SHARPSHOOTER: Princeton University women’s hockey player Maggie Connors fires a shot in a 2019 game. Junior forward Connors figures to be the go-to-goal scorer for Princeton as it gets back in action after its 2020-21 campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. The Tigers will head north to start the season, playing at Yale on October 29 and at Brown on October 30.   (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton University women’s hockey team was last in action in March 2020, it rode a high-powered offense for its first ECAC Hockey championship and was poised for a big run in the NCAA tournament.

Princeton averaged 3.7 goals a game that winter and set a program record for wins as it went 26-6-1, only to see the season abruptly halted due to the pandemic. Subsequently, the 2020-21 campaign was canceled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

With the Tigers returning to the ice this weekend with games at Yale (2-0) on October 29 and at Brown (0-1-1) on October 30, it will bringing a gritty mindset.

“It is a very different team and we have to have a different personality; we are going to have a little bit of a different style of play,” said Princeton head coach Cara Morey. more

ON POINT: Princeton University men’s hockey player Christian O’Neill heads up the ice in a 2019 game. Senior forward and alternate captain O’Neill is looking for a big final season with the Tigers. Princeton, which had its 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, returns to action by playing at Army West Point in its season opener on October 30.  (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University men’s hockey team has hit the ice to get back in action after the 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Ron Fogarty is seeing a heightened intensity from his players.

“The enthusiasm and the appreciation is evident with our guys, just how they are at the rink and how the practices are,” said Princeton head coach Fogarty, who guided the Tigers to a 6-20-5 record in 2019-20 and a sweep of Dartmouth in a best-of-the ECAC Hockey opening round playoff series before the season was halted due to the pandemic. “They are full of emotion. It has been great.”

With Princeton playing at Army West Point (1-5-1) in its season opener on October 30, the Tiger players will be looking to translate that emotion into success on the ice.

“Everyone is working so hard because they understand this is one of the biggest years,” said Fogarty.

“You have an opportunity to step in and play a different role or gain a scoring role or goaltending or defense.”

With senior defenseman Matthew Thom (three goals and six assists in 2019-20) serving as team captain and senior forwards Luke Keenan  (seven goals, 11 assists) and Christian O’Neill (five goals, five assists) assuming the alternate captain roles, Fogarty likes how the team is coming together.

“We have 10 seniors, it is a big group; Thom, Keenan, and McNeill have done a tremendous job of bringing two classes together to be part of the team,” said Fogarty. more

AIR SHOW: Princeton University football quarterback Cole Smith fires a pass in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior Smith passed a career-high 476 yards and four touchdowns as Princeton defeated Brown 56-42. Smith was later named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week. The No. 17 Tigers, now 5-0 overall and 2-0 Ivy, host No. 16 Harvard (5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy) on October 23.

By Bill Alden

After the Princeton University football team overcame Brown 56-42 last Saturday, Bob Surace tipped his hat to Bear quarterback E.J. Perry.

“We have gone against some really good offensive players in my 12 years and even the four years that I played; E.J. is the best opponent I have gone against in this league at quarterback,” said Princeton head coach Surace of Perry, who passed for 331 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 82 yards in a losing cause.

“He had a great game. I told him after the game, it is not just his performance, it is the leadership, and the competitiveness.”

Fortunately for Surace, his quarterback, senior Cole Smith, produced a career performance in guiding the Tigers to victory, hitting on 25 of 27 passes for a career-high 476 yards and four TDs to help Princeton improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 Ivy League. He was later named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week.

“It was just like with them; it was a really, really good job by our coaches scheme-wise and then a great job by the players executing,” said Surace of Smith, whose passing yards total in the game was the second most in Princeton history behind the 501 piled up by Bob Holly against Yale in 1981.

“Cole did the same thing, there were some real small windows on some of those throws and the receivers did a great job getting them. I was doing the proud dad thing because my son A.J. was 14 for 16 [for Notre Dame High] and he only played a half. I said to him I was hoping you would be near A.J.’s stats but you put him to shame.”

In the early stages of the contest, it looked like the proud Princeton defense, that had given up only seven points in the first three games, was going to contain Perry as the Tigers led 14-0 going into the second quarter. more

RISING TO THE OCCASION: Princeton University men’s soccer player Kevin O’Toole goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star O’Toole scored two goals to help Princeton defeat Columbia 3-0. O’Toole, the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, has three goals and three assists in three Ivy contests this fall. The Tigers, who improved to 6-5 overall and 3-0 Ivy with the win, return to league action when they play at Harvard (4-4-3 overall, 0-2-1 Ivy) on October 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Kevin O’Toole has demonstrated a knack for rising to the occasion for the Princeton University men’s soccer team in the heat of Ivy League competition.

The senior forward had tallied a goal and two assists in Princeton’s first two Ivy contests this season as the Tigers defeated Dartmouth 3-2 and Brown 3-1.

Last Saturday against visiting Columbia, O’Toole took things to a higher level, scoring two goals to help Princeton pull away to a 3-0 win over the Lions as it improved to 6-5 overall and 3-0 Ivy.

O’Toole and his teammates brought a sense of urgency into the clash with the Lions.

“We know every game is incredibly hard in the Ivy League, you can’t take any game for granted,” said O’Toole, a 5’10, 165-pound native of Montclair, and the Ivy Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. more

DIGGING IN: Members of the DiGregorio family, from left, Aaron, Nadia, Derek, Steve, and Zack, share a laugh with legendary coaches, from left, John Thompson III, Jason Garrett, and Pete Carril at a 2015 event at Conte’s Pizza to raise money to fight ataxia-telangiectasia, known as A-T. Beloved football coach Steve DiGregorio, known as “Digger” to his players and many friends, passed away last week at age 60 after a valiant battle with cancer, sparking sadness and fond memories from the countless people he touched on and off the gridiron. (Photo by John Dowers)

By Bill Alden

Be kind. Fight for justice, especially for those who can’t fight for themselves. Whatever you are doing, do it to the best of your ability. Do the right thing every day.

Those were the core principles that guided Steve DiGregorio and are just some of his qualities that family and friends are reflecting on in the wake of DiGregorio’s death on October 12 at age 60 after a valiant fight against cancer.

DiGregorio, known to all as “Digger,” was a big-hearted, good-natured, and tough-minded football coach whose influence was felt by a number of programs.

He served 13 years as an assistant coach for the Princeton University football team, several years as an assistant at Princeton High, and was a star player and later award-winning head coach for his alma mater, Nutley High.

DiGregorio also had coaching stints at Hobart College, Allegheny College, and Paramus Catholic. Before starting his coaching career, DiGregorio starred for Muhlenberg College and has been inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

His influence extended far beyond the gridiron as he helped create the “Derek’s Dreams” charity after his middle son, Derek, was diagnosed with a rare neuro-muscular disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, or A-T. The cause of fighting for a cure to that disease hit at the heart of his existence as it involved his beloved family, wife Nadia, and their sons, Zack, 26, Derek, 24, and Aaron, 22.  more

ROARING BACK: Princeton University football player Jacob Birmelin dives into the end zone in recent action. Last Saturday at Monmouth, senior star receiver Birmelin made nine catches for 109 yards to help Princeton rally from a 21-6 third quarter deficit to pull out a 31-28 victory over the Hawks. The Tigers, now 4-0, play at Brown (1-3) on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The Princeton University football team’s hopes for an undefeated 2021 season nearly blew away last Saturday in the gusts swirling around Monmouth’s Kessler Stadium.

Bringing a 3-0 record into the clash with 25th-ranked Hawks, the No. 24 Tigers found themselves trailing Monmouth 14-6 at halftime on a day which saw 20 mph winds blowing across the field all game long.

“You obviously want to get off to a better start and you want to do better,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace.

“You believe in your guys, you just keep playing. You make some adjustments and hope you can get back in it. We had a really good end of the half drive to cut it 14-6, it made it a one score game.”

Monmouth kept playing well in the third quarter, starting the half with a 16-play, 66-yard scoring march that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by Juwon Farri as the Hawks increased their lead to 21-6. more

FINISHING STRONG: Princeton University running back Collin Eaddy heads upfield in a 2019 game. Last Saturday, senior co-captain Eaddy rushed for 103 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns as Princeton pulled away to a 24-7 win over visiting Columbia in the Ivy League opener for both teams. The Tigers, now 3-0 overall and 1-0 Ivy, play at Monmouth (3-2) on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After rolling to a pair of lopsided victories in its first two games this fall, the Princeton University football team found itself in a battle last Saturday against visiting Columbia.

Heading into the fourth quarter at a sun-splashed Princeton Stadium, Princeton was clinging to a 10-7 lead over the 2-0 Lions in the Ivy League opener for both teams.

“We didn’t panic, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace.

“We had some opportunities in the first half to maybe extend the lead. We really struggled in some areas and when I say we struggled, they were really good. I want to give them credit. It wasn’t just us falling on our faces, they have got really good players.”

With Princeton’s really good running back, senior co-captain Collin Eaddy, rushing for two fourth quarter touchdowns, the Tigers pulled away to a 24-7 win.

Eaddy’s first TD came on a two-yard plunge with 8:50 left in regulation.  more

COLE POWERED: Princeton University quarterback Cole Smith heads upfield against visiting Stetson last Saturday. Senior Smith hit on 15-of-24 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 24 yards and two TDs on five carries as the Tigers rolled to a 63-0 win over the Hatters in their home opener. No. 23 Princeton, now 2-0, will start Ivy League play by hosting Columbia (2-0) on October 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cole Smith realizes that he is shouldering a lot of responsibility stepping into the starting quarterback spot for the Princeton University football team.

“I have pressure upon myself,” said senior Smith. “But we are going to go out here and, just the way we prepare from the coach down during the week, it lifts it off our shoulders.”

In dealing with that pressure, Smith has gotten a lift from his predecessors.

“It is getting into a rhythm of how to prepare with school going on,” said Smith.

“Everybody deals with that, it is a different mindset. I have had previous quarterbacks — John Lovett, Chad Kanoff, Kevin Davidson, and Zach Keller — reaching out to me and just being as helpful as they possibly could. That is just the Princeton brotherhood, it is unbelievable.”

Smith is proving to be a worthy successor to those former Tiger QBs, passing for 412 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-0 win over Lehigh in the opener on September 18 and following that up with another superb performance last Saturday against Stetson in Princeton’s home opener. Smith hit on 15-of-24 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 24 yards and two TDs on five carries as the Tigers rolled to a 63-0 win over the Hatters before 4,449 at Princeton Stadium.

Against Stetson, Smith used his legs to get the Tigers in the lead, running for a nine-yard touchdown as Princeton jumped ahead 7-0. After two field goals from Jeffrey Sexton, Smith ran for another score as the Tigers built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and the rout was on.

Finding a groove in the passing game after some early misfires, Smith ended the half with a pair of TD passes hitting Jacob Birmelin for a 30-yard scoring strike and then finding Andrei Iosivas for a 41-yard score as Tigers led 35-0 by halftime. more

MAKING STRIDES: Princeton University field hockey player Ali McCarthy, right, races after the ball in a game earlier this fall. Last Friday, junior star McCarthy tallied two goals as Princeton defeated Penn 5-1 in the Ivy League opener for both squads. Two days later, McCarthy had an assist in a losing cause as the 17th-ranked Tigers fell 3-1 to No. 10 Rutgers. Princeton, now 3-5 overall and 1-0 Ivy, hosts Yale on October 1 and No. 6 UConn on October 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After starting 0-3 this fall in its first action since 2019 with last season having been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Princeton University field hockey team started clicking in recent weeks.

Princeton edged Delaware 3-2 on September 17 for its first win and then routed Boston University 7-0 two days later. The 17th-ranked Tigers started last week by falling 4-3 in overtime at No. 9 Maryland and then started their Ivy League campaign in style by posting a 5-1 win at Penn last Friday.

“I definitely think we have seen it come together as we have moved on,” said Princeton head coach Carla Tagliente. “We are much, much better than the first couple of weekends.”

Last Sunday, things didn’t come together for the Tigers as they hosted No. 10 Rutgers. Princeton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman star Beth Yeager off a penalty corner 2:10 into the contest but the Scarlet Knights responded with three unanswered goals over the rest of the game to prevail 3-1.

“I like the way we started; from that point we had a lot of great attack transition but we just kept running into tackles,” said Tagliente, whose team dropped to 3-5 overall with the setback.

“It was like a double turnover coming back at us the other way. I knew we couldn’t sustain that and that is what really broke us in the second half.” more

STEADY EADDY: Princeton University football player Collin Eaddy carries the ball in a 2019 game. Last Saturday, senior running back and co-captain Eaddy rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries as Princeton defeated Lehigh 32-0 in the season opener as it played its first game since 2019 after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. The Tigers host Stetson (2-0) in their home opener on September 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having not played a game since beating Penn 28-7 on November 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, emotions were running high for the Princeton University football team as it finally returned to action by playing at Lehigh last Saturday in its season opener.

While Princeton head coach Bob Surace appreciated that enthusiasm, he cautioned his player to not get carried away.

“You could tell that as we went from camp mode to game week mode, their energy was just terrific,” said Surace.

“We have a leadership group, I talked to them and I talked to the team and said we want to be passionate and emotional. But if we are so emotional that we are not doing our responsibility, that defeats the purpose.”

The Tigers achieved their purpose, rolling to a 32-0 win over Lehigh before a crowd of 7,050 at Goodman Stadium.

“I thought we balanced the passion, energy, and emotion with doing our jobs, doing what we are supposed to do,” said Surace.

Princeton took care of business from the outset against the Mountain Hawks, going on a 10-play, 75-yard scoring march that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by senior star and co-captain Collin Eaddy. After the defense stopped Lehigh on a three-and-out, Princeton put together another long drive of 63 yards on eight plays that culminated on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cole Smith to Andrei Iosivas to go up 13-0 and never looked back on the way to the rout.

“I thought we executed really well in practice,” said Surace. “Until you do it against an opponent, you just don’t know. So to see us get those good plays going was a really good feeling. It is ‘hey we are back and we are executing the way we did in practice.’”

In reflecting on the sharp execution on both sides of the ball, Surace praised his players with showing a dogged resolve over the last 20 months. more

SPICY CURRY: Princeton University women’s soccer player Madison Curry goes after the ball in recent action. Senior defender Curry helped Princeton post a 4-0 win at Delaware last Sunday. The Tigers, now 6-1-1, start Ivy League play by hosting Yale on September 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Madison Curry has a lot on her plate this fall for the Princeton University women’s soccer team.

Junior defender Curry helps hold the fort along the back line while also making frequent forays upfield to spark the Tiger attack.

“I am just doing what the coaches tell me to do,” said Curry, a native of Coto de Caza, Calif., who was a first-team All-Ivy League player in 2019 as a freshman when she had two assists.

“Thankfully I have a really good group of girls who have my back through and through and I am given freedom. I am trying to make the biggest positive impact on and off the field. This season that means I go up more and score and hopefully get more in the back of the net.”

Last Thursday against No. 23 Hofstra, Curry was racing all over the field in her hot pink cleats but her efforts went for naught as No. 22 Princeton fell 2-0 to suffer its first loss of the season after a 5-0-1 start.

“We knew coming into this game that their top four were really good and athletic,” said Curry.

“They have gone through the Ivy League and they have done a very good job against every team. They come out here and they have a game plan and they stick to it very well. We faced a lot of challenges that we hadn’t on previous games.” more

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace answers a question at the program’s recently-held Media Day. After last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Princeton is returning to action by playing at Lehigh on September 18. The Tigers last played on November 23, 2019 when they defeated Penn 28-7 to finish that season 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There is a din of screeching, thumping, and hammering going on around the Princeton University football team as it has gone through its preseason practices with a soccer stadium and parking garage being constructed nearby.

But that racket hasn’t distracted Princeton head coach Bob Surace as he goes about the task of building his 2021 squad into a winner after last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“You saw all of the construction; I feel like those things 10 years ago when I was a little less mature would have bothered me,” said Surace, standing in a corner of Powers Field at  Princeton Stadium fielding questions in the program’s recently-held Media Day.

“But when you have a year off, you are smiling on the way to practice. Stuff is going on all around us and nothing bothers me. It is just about the guys being back and us being here, which is really cool.”

With Princeton having last played on November 23, 2019 when they defeated Penn 28-7 to finish that season 8-2 overall and 5-2 Ivy League, the Tigers will have an additional contingent of veterans as they play at Lehigh on September 18 to kick off the 2021 campaign. more

ON HIS TOES: Princeton University men’s soccer player Daniel Diaz-Bonilla, right, battles Nico Rosamilia of Rutgers for the ball last Friday night in Princeton’s season opener. Junior forward Diaz-Bonilla generated a number of chances for the Tigers in a losing cause as Princeton fell 1-0 to the Scarlet Knights. Princeton was slated to play at Vermont on September 7 before heading to Colgate on September 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Daniel Diaz-Bonilla and his teammates on the Princeton University men’s soccer team were bound to be a bit rusty as they hosted Rutgers last Friday night in their season opener.

Princeton hadn’t played a game in nearly two years with the 2020 season having been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and had a brief preseason in preparing to play a battle-tested Scarlet Knight squad.

“This team has only been together for two weeks after two years off and that team had a season in the spring,” said junior forward Diaz-Bonilla. “They have already had two games and a month together.”

But with the shifty Diaz-Bonilla displaying some dazzling footwork, the Tigers were able to put Rutgers on its heels several times outshooting the Scarlet Knights 8-7 in the first half as rivals played to a scoreless draw over the first 45 minutes of the contest.

The attacking unit of senior Kevin O’Toole, sophomore Walker Gillespie, senior Frankie DeRosa, and junior Ryan Clare along with Diaz-Bonilla was in sync despite the long hiatus from game action.

“We trust each other,” said Diaz-Bonilla. “We are always fluid, we are moving, we are getting off each other. I could play on the right, Kevin can play on the left and Walker can drop down. It is super fluid. We have got Frankie coming off the bench and Ryan sometimes goes up for us. We have a lot of options.” more

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: Princeton University women’s soccer goalie Grace Barbara handles the ball last Friday night as Princeton defeated Loyola (Md.) 2-1 in its season opener and first game since 2019 after last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Senior Barbara, a former Princeton Day School standout, made one save in the win. Two days later, Barbara combined with freshman Tyler McCamey to post a shutout as the Tigers defeated Saint Joseph’s 3-0 with each goalie playing a half. In upcoming action, Princeton plays at George Mason (0-4) on September 2 and at 11th-ranked Georgetown (1-0-1) on September 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Grace Barbara started at goalie for the Princeton University women’s soccer team last Friday night in its first game since 2019, she just had to look to her right wrist to see the theme of the evening.

The word “grit” was scrawled in black ink on the tape around her wrist and it characterized the effort that senior Barbara, a former Princeton Day School standout, made to help Princeton pull out a 2-1 win over Loyola (Md.) in its first action after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“I definitely didn’t play my best game tonight but I think that is to be expected coming off of so long of not competing at Princeton,” said Barbara.

“But I am ready to build every day and get better every single day. That is really my mentality here. I actually came in at a deficit. I wasn’t able to train with the team for the first couple of days. I had COVID  earlier in the month and had to go through a return-to-play protocol. I had a really short preseason and was working really, really hard to get the starting spot here.”

Princeton had to show some grit collectively as it built a 2-0 lead only to see the Greyhounds score on a penalty kick with 9:18 left in the second half, making the final minutes of the contest a bit edgy for the Tigers.

“It definitely was a dicey win but a win is a win and that is what we have to say,” said Barbara, who had one save on the evening.

“This team, Loyola, has already had two games under their belt. They came in off of a pretty harsh loss (4-0) to Clemson and they were just ready to play. We saw that, they were scrappy to the end. It really taught us about how we can respond in a situation where we conceded a goal. Our mantra is grit this year and we showed exactly that. We really stepped up.” more

KICK STARTER: Princeton University men’s soccer player Kevin O’Toole, right, controls the ball in a 2019 game. Senior star O’Toole, a two-time All-Ivy League selection and the Ivy Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, will be looking to get his senior season off to a big start when Princeton hosts Rutgers (1-0-1) on September 3 at Class of 1952 Stadium in its season opener.It will mark the first game for the Tigers since November 16, 2019 when they fell 2-1 to Yale to end the season at 10-4-3 overall and 2-2-3 Ivy League before the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Princeton University men’s soccer head coach Jim Barlow, seeing the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 concerns robbed him and his players of what they cherish most.

“It is the reason we do what we do; it is the thing that is most joyful about our job and we weren’t able to do it,” said Barlow, whose team last played on November 16, 2019 when it fell 2-1 to Yale to end that season at 10-4-3 overall and 2-2-3 Ivy League.

“That was the hardest part, not being able to get after it with the guys. I think what we do is important to their well-being, and to have it not happen was tough.”

There was lots of joy as the squad hit the field for preseason training starting on August 21 to start preparing for hosting Rutgers (1-0-1) in the season opener on September 3 at Class of 1952 Stadium.

“There is definitely an extra level of excitement to be back,” said Barlow.

“The guys have been waiting for it for a long time. The energy has been really positive, the guys came back fit.” more

RARING TO GO: Players on the Princeton University football team about to burst on the field for their season opener against Butler in September 2019. Princeton, which didn’t get to play last fall as the Ivy League canceled competition due to COVID-19 concerns, starts preseason training for the 2021 season this Saturday. The Tigers, whose last regular season game was a 28-7 win at Penn on November 23, 2019, kick off the upcoming season by playing at Lehigh on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While August 21 is about four months away from the holiday season, it will seem like Christmas morning for Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace.

With Princeton not getting a season last fall as the Ivy League canceled competition due to COVID-19 concerns and having limited practices this spring, the Tigers will be hitting the field this Saturday to start preseason practices for the 2021 campaign.

“I just had a lunch with a player and one of his advisers,” said Surace.

“I told the adviser, you don’t understand how excited we are. It is hard to put into words. We got a tease of it in the spring but it wasn’t the same.”

With a number of veteran players not enrolling in Princeton for the 2020-21 school year, the spring sessions had a smaller turnout than usual.

“The hard part was that the numbers were lower, not everybody came back to school,” said Surace.

“Everybody had their individual decision and nobody knew how it was going to go. We had 53 players and we usually have about 75, so it was a much lower number. At times, it limited the full 11-on-11 certain days.”

While there were limits, Surace believes that a number of younger players still made progress. more