GOING TO THE MATT: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse Matt Thomson brings the ball upfield in recent action. Last Thursday, senior attacker Thomson tallied a goal as PHS fell 14-5 to Pingry in moving to 10-8. In upcoming action, the Tigers will be starting play in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament where they are seeded eighth and will host ninth-seeded Red Bank Regional in a first-round contest on May 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the last four years, Matt Thomson has gone from being part of the supporting cast for the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team to emerging as one of the squad’s key performers.

“Freshman year, I was just riding the bench and learning from the older guys like Will Doran,” said senior attacker Thomson. “I would say my role, especially on offense, is that role player where I go for the ground balls and try to get it to the next guy and find opportunities to cut and score.”

Last Thursday, Thomson filled that role, scooping up some ground balls, leveling some big hits on the ride, and scoring a fourth quarter goal as PHS battled hard in a 14-5 loss to Pingry in a game played at Princeton Day School in a driving rainstorm.

“On the offense, it was rough there in the beginning but we got stuff going in the third and fourth quarters,” said Thomson. “It was let’s just start working hard and start playing together and give it all we have got. It is put everything on the line as a senior.”

On his goal, Thomson converted a feed from classmate Braden Barlag.

“I just saw space,” said Thomson. “I saw Braden coming up the corner and I just saw a good opportunity.”

Playing with Barlag and a third classmate, Brendan Beatty, has helped Thomson hone his game.

“It is great, us three, we are always practicing together,” said Thomson, who has tallied 23 goals and nine assists this season. “Offseason, we were playing together all of the time passing and shooting.”

While the result against Pingry was disappointing, Thomson saw the game as a good tune-up for the state tourney. The Tigers, now 10-8, will be starting play in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament where they are seeded eighth and will host ninth-seeded Red Bank Regional in a first-round contest on May 29.

“I would say it was good; we actually had a good second half and we are confident going into states,” said Thomson. “I would say keeping up with our defense and implementing more offensive work, just finding the next guy and to have more scoring opportunities.”

PHS head coach Chip Casto also viewed the matchup with Pingry as good prep for the states.

“It is tremendous, it is the day after the state cutoff so both teams know you can just play,” said Casto. “They are obviously a really, really good team, well coached and all. It gave us a chance to try a couple of things. We tried two new things on defense. We will dissect that and analyze that tomorrow.”

With top scorer Beatty currently sidelined with an injury, the Tigers were also working on some offensive wrinkles against Pingry.

“We were just trying to maintain the ball and have some possessions,” said Casto. “Without Brendan, nobody can beat a defender clean and maybe put some pressure on the defense. We are trying to figure out if we have to play without him how to do it. Gavin [Pomraning] is trying. He had a lot of turnovers and we were telling him just keep doing it, keep doing it. Braden feels the price of this being the end of his career so it is good.”

Casto credits Thomson with playing hard throughout his PHS career.

“He has been everything for its four years; he has been in all sorts of roles,” said Casto of Thomson. “He is not a born attackman but he has been doing that for us all year. He had a nice pop on a guy.”

Looking ahead to the state tournament, Casto believes the Tigers can make a nice run.

“They are scrapping, they are going to play hard to the end,” said Casto. “The keys are winning face-offs and playing defense, that is always the case.”

Thomson is determined to scrap to the final whistle of his career.

“I am working my tail off and playing with my brothers,” said Thomson, who is heading to Lehigh University this fall and may play for its club lax program. “Over the four years I have always loved playing with this program. I have missed it every year in the offseason. I am glad I am in it now.”