MIGHTY QUINN: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Quinn Solvibile unloads the ball in a game this spring. Defender Solvibile produced a solid senior campaign, scooping up 22 ground balls to help lead the PHS back line. The Tigers posted a final record of 11-10 as they advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

By Bill Alden

After getting off to a 1-4 start this spring, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team caught fire as it won nine of its next 11 games.

“We did well up through Allentown,” said PHS head coach Chip Casto, whose squad did advance to the quarterfinal round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament during that stretch. “The big win was that comeback against Allentown with two goals in the fourth quarter. It was maybe we have got something here if we are tough enough to do things like this.”

The Tigers, though, endured a tough finish, going 1-4 in their last five games.

“A couple of things happened, people had to miss games and we lost all kinds of momentum,” said Casto, whose team fell 11-3 to Morris Knolls in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament to end the season with an 11-10 record. “The hindsight looking back is that it offered a lot of younger kids that chance to play. We can now label it a building year. It was so disjointed with so many people missing games here and there.”

Casto acknowledged that the Tiger attack was

disjointed in the loss to Morris Knolls.

“We never got going, they were up 5-1, 7-2,” said Casto. “It was really just the basics broke down, that is the most crucial point. We couldn’t pass and catch.”

A pair of seniors, Carmine Carusone (12 goals, 10 assists, and 154 of 240 faceoffs in 2026) and Declan Hughes (32 goals, 19 assists), got things going for PHS over the course of the spring.

“We put a lot of pressure on Carmine to do a lot of things and also score goals for us,” said Casto. “When he was there, he was basically our MVP on the field. Declan had a pretty good senior campaign.”

At the defensive end, seniors Quinn Solvibile (1 goal, 2 assists, 22 ground balls) and Ryan Garlock (14 ground balls) stepped up.

“We ended up playing a zone,” said Casto. “Quinn was building for this year; he really played his best as a senior, which is what is supposed to happen and the same with Ryan. He ended up just playing his quiet, solid game. They both got a little more vocal which was really key. They each went out with a solid representation of who they are.”

Jacob Topolewski (90 saves) produced a solid senior campaign as he split time in goal with rising junior Sam Gibb (50 saves).

“Sam was hurt in the beginning and it was an opportunity for Jake there,” said Casto. “Nobody really became head and shoulders over the other. If you are going to sit somebody, they have to be thoroughly outplayed. They each rose to the occasion in different situations. We have had this before, splitting goalies. Jacob maximized what he could do and he was great. I am really happy for him.”

While star midfielder Nico Pisapia was sidelined by injury for most of his senior season, he still made a valuable contribution.

“Nico ended up being a like a great assistant coach,” said Casto.

“He did everything he could. We started speaking a little more freely with him and he ended up expressing himself more with his evaluations. He was fantastic to be around, he was like the best hurt guy ever.”

Star attacker Gavin Pomraning came up big in his junior campaign this spring, tallying a team-high 91 points on 43 goals and 48 assists.

“He definitely improved this year, we always look forward when people like that become seniors because that is an even bigger jump,” said Casto. “He ended up learning the offense a little bit better than he had known it. He was our guy so we leaned on him. We gave him all of the responsibility. He definitely got better and he is going to have a great year next year.”

A number of Pomraning’s assists went to classmate and standout midfielder Michael Frenia, who tallied a team-high 45 goals.

“We need him to try to go left-handed next year and diversify his game a little bit,” said Casto.

On defense, Ben Kahn (52 ground balls) showed a lot of game in his junior campaign.

“Ben ended up helping lead the defense,” said Casto. “He is a linebacker, he can read stuff pretty

well and we asked him to do that. We are going to get better at that zone. He had a solid year.”

The team’s core of freshmen made a solid contribution, led by Chase Gallagher, who tallied 22 goals and nine assists with 22 ground balls.

“I think the story of the season is Chase, he completely exceeded my expectations,” said Casto, noting that several other freshmen showed promise including Mason Merse (7 goals, 2 assists), John Monica (2 goals), Morgan Whitlow (4 goals), and Cooper Casto (2 goals), the coach’s son. “Patrick Kenah (a 2024 PHS grad now playing for Lafayette College) was really the best freshman I have seen. When you are looking around the huddle and you ask a freshmen to do something, you know he is having a good year. We ended up really leaning on him. He is just a solid player; he understands the Xs and Os. Football helps with that. He understands effort, he understands hard work. He has grit and determination.”

Abe Arshan, who stars for the PHS boys’ hockey team, also exceeded expectations in his sophomore campaign.

“He is really smart with the ball,” said Casto of Arshan, who tallied seven goals and eight assists. “I think hockey has really taught him how to deal with space. He knows where people are before he catches the ball. He is a great addition, we are going to lean on him more.”

Although the Tigers struggled down the stretch, Casto believes his returning players will benefit from the lessons they gained this spring.

“They are good kids, they work hard — the ball just didn’t bounce our way,” said Casto. “We had bad luck with people missing games. We learn and hopefully we improve. We had our exit interviews and the juniors are really fired up to take the reins as seniors, which is really cool.”