0 Ivy.

O’Toole and his teammates brought a sense of urgency into the clash with the Lions.

“We know every game is incredibly hard in the Ivy League, you can’t take any game for granted,” said O’Toole, a 5’10, 165-pound native of Montclair, and the Ivy Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. more

DIGGING IN: Members of the DiGregorio family, from left, Aaron, Nadia, Derek, Steve, and Zack, share a laugh with legendary coaches, from left, John Thompson III, Jason Garrett, and Pete Carril at a 2015 event at Conte’s Pizza to raise money to fight ataxia-telangiectasia, known as A-T. Beloved football coach Steve DiGregorio, known as “Digger” to his players and many friends, passed away last week at age 60 after a valiant battle with cancer, sparking sadness and fond memories from the countless people he touched on and off the gridiron. (Photo by John Dowers)

By Bill Alden

Be kind. Fight for justice, especially for those who can’t fight for themselves. Whatever you are doing, do it to the best of your ability. Do the right thing every day.

Those were the core principles that guided Steve DiGregorio and are just some of his qualities that family and friends are reflecting on in the wake of DiGregorio’s death on October 12 at age 60 after a valiant fight against cancer.

DiGregorio, known to all as “Digger,” was a big-hearted, good-natured, and tough-minded football coach whose influence was felt by a number of programs.

He served 13 years as an assistant coach for the Princeton University football team, several years as an assistant at Princeton High, and was a star player and later award-winning head coach for his alma mater, Nutley High.

DiGregorio also had coaching stints at Hobart College, Allegheny College, and Paramus Catholic. Before starting his coaching career, DiGregorio starred for Muhlenberg College and has been inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

His influence extended far beyond the gridiron as he helped create the “Derek’s Dreams” charity after his middle son, Derek, was diagnosed with a rare neuro-muscular disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, or A-T. The cause of fighting for a cure to that disease hit at the heart of his existence as it involved his beloved family, wife Nadia, and their sons, Zack, 26, Derek, 24, and Aaron, 22.  more

ROARING BACK: Princeton University football player Jacob Birmelin dives into the end zone in recent action. Last Saturday at Monmouth, senior star receiver Birmelin made nine catches for 109 yards to help Princeton rally from a 21-6 third quarter deficit to pull out a 31-28 victory over the Hawks. The Tigers, now 4-0, play at Brown (1-3) on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The Princeton University football team’s hopes for an undefeated 2021 season nearly blew away last Saturday in the gusts swirling around Monmouth’s Kessler Stadium.

Bringing a 3-0 record into the clash with 25th-ranked Hawks, the No. 24 Tigers found themselves trailing Monmouth 14-6 at halftime on a day which saw 20 mph winds blowing across the field all game long.

“You obviously want to get off to a better start and you want to do better,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace.

“You believe in your guys, you just keep playing. You make some adjustments and hope you can get back in it. We had a really good end of the half drive to cut it 14-6, it made it a one score game.”

Monmouth kept playing well in the third quarter, starting the half with a 16-play, 66-yard scoring march that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by Juwon Farri as the Hawks increased their lead to 21-6. more

FINISHING STRONG: Princeton University running back Collin Eaddy heads upfield in a 2019 game. Last Saturday, senior co-captain Eaddy rushed for 103 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns as Princeton pulled away to a 24-7 win over visiting Columbia in the Ivy League opener for both teams. The Tigers, now 3-0 overall and 1-0 Ivy, play at Monmouth (3-2) on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After rolling to a pair of lopsided victories in its first two games this fall, the Princeton University football team found itself in a battle last Saturday against visiting Columbia.

Heading into the fourth quarter at a sun-splashed Princeton Stadium, Princeton was clinging to a 10-7 lead over the 2-0 Lions in the Ivy League opener for both teams.

“We didn’t panic, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace.

“We had some opportunities in the first half to maybe extend the lead. We really struggled in some areas and when I say we struggled, they were really good. I want to give them credit. It wasn’t just us falling on our faces, they have got really good players.”

With Princeton’s really good running back, senior co-captain Collin Eaddy, rushing for two fourth quarter touchdowns, the Tigers pulled away to a 24-7 win.

Eaddy’s first TD came on a two-yard plunge with 8:50 left in regulation.  more

COLE POWERED: Princeton University quarterback Cole Smith heads upfield against visiting Stetson last Saturday. Senior Smith hit on 15-of-24 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 24 yards and two TDs on five carries as the Tigers rolled to a 63-0 win over the Hatters in their home opener. No. 23 Princeton, now 2-0, will start Ivy League play by hosting Columbia (2-0) on October 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cole Smith realizes that he is shouldering a lot of responsibility stepping into the starting quarterback spot for the Princeton University football team.

“I have pressure upon myself,” said senior Smith. “But we are going to go out here and, just the way we prepare from the coach down during the week, it lifts it off our shoulders.”

In dealing with that pressure, Smith has gotten a lift from his predecessors.

“It is getting into a rhythm of how to prepare with school going on,” said Smith.

“Everybody deals with that, it is a different mindset. I have had previous quarterbacks — John Lovett, Chad Kanoff, Kevin Davidson, and Zach Keller — reaching out to me and just being as helpful as they possibly could. That is just the Princeton brotherhood, it is unbelievable.”

Smith is proving to be a worthy successor to those former Tiger QBs, passing for 412 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-0 win over Lehigh in the opener on September 18 and following that up with another superb performance last Saturday against Stetson in Princeton’s home opener. Smith hit on 15-of-24 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 24 yards and two TDs on five carries as the Tigers rolled to a 63-0 win over the Hatters before 4,449 at Princeton Stadium.

Against Stetson, Smith used his legs to get the Tigers in the lead, running for a nine-yard touchdown as Princeton jumped ahead 7-0. After two field goals from Jeffrey Sexton, Smith ran for another score as the Tigers built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and the rout was on.

Finding a groove in the passing game after some early misfires, Smith ended the half with a pair of TD passes hitting Jacob Birmelin for a 30-yard scoring strike and then finding Andrei Iosivas for a 41-yard score as Tigers led 35-0 by halftime. more

MAKING STRIDES: Princeton University field hockey player Ali McCarthy, right, races after the ball in a game earlier this fall. Last Friday, junior star McCarthy tallied two goals as Princeton defeated Penn 5-1 in the Ivy League opener for both squads. Two days later, McCarthy had an assist in a losing cause as the 17th-ranked Tigers fell 3-1 to No. 10 Rutgers. Princeton, now 3-5 overall and 1-0 Ivy, hosts Yale on October 1 and No. 6 UConn on October 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After starting 0-3 this fall in its first action since 2019 with last season having been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Princeton University field hockey team started clicking in recent weeks.

Princeton edged Delaware 3-2 on September 17 for its first win and then routed Boston University 7-0 two days later. The 17th-ranked Tigers started last week by falling 4-3 in overtime at No. 9 Maryland and then started their Ivy League campaign in style by posting a 5-1 win at Penn last Friday.

“I definitely think we have seen it come together as we have moved on,” said Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente. “We are much, much better than the first couple of weekends.”

Last Sunday, things didn’t come together for the Tigers as they hosted No. 10 Rutgers. Princeton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman star Beth Yeager off a penalty corner 2:10 into the contest but the Scarlet Knights responded with three unanswered goals over the rest of the game to prevail 3-1.

“I like the way we started; from that point we had a lot of great attack transition but we just kept running into tackles,” said Tagliente, whose team dropped to 3-5 overall with the setback.

“It was like a double turnover coming back at us the other way. I knew we couldn’t sustain that and that is what really broke us in the second half.” more

STEADY EADDY: Princeton University football player Collin Eaddy carries the ball in a 2019 game. Last Saturday, senior running back and co-captain Eaddy rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries as Princeton defeated Lehigh 32-0 in the season opener as it played its first game since 2019 after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. The Tigers host Stetson (2-0) in their home opener on September 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having not played a game since beating Penn 28-7 on November 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, emotions were running high for the Princeton University football team as it finally returned to action by playing at Lehigh last Saturday in its season opener.

While Princeton head coach Bob Surace appreciated that enthusiasm, he cautioned his player to not get carried away.

“You could tell that as we went from camp mode to game week mode, their energy was just terrific,” said Surace.

“We have a leadership group, I talked to them and I talked to the team and said we want to be passionate and emotional. But if we are so emotional that we are not doing our responsibility, that defeats the purpose.”

The Tigers achieved their purpose, rolling to a 32-0 win over Lehigh before a crowd of 7,050 at Goodman Stadium.

“I thought we balanced the passion, energy, and emotion with doing our jobs, doing what we are supposed to do,” said Surace.

Princeton took care of business from the outset against the Mountain Hawks, going on a 10-play, 75-yard scoring march that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by senior star and co-captain Collin Eaddy. After the defense stopped Lehigh on a three-and-out, Princeton put together another long drive of 63 yards on eight plays that culminated on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cole Smith to Andrei Iosivas to go up 13-0 and never looked back on the way to the rout.

“I thought we executed really well in practice,” said Surace. “Until you do it against an opponent, you just don’t know. So to see us get those good plays going was a really good feeling. It is ‘hey we are back and we are executing the way we did in practice.’”

In reflecting on the sharp execution on both sides of the ball, Surace praised his players with showing a dogged resolve over the last 20 months. more

SPICY CURRY: Princeton University women’s soccer player Madison Curry goes after the ball in recent action. Senior defender Curry helped Princeton post a 4-0 win at Delaware last Sunday. The Tigers, now 6-1-1, start Ivy League play by hosting Yale on September 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Madison Curry has a lot on her plate this fall for the Princeton University women’s soccer team.

Junior defender Curry helps hold the fort along the back line while also making frequent forays upfield to spark the Tiger attack.

“I am just doing what the coaches tell me to do,” said Curry, a native of Coto de Caza, Calif., who was a first-team All-Ivy League player in 2019 as a freshman when she had two assists.

“Thankfully I have a really good group of girls who have my back through and through and I am given freedom. I am trying to make the biggest positive impact on and off the field. This season that means I go up more and score and hopefully get more in the back of the net.”

Last Thursday against No. 23 Hofstra, Curry was racing all over the field in her hot pink cleats but her efforts went for naught as No. 22 Princeton fell 2-0 to suffer its first loss of the season after a 5-0-1 start.

“We knew coming into this game that their top four were really good and athletic,” said Curry.

“They have gone through the Ivy League and they have done a very good job against every team. They come out here and they have a game plan and they stick to it very well. We faced a lot of challenges that we hadn’t on previous games.” more

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace answers a question at the program’s recently-held Media Day. After last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Princeton is returning to action by playing at Lehigh on September 18. The Tigers last played on November 23, 2019 when they defeated Penn 28-7 to finish that season 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There is a din of screeching, thumping, and hammering going on around the Princeton University football team as it has gone through its preseason practices with a soccer stadium and parking garage being constructed nearby.

But that racket hasn’t distracted Princeton head coach Bob Surace as he goes about the task of building his 2021 squad into a winner after last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“You saw all of the construction; I feel like those things 10 years ago when I was a little less mature would have bothered me,” said Surace, standing in a corner of Powers Field at  Princeton Stadium fielding questions in the program’s recently-held Media Day.

“But when you have a year off, you are smiling on the way to practice. Stuff is going on all around us and nothing bothers me. It is just about the guys being back and us being here, which is really cool.”

With Princeton having last played on November 23, 2019 when they defeated Penn 28-7 to finish that season 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League, the Tigers will have an additional contingent of veterans as they play at Lehigh on September 18 to kick off the 2021 campaign. more

ON HIS TOES: Princeton University men’s soccer player Daniel Diaz-Bonilla, right, battles Nico Rosamilia of Rutgers for the ball last Friday night in Princeton’s season opener. Junior forward Diaz-Bonilla generated a number of chances for the Tigers in a losing cause as Princeton fell 1-0 to the Scarlet Knights. Princeton was slated to play at Vermont on September 7 before heading to Colgate on September 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Daniel Diaz-Bonilla and his teammates on the Princeton University men’s soccer team were bound to be a bit rusty as they hosted Rutgers last Friday night in their season opener.

Princeton hadn’t played a game in nearly two years with the 2020 season having been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and had a brief preseason in preparing to play a battle-tested Scarlet Knight squad.

“This team has only been together for two weeks after two years off and that team had a season in the spring,” said junior forward Diaz-Bonilla. “They have already had two games and a month together.”

But with the shifty Diaz-Bonilla displaying some dazzling footwork, the Tigers were able to put Rutgers on its heels several times outshooting the Scarlet Knights 8-7 in the first half as rivals played to a scoreless draw over the first 45 minutes of the contest.

The attacking unit of senior Kevin O’Toole, sophomore Walker Gillespie, senior Frankie DeRosa, and junior Ryan Clare along with Diaz-Bonilla was in sync despite the long hiatus from game action.

“We trust each other,” said Diaz-Bonilla. “We are always fluid, we are moving, we are getting off each other. I could play on the right, Kevin can play on the left and Walker can drop down. It is super fluid. We have got Frankie coming off the bench and Ryan sometimes goes up for us. We have a lot of options.” more

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: Princeton University women’s soccer goalie Grace Barbara handles the ball last Friday night as Princeton defeated Loyola (Md.) 2-1 in its season opener and first game since 2019 after last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Senior Barbara, a former Princeton Day School standout, made one save in the win. Two days later, Barbara combined with freshman Tyler McCamey to post a shutout as the Tigers defeated Saint Joseph’s 3-0 with each goalie playing a half. In upcoming action, Princeton plays at George Mason (0-4) on September 2 and at 11th-ranked Georgetown (1-0-1) on September 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Grace Barbara started at goalie for the Princeton University women’s soccer team last Friday night in its first game since 2019, she just had to look to her right wrist to see the theme of the evening.

The word “grit” was scrawled in black ink on the tape around her wrist and it characterized the effort that senior Barbara, a former Princeton Day School standout, made to help Princeton pull out a 2-1 win over Loyola (Md.) in its first action after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“I definitely didn’t play my best game tonight but I think that is to be expected coming off of so long of not competing at Princeton,” said Barbara.

“But I am ready to build every day and get better every single day. That is really my mentality here. I actually came in at a deficit. I wasn’t able to train with the team for the first couple of days. I had COVID  earlier in the month and had to go through a return-to-play protocol. I had a really short preseason and was working really, really hard to get the starting spot here.”

Princeton had to show some grit collectively as it built a 2-0 lead only to see the Greyhounds score on a penalty kick with 9:18 left in the second half, making the final minutes of the contest a bit edgy for the Tigers.

“It definitely was a dicey win but a win is a win and that is what we have to say,” said Barbara, who had one save on the evening.

“This team, Loyola, has already had two games under their belt. They came in off of a pretty harsh loss (4-0) to Clemson and they were just ready to play. We saw that, they were scrappy to the end. It really taught us about how we can respond in a situation where we conceded a goal. Our mantra is grit this year and we showed exactly that. We really stepped up.” more

KICK STARTER: Princeton University men’s soccer player Kevin O’Toole, right, controls the ball in a 2019 game. Senior star O’Toole, a two-time All-Ivy League selection and the Ivy Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, will be looking to get his senior season off to a big start when Princeton hosts Rutgers (1-0-1) on September 3 at Class of 1952 Stadium in its season opener.It will mark the first game for the Tigers since November 16, 2019 when they fell 2-1 to Yale to end the season at 10-4-3 overall and 2-2-3 Ivy League before the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Princeton University men’s soccer head coach Jim Barlow, seeing the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 concerns robbed him and his players of what they cherish most.

“It is the reason we do what we do; it is the thing that is most joyful about our job and we weren’t able to do it,” said Barlow, whose team last played on November 16, 2019 when it fell 2-1 to Yale to end that season at 10-4-3 overall and 2-2-3 Ivy League.

“That was the hardest part, not being able to get after it with the guys. I think what we do is important to their well-being, and to have it not happen was tough.”

There was lots of joy as the squad hit the field for preseason training starting on August 21 to start preparing for hosting Rutgers (1-0-1) in the season opener on September 3 at Class of 1952 Stadium.

“There is definitely an extra level of excitement to be back,” said Barlow.

“The guys have been waiting for it for a long time. The energy has been really positive, the guys came back fit.” more

RARING TO GO: Players on the Princeton University football team about to burst on the field for their season opener against Butler in September 2019. Princeton, which didn’t get to play last fall as the Ivy League canceled competition due to COVID-19 concerns, starts preseason training for the 2021 season this Saturday. The Tigers, whose last regular season game was a 28-7 win at Penn on November 23, 2019, kick off the upcoming season by playing at Lehigh on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While August 21 is about four months away from the holiday season, it will seem like Christmas morning for Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace.

With Princeton not getting a season last fall as the Ivy League canceled competition due to COVID-19 concerns and having limited practices this spring, the Tigers will be hitting the field this Saturday to start preseason practices for the 2021 campaign.

“I just had a lunch with a player and one of his advisers,” said Surace.

“I told the adviser, you don’t understand how excited we are. It is hard to put into words. We got a tease of it in the spring but it wasn’t the same.”

With a number of veteran players not enrolling in Princeton for the 2020-21 school year, the spring sessions had a smaller turnout than usual.

“The hard part was that the numbers were lower, not everybody came back to school,” said Surace.

“Everybody had their individual decision and nobody knew how it was going to go. We had 53 players and we usually have about 75, so it was a much lower number. At times, it limited the full 11-on-11 certain days.”

While there were limits, Surace believes that a number of younger players still made progress. more

JERSEY’S FINEST: Holly McGarvie Reilly, right, takes the ball upfield for the U.S. women’s national lacrosse team. Reilly, a 2009 Princeton alum who starred in lacrosse and field hockey for the Tigers, helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2013 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women’s World Cup in Oshawa, Ontario. Last month, Reilly was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame. (Photo by John Strohsacker, provided courtesy of USA Lacrosse)

By Justin Feil

When Holly McGarvie Reilly started playing lacrosse on the very first team at Medford Memorial Middle School, she did not have Hall of Fame aspirations but she approached it as she has everything in her life.

“I’m a competitor,” said Reilly. “My parents really impressed on me the importance of a strong education and doing your best in whatever you’re doing.”

Reilly got hooked early on the new sport and excelled at it along with field hockey and winter track and field at Shawnee High School. The valedictorian at Shawnee, she won 10 varsity letters in a career that included a state track championship, All-State recognition in field hockey, and All-American acclaim in lacrosse before continuing with field hockey and lacrosse at nearby Princeton University.

At Princeton, she helped the Tigers win four Ivy League championships in field hockey as a star back in her fall seasons and during the spring won one Ivy title in lacrosse as a standout midfielder while earning Ivy Rookie of the Year and two-time All-American accolades. She helped the U.S. women’s national team win a pair of World Cup lacrosse gold medals in 2009 and 2013. Her achievements were recognized last month when she was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster.

“It was really cool,” said Reilly. “I was very honored and surprised. I honestly didn’t know the process was ongoing. I was called by Peter O’Donnell and the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the foundation board and it was pretty awesome.” more

REACHING FOR GLORY: Ashleigh Johnson leaps to make a save during her career with the Princeton University women’s water polo team. Last weekend, Johnson ’17 helped the U.S. women’s water polo team get off to a 2-0 start in Group B pool play at the Tokyo Olympics. Johnson, who helped the U.S. take gold at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, made 15 saves as the Americans routed Japan 25-4 last Saturday in its opening contest. The U.S. defeated China 11-7 two days later and will look to keep rolling as it plays Hungary on Wednesday in its next Group B matchup. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After producing a dominant run to the gold medal in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, Ashleigh Johnson and the U.S. women’s water polo team picked up where they left off as they got into action at the Tokyo Olympics last weekend.

Former Princeton University star goalie Johnson and the U.S. routed Japan 25-4 last Saturday in the opening contest of Group B pool play.

Johnson, who became the first African American to make the U.S. Olympics women’s water polo team when she starred at Rio, finished with 15 saves before being pulled for the fourth period. The 25 goals tallied by the U.S. are the most it has scored since a 23-22 shootout victory over the Netherlands at Princeton for the 2019 Holiday Cup.

Two days later, Johnson and the U.S. overcame a 4-2 deficit against China and pulled away to an 11-7 victory. The U.S., which also won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, will look to keep rolling as it plays Hungary on Wednesday in its next Group B matchup.

Another former Princeton standout, Gevvie Stone ’07, enjoyed success on the water as she and partner Kristi Wagner rowed the U.S women’s double sculls to a spot in the A Final after rallying for a third-place finish in the A/B Semifinal on Saturday at the Sea Forest Waterway near Tokyo Bay.

Stone and Wagner were sixth at 500 meters of the semi but trailed Australia by just .17 seconds for fourth and France by .28 seconds for third at 1,000 meters. more