Andres helped keep standards high for PHS
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Jackson Andres was good enough last year to get noticed by Princeton High School boys lacrosse opponents.
This year, they tried to avoid the junior longstick midfielder altogether.
”We put Jackson up top in the zone, and teams just wouldn’t go there,” said PHS coach Peter Stanton, “He can take away the ball from an attack and he could get in passing lanes and snag balls out of the air, and balls on the ground, he’s going to win the majority.”
Andres was part of the backbone of a Little Tigers defense that came together well over the course of the season, and this year his offensive game also came out.
”This year was a big change,” Andres said. “In the preseason, Coach (Chip) Casto and Coach Stanton showed how much I progressed. We put in a few things on offense where I can run down and play crease. I can catch and dump the ball. I also got a few goals in transition.
”I like the offensive play with the pole. It’s one of the unique things with lacrosse. You can use your imagination and have so much fun out there.”
Andres’s versatility didn’t end there. In a pinch — like the final seconds of the Mercer County Tournament with PHS trailing by a goal and really needing the ball back — Andres even took faceoffs.
”He’s got exceptional hands,” Stanton said. “He’s very strong. His checks and ability to pick up the ball off the ground were huge. He carries the ball not in a real traditional way, but he has the strength in his hands to be able to do that. Faceoff is something that kids will specialize in and spend years working on the technique and mastering something, and just because Jackson’s hands are so quick and strong, if we’re in a bind, we say, ‘Jackson, try to tie this kid up.’ If the ball’s on the ground and it’s a 50-50 proposition, Jackson’s going to win it.”
Andres could take the ball away from opposing attackmen, could deny them the ball entirely, had the ability to win key ground balls — he had seven in the MCT final — and transition the ball. Andres scored seven goals this year and had a pair of assists.
Andres brought a little bit of everything to a Princeton team that finished 16-4 and won dramatically in overtime its second straight MCT championship thanks to some late heads-up plays by Andres in the waning seconds.
”It surpassed our expectations greatly,” Andres said. “If you told us 16-4 at the beginning of the year, I would have said, no way. I was thinking a couple games over .500. We’re pleased how we did. We’re thankful how we did.”
Jackson Andres is the Princeton Packet Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year.
”He’s worked extremely hard,” Stanton said. “He worked hard all summer. He put in an excellent hockey season. He came really ready to prove himself. He was really excited about his commitment to Monmouth, and he was excited about his commitment to his teammates at Princeton High School. He was really ready to prove himself.”
Andres had been pleased with his development sophomore year. He had taken a big step. He could have stayed at that level and been a very good player, but he wanted to come back even better.
”In the offseason, I dedicated myself to lifting and did agility work to get faster and stronger,” Andres said. “I’ve gotten tons of people telling me I look stronger and faster. Being faster has helped me the most. I’ve become more of a transition player. Having seven or eight goals is a jump for me.”
Andres has seen steady development in his game since switching from baseball to lacrosse as a 12-year-old. His friends were all playing lacrosse, so he joined them.
”I started off with a pole,” Andres said. “I learned how to play pole and I loved that. Then when we would be horsing around, playing basement lacrosse, I loved offense. I fit in the defensive role better because I’m a bigger kid and we have enough offensive players. I’ve always played defense in travel leagues. I’d play some offense if we needed some goals.”
Andres’s improvements in the past year meant that he could influence the play more across the whole field. It made him a bigger factor for the Little Tigers.
”He’s a big kid, and sometimes big kids who exert a lot of energy, they tend to fatigue a little bit,” Stanton said. “He was able to maintain a high level for longer stretches. We have him on the field at all times. He’s either playing longstick middie, or he’s at the defensive end of the field. His stamina improved a lot. So much of that has to do with decision making. He doesn’t get out of position as often, he doesn’t over-commit. His decision-making improved a whole lot and his stamina and his balance. He was a very balanced kid this year.”
Andres and Colin Buckley were the anchors on a defense that added a new goalie and saw new roles for Spenser Reynolds and Joe Hawes. Andres had worried about how the defense would come together, but he helped it come together, though he credited Hawes with making a position change and goalie Kenan Glasgold with his play in goal.
”He is right to give credit to his teammates,” Stanton said. “They really did complement each other. What was interesting about the unit was early on, we had a lot of strength in Colin Buckley and Jackson. We played a zone defense. Those two guys took away the middle of the field. The middle of the field is where 75 percent of the goals are scored from, so those guys controlling that allowed our other players to feel comfortable and we were able to develop the other players. As those guys grew, we could do some different things. Him being able to take away the top middle of the field, allowed our other players to develop.”
By the time the Little Tigers got to the end of the season, they could count on strong defense in crucial spots. They played man-to-man in the MCT semifinal against Hopewell and avenged one of their only losses.
”I actually was very, very happy after the Hopewell game to see what we did, shutting them out in the second half,” Andres said. “That was the example of how good we can play. It only gets better next year when we have a whole year under our belts.
”Joe Hawes and Harry Dyevich, he’s going to be a fourth next year and we need him to step into a big role, will be back. Colin Buckley is the glue to our defense. He communicates at all times. Sometimes I get out of position and he whips me into shape.”
Andres is looking to take another step next year. It will be his final year of preparation before jumping to the next level when he will join a young Monmouth University men’s program.
”They just finished their first year,” Andres said. “They’re 95 percent freshmen. They’re very, very young. I’m looking forward to coming in and helping them build a good program over there.”
And for one more year, he is working to ensure that PHS keeps its program going strong. He will be a part of a defensive unit that returns largely in tact and figures to key another season of high expectations.
”I think now what I need to improve on is my leadership role and using my head and being a good role model for the team more than I am now,” Andres said. “Sometimes I let my ego get in the way. I’m going to dedicate myself again to the weight room, getting a lot stronger and faster. I’m going to be a faster, more mature, more dependable player on and off the field, doing what I have to do to get the wins.”
Said Stanton: “I love the fact that Jackson really prioritizes team and team accomplishment. We’ve had two fantastic years back-to-back. We’re thrilled we won county championships. We’re proud of how we played in the state tournament. Having a player of his caliber and his magnitude returning, hopefully the entire team sets their goals and standards a little higher. He received some fantastic individual acknowledgments this year. He’s a kid that loves to win. He’s extremely competitive. The next step for him is to take his team to another level.”