GOAL ACHIEVED: Princeton High boys’ soccer players Nick Petruso, left, and Atticus Lynch celebrate after a goal in a game earlier this fall. Last Monday, sophomore striker Petruso scored the lone goal as PHS defeated Nottingham 1-0 to improve to 7-4-2. The Little Tigers start play in the Mercer County Tournament this week when seventh-seeded PHS hosts 10th-seeded Hightstown on October 18 in an opening round contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Murphy’s Law has prevailed so far this fall for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team.

“It has been one of those seasons that we are not used to because we have had three major injuries to starters,” said PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe. more

MULTI-TASKING: Princeton High football player Stephen Hennessy carries the ball in a recent game. Last Friday, senior star and co-captain Hennessy starred as PHS rallied to edge West Windsor-Plainsboro 22-19. Hennessy returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and helped spark the Little Tiger ground attack from his running back spot. He also made two interceptions on the evening as the PHS defense held WW-P scoreless in the second half. The Little Tigers, now 2-4, play at Hopewell Valley on October 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After the Princeton High football team rallied to beat visiting West Windsor-Plainsboro 22-19 last Friday evening, the PHS players gathered in the end zone, grabbed tennis balls and threw them into the ground in unison, hollering in celebration. more

By Bill Alden

On paper, it looked to be a total mismatch when the 15th-seeded Hun School field hockey team played at second-seeded Princeton High in the opening round of the Mercer County Tournament last Friday.

Hun entered the game with a 2-7 record, having lost 7-0 at Blair and 6-0 at Princeton Day School in the previous week while PHS brought an unblemished  11-0 mark into the matchup. more

By Bill Alden

Jackson Barletta prides himself on being a multi-faceted threat for the Hun School football team.

“It is good to be all around the field and just impact the team however I can,” said senior star Barletta, who plays receiver, quarterback, and defensive back for the Raiders.

Last Saturday against visiting Blair Academy, Barletta made an impact in the first half with his arm and legs, throwing a touchdown pass to Nicholas DeGennaro and then catching a scoring strike from Logan Clouse as the Raiders built a 12-0 halftime lead. more

PLAYING SMART: Hun School boys’ soccer player Elijah Smarr controls the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, senior midfielder Smarr chipped in an assist to help Hun defeat Blair Academy 3-0 in its Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) opener. The Raiders, now 5-4, play at the Hill School (Pa.) on October 13 before hosting Northern Burlington on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Hun School boys’ soccer team locked in a scoreless tie with Life Center Academy last week, Elijah Smarr had the ball on his foot near the goal.

But rather than firing away, Hun senior midfield Smarr saw teammate Amar Anand breaking free and slotted the ball to him and he found the back of the net.

“Jack Tarzy played me a nice ball in; I could have taken him on but I saw that Amar had a better angle so I just played it to him and he was able to put it away,” said Smarr of the score that came with 27:13 left in the half. more

FRONT OF THE PACK: Princeton High girls’ cross country runner Siena Moran displays her form in action last year. Last Saturday, senior Moran finished seventh individually in the Girls’ Varsity B race at the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park to help PHS place fifth of 19 schools in the team standings in the race. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having becoming a member of the Princeton High girls’ cross country team last fall after transferring from the American School of London, Siena Moran embraced the culture of her new program.

Improving by leaps and bounds, Moran became a star, taking sixth at the Mercer County Championship meet and placing 10th at the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional.

PHS head coach Jim Smirk sensed that Moran was just scratching the surface, and that some offseason work would make her a force this fall. more

SET POINT: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Gillian Hauschild sets the ball last Thursday as PHS defeated Hopewell Valley 2-0. Junior star Hauschild contributed three kills, four assists, two blocks, and one dig to help the Little Tigers prevail 25-10, 25-12. PHS, which moved to 13-4 with a 2-0 loss to Montgomery last Friday, is hosting Fairfield Prep (Conn.) on October 13 before playing at Florence on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Gillian Hauschild is displaying her versatility this fall in her junior season for the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team.

After dominating on the front row in her first two seasons, Hauschild has added a playmaking role to her portfolio.

“We are running a 6-2 this year, which is a lot different than last year,” said Hauschild. more

By Bill Alden

Wesley Leggett scored 13 goals in the first 10 games this fall for the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team.

Last Wednesday, senior forward Leggett tried mightily to add to that total as PDS hosted Old Bridge, making a number of runs and generating some shots in the box but it was to no avail as the teams played to a scoreless tie through regulation and two overtimes. more

SO GOOD: Hun School girls’ tennis player Sophia Lin hits a forehand last week as she competed in the Mercer County Tournament. Sophomore Lin placed fourth at first singles, helping Hun take fifth of 19 schools in the team standings.  (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Going through his first Mercer County Tournament as the head coach of the Hun School girls’ tennis team, Antonio Balson gained some valuable knowledge from the competition last week.

“It is good to see where we stand,” said Balson, who previously coached at the Seacrest Country Day School in Naples, Fla. more

IN THE ZONE: Stuart Country Day School field hockey player Catherine Martin (No. 33) celebrates after a goal a game earlier this season. Last Friday, sophomore forward Martin chipped in a goal to help Stuart defeat the Solebury School (Pa.) 5-0. The Tartans, who dropped to 6-2 after falling 2-1 in overtime to the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (Pa.) last Monday, host Peddie on October 3 and Mt. St. Mary’s on October 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Catherine Martin came into this fall determined to become an impact player in her sophomore season with the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team.

“I just needed to step up my game,” said Martin, who worked with the USA Field Hockey Futures Program over the summer. “I wanted to show my team that I could be a leader and help everyone else out by improving myself.” more

DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton High first doubles players Bella Lependorf, left, and Jordan Johnson celebrate a point last week at the Mercer County Tournament. The pair of freshman Lependorf and senior Johnson went on to win their flight at the MCT, defeating Sabrina Chang and Kirthi Chigurupati of WW/P-North 7-6, 6-3 in the final. The victory by Lependorf and Johnson helped PHS take second of 19 schools in the team standings at the event held at the Mercer County Park tennis complex. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jordan Johnson is a senior and Bella Lependorf is a freshman but that age difference didn’t prevent them from developing an instant chemistry when they were paired together to play first doubles for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team this fall.

“It is total fun; I love Bella, she is a great player,” said Johnson. “She makes great volleys and can get to a lot of the balls at the net.” more

BREAKING THROUGH: Princeton High football player Jaylen Johnson fights for extra yardage in recent action. Last Saturday, senior star Johnson rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns to help PHS defeat Cherry Hill East 21-14, snapping a 21-game losing streak. The Little Tigers, now 1-3, play at Lawrence High on October 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Locked in a 14-14 tie against Cherry Hill East with 9:06 remaining in the fourth quarter last Saturday, the Princeton High football team got the ball at its 29-yard line and was primed to end its 21-game losing streak.

Starting just his second game at quarterback, junior Judd Petrone was sticking to basics as the Little Tigers started the possession. “It was just score a touchdown,” said Petrone. more

FINISHING TOUCH: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Brooke Smukler, left, controls the ball in a 2017 game. Last Thursday, senior forward Smukler tallied a goal and an assist to help PDS defeat Lawrenceville 3-0. The Panthers, who topped the Shipley School (Pa.) 3-1 last Saturday to improve to 7-1-1, play at the Hill School (Pa.) on October 3 before hosting Pingry on October 5 and Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.) on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Brooke Smukler got herself in the right place at the right time for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team as it played at the Lawrenceville School last Thursday.

Early in the first half in the matchup of rivals, senior forward Smukler found the back of the net to give PDS a 1-0 lead. more