BRING IT ON: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Colton Simonds heads upfield in a game last spring. Senior Simonds brings grit and production to the midfield for the Panthers. PDS, which will be led by new head coach Sam Kosoff this spring, was slated to open its 2025 campaign by hosting the Blair Academy on April 1, Notre Dame on April 3, and Hopewell Valley on April 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sam Kosoff fell in love with lacrosse as a youngster.

“I grew up in upstate New York outside of Syracuse and I started playing at a very young age before it was popular to start playing at a young age,” said Kosoff. “I used to go to Syracuse games as a little guy. I just grew up around the sport.”

Kosoff’s affection for the game led him to come south to play lax at the Lawrenceville School before heading back to New York to compete on the next level at Hamilton College.

Getting into coaching after graduating from Hamilton in 1992, he returned to Lawrenceville where he was an assistant coach for football, ice hockey, and lacrosse. He also had a stint coaching at the McDonough School (Md.) from 2003-06 before returning to Lawrenceville.

This spring, Kosoff will be bringing his passion for the game to the Princeton Day School where he is taking the helm of its boys’ lacrosse program.

In guiding the Panthers, Kosoff will be instilling a run-and-gun approach employed by the Syracuse teams he followed as a youth.

“My general philosophy and style of play is to get up and down the field and have fun,” said Kosoff, 54, the successor to Nick Taylor who guided the Panthers to a 7-12 record in 2024. “It is playing lacrosse the old fashioned way, if you want to call it that. I love to play fast and have unsettled situations.”

With PDS coming off a disappointing campaign last spring, Kosoff is looking to set a positive tone.

“Part of my mission would be to invigorate the base and light the fire again,” said Kosoff, whose team was slated to start its 2025 campaign by hosting the Blair Academy on April 1, Notre Dame on April 3, and Hopewell Valley on April 8. “Right now we are still in assessment mode, figuring out what are our puzzle pieces.”

As Kosoff figures that out, he is encouraged by the fire he has seen from his new charges.

“They have responded great, it has been really positive,” said Kosoff. “They are working hard, they are getting used to a new coach. It has been really good. The parents have been super supportive, the school has been very supportive. There is good energy, I like it. I think there is an understanding that we are not world beaters yet. We are humble and the kids seem willing to put in the work.”
Kosoff is expecting some good work at attack from sophomore Krystian Rzeczycki (9 goals and 8 assists in 2024), senior Noah Siegel (2 goals), and sophomore Landon Lewis (4 goals).

“Krystian has got good legs and he is just consistent,” said Kosoff. “He is just a hardworking kid and will help us. He is a yessir kind of kid. Noah is back at attack. Landon has showed some flash and some promise.”

In the offensive midfield, senior Hart Nowakoski (12 goals, 25 assists), sophomore Tucker Seamens (11 goals, 3 assists), senior Asher Lewis (5 goals, 5 assists), and senior Colton Simonds (11 goals, 9 assists) will be leading the way.

“Hart is very strong,” said Kosoff. “Tucker is good, he is a lefty and we are going to rely on him for sure. Asher is another midfield guy, he will be doing face-offs. Colton will help us, he works hard.”

Junior Ethan Mack (1 goal) and junior Nick Stivala (1 goal) will be spearheading the defensive midfield.

“Ethan is a shortstick d-middie and he epitomizes the role,” said Kosoff. “Him and Nick are both in that role right now.”

The Panther defensive unit will feature a quartet of seniors in Wyatt Ewanchyna (3 goals, 2 assists), Reilly Gilligan, Griffin Carmody (1 assist), and Todd Devin.

“Ewanchyna will end up being close defense for us,” said Kosoff. “Reilly will be helpful for us on defense, he has a great attitude, Griffin is a lacrosse-first kind of guy, he will help us too. Todd is a soccer player who is out for lacrosse. If he dials in his skills a little bit, he will be a very effective player. He is fast.”

Junior Jake Harrison (95 saves in 2024), junior Charlie West (23 saves) and sophomore Marshall Matyszczak (40 saves) will be vying for time at goalie.

“We have three goalies and they are all different and they are all pretty good,” said Kosoff. “Marshall is a really good ball stopper and Charlie can distribute. Jake has got good hands and has good positioning. He is an athlete.”

As PDS heads into the season, Kosoff is looking for his veteran players to lead on and off the field.

“I am excited to see their commitment to getting better and their commitment to each other,” said Kosoff. “This year we have a handful of seniors with guys like Wyatt, Colton, Hart, and Reilly and they are really excited to be out there. We are going to lean on those guys to be leaders by example.”