Lacrosse team tops Hun, WW-P North
By: Justin Feil
Taylor Annis and the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team took a step toward holding their heads highest around town this summer.
The Little Tigers avenged two of their losses from last year, an early season 16-9 loss to Hun and a season-ending 8-7 defeat at the hands of West Windsor-Plainsboro North, by sweeping the Raiders on Monday and Knights on Tuesday.
"It felt really good to win, especially since they beat us last year," said Annis, a junior defender who helped PHS top Hun, 10-6, and WW-PN, 8-4. "It’s something we had to live with the whole season and the whole summer. When you’re in town, you see those kids."
Opponents, particularly opposing attack players, won’t want to see Annis coming their way. He’s developing into a shutdown defender in his second varsity season at PHS.
"He was a sophomore last year, and at the beginning of the season, we didn’t have a whole lot of trust and confidence in him," said PHS head coach Peter Stanton. "But situations demanded that we put him in. He responded well. He seemed to learn something every time he played. He benefited from that experience and he’s developed into a good player.
"We have been putting him on the other team’s primary ball carrier. He got injured the day before the Peddie game in practice and he’s been playing on a sprained ankle. He did a good job of guarding (Hun leading scorer) Matt Loy. He held him to one goal."
Monday, the Little Tigers pulled away from Hun after the teams were tied, 5-5, after halftime. Dave Giancola led the PHS offense with three goals, while Jake Ballarato had three goals for Hun. Tuesday, Annis was part of a defense that limited the Knights to one goal through three quarters as PHS built a 7-1 lead. With the win, PHS improved to 4-1 and took a step toward winning the first contested Colonial Valley Conference race. The early wins have shown that a still-young Little Tigers team learned from last year’s 5-12 season.
"I think it helped a lot," Annis said. "Losing all those games, especially after the year before that when we lose a bunch of seniors, it’s nice to come in this year strong."
Annis is part of a defense that includes two juniors, two sophomores and goalkeeper Sam Finnell, all who will return next year.
"This is a team of overachievers," said Stanton, whose team plays at Bridgewater-Raritan on Saturday. "They might be a little ahead of schedule. We’re making progress.
"The most encouraging thing is the number of kids contributing. Yesterday we had goals from seven different kids. Today, we had goals from five different kids. It’s gratifying to see."
Defensively, Stanton is just as pleased. The Little Tigers surrendered a season-high seven goals to Peddie in a one-goal loss last Wednesday. But they’ve allowed an average of just under five goals per contest for the year.
"The defense is playing very well," Stanton said. "We’ve had some injuries and have some kids playing through pain. We have had some other kids who are young and inexperienced step in and do a good job."
Annis is one that showed last year it’s possible to step in as a sophomore and play well. This year, he’s a year older, a year stronger and a year better prepared to defend varsity level attackmen.
"Last year was my first year on varsity," he said. "We had some pretty good guys. Mike Brennan was our best defender. I didn’t start off the season, but a couple games into the season, they put me in. It’s different now being a junior. You have more of a leadership role for the younger guys."
With so many young players on the team, Annis feels that the team has drawn closer than some. They’re fighting a lot of the same doubters that didn’t think a significant jump in record would come until next season.
"We always felt that we could pull it together and be better than we were last year," Annis said. "We were so young and we were able to come back and be together again. We’re close with everybody and grow together, especially after our Florida trip. That’s what changed the team the most.
"It helps. I feel like I have more trust when I’m throwing someone the ball. And you get more into the game when someone makes a big play."
Annis would like to be one of the Little Tigers coming up with the big plays. He has ample opportunity while guarding the toughest offensive players from opposing teams. It’s a role that’s different for him this year, but one he’s ready to tackle.
"I’m comfortable with the role," he said. "But every game, I’m a little jittery before."
It hasn’t shown through the first five games of the season, and the Little Tigers figure only to get better as more and more of their young players get accustomed to the varsity level. Stanton sees a high ceiling for the Little Tigers.
"With some of the younger players, their skills are in the younger level of development," he said. "They have so much desire and hustle, they make plays. As they start developing the shooting and skills we should be able to make strides offensively. Our defense especially and our play in the midfield is what’s really carrying us now. Offensively, we’re doing a good job of being patient. We do have the ability to control tempo."
That’s something that the WW-P North team is looking for more of as well.
"Mostly on offense we need to control the tempo of the game," said North head coach Steve Czelusniak. "It’ll make a big difference if we can settle things down. I’ve told the kids, don’t take the first shot. Work for the best shot. Make sure a guy is open if we pass him the ball."
The Knights faced a strong defense and hot goalie in Finnell against PHS, but they also had some tough luck that might have made the game closer early on.
"We hit about three or four goalposts," Czelusniak said. "That’s a big difference. Sam Finnell made some big saves. We had opportunities, we just weren’t putting them in the net. Defensively we’re doing OK, but we’ve made some mistakes. You can’t make mistakes against good teams."
The Knights hope to iron out some of their wrinkles in the Ewing game and against New Egypt, who the host Saturday at 11 a.m. North is leaning heavily on goalkeeper Doug Nosko, who made 23 saves against South Brunswick and made another 17 saves against PHS on Tuesday.
"We’re learning in small bits," Czelusniak said. "I told the kids that our learning curve needs to start rising faster. We need to eliminate the mistakes."
They cost WW-P North in its loss to PHS. They cost not just a win, but also bragging rights that Taylor Annis and the Little Tigers are happy to have for the time being.
"It’s something you want to do," Annis said. "We’re first in the CVC with beating North. Hopefully we can win it this year."

