ON A ROLL: Princeton High boys’ soccer goalie Patrick Jacobs rolls the ball up the field in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, junior Jacobs made eight saves as PHS edged Trenton 1-0 in a key Colonial Valley Conference showdown. The Little Tigers, now 14-1, are starting play in the Mercer County Tournament this week where they are seeded second and host a first round contest on October 20 against the victor of the MCT play-in game between Hightstown and Nottingham. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Over the years, a long line of top flight goalies has helped form the foundation of the highly successful Princeton High boys’ soccer program. more

ABBY ROAD: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Abby Atkeson controls the ball in recent action. Senior midfielder and team captain Atkeson’s gritty play and leadership has helped PDS get off to a 13-0-1 start. The Panthers will be getting underway in the Mercer County Tournament this week where they are seeded third and host No. 14 Hun in a first round contest on October 19. Two-time defending champion PDS is seeded first in the state Prep B tourney and will host a semifinal contest in that competition on October 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The players were hopping up and down on the field right before kickoff as the undefeated Princeton Day school girls’ soccer team played at undefeated Pennington. more

Last fall, the Princeton High boys’ cross country team was disappointed to just miss out on the country crown as it finished second, a mere three points behind champion Robbinsville.

With its top runners returning this season, the frustration from that near miss has been a key motivating factor for the squad.

“Missing counties by a couple of points has changed the focus a little bit,” said PHS head coach Jim Smirk, the longtime coach of the Little Tiger girls’ program who is now guiding the boys as well. more

RAISING CANE: Princeton High field hockey player Jordyn Cane fires a shot against Burlington last Wednesday. Senior Cane scored two goals in the game but it wasn’t enough as PHS fell 3-2. The Little Tigers, who moved to 10-2-1 with a 3-0 win over Lawrence High last Monday, are next in action when they play in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Jordyn Cane is determined to savor her final season on the Princeton High field hockey team. more

COMING ON STRONG: Princeton Day School field hockey player Gwen Allen goes after the ball last Thursday against Pennington. Sophomore Allen scored two goals in the game to help PDS prevail 3-2 over the Red Raiders. Last Monday, Allen contributed an assist in a losing cause as the Panthers fell 3-2 to Germantown Academy (Pa.) in overtime. PDS, now 11-3, is next in action when it competes in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Gwen Allen decided to just fire away when she received the ball on a penalty corner with the Princeton Day School field hockey team locked in a 2-2 tie with Pennington last Thursday. more

SPARK PLUG: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer goalie Ryan Sparks surveys the action in a 2015 game. Last Saturday, senior standout Sparks came up big in a 1-0 victory over Hopewell Valley, making eight saves to earn the shutout. The Panthers, who moved to 8-4-1 with a 3-0 loss to South Kent (Conn.) last Monday, play at Hun School on October 13, at Wardlaw-Hartridge on October 15, and at Montclair Kimberley on October 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Ryan Sparks has grown a lot over the last few years in his role as the starting goalie for the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team. more

EVASIVE ACTION: Hun School football player Joshua Henderson eludes a tackler in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday against visiting Blair Academy, sophomore star Henderson rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders rolled to a 35-0 win. Hun, now 4-0 and riding a 17-game winning streak, plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on October 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After traveling to Hartford, Conn. and Washington, D.C. for its last two games, the Hun School football team was thrilled to be hosting Blair Academy last Saturday. more

With the Hun School boys’ soccer team having lost five straight games, getting outscored 23-6 in that stretch, it was looking for a break-out game when it hosted Life Center Academy last week.

Taking out its frustrations, Hun exploded for six goals, cruising to a much-needed 6-0 victory in the October 11 contest.

Junior forward Michael Campbell, who scored two goals in the victory, saw the win as a big step forward for the Raiders. more

For the Princeton High girls’ tennis program, overcoming perennial power and nemesis WW/P-S has proven to be a tall order through the years.

PHS has been in the running for many a county and district title, only to be denied by the Pirates.

This fall, however, the Little Tigers posted a pair of wins over WW/P-S in the first two weeks of the season, defeating the Pirates 4-1 on September 9 and then prevailing 3-2 in a rematch last Wednesday. more

FINISHING TOUCH: Gretchen Lindenfeldar goes after the ball in action last season. Junior forward Lindenfeldar has emerged as a key scoring threat for the Panthers this season, tallying a goal in a 2-0 win over South Hunterdon on September 12 and then adding three more goals in a 7-0 rout of Academy of New Church (Pa.) last Wednesday. The Panthers, who improved to 5-0 with a 5-0 win over the George School (Pa.) last Friday, are slated to host Peddie School on September 22 and Blair Academy on September 24 before playing at Northern Burlington on September 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After not scoring a goal in her first two seasons on the Princeton Day School field hockey team, Gretchen Lindenfeldar has mastered the art of finishing this fall. more

While Ed Tseng is pleased to see his Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team produce a 3-1 start, he is more impressed by the approach his players have been taking this season.

“I think the No. 1 thing is that it really is a nice group of girls, everybody gets along and everyone is supportive of everyone else,” said PDS head coach Tseng.

“We are having fun. Also, we set the tone every season and we say look we are going to give our best effort every single day in practice and matches.” more

SHINING COYNE: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Madison Coyne advances the ball up the field in recent action. Junior defender Coyne’s brilliance on the back line has helped PDS produce a 4-0 start this season. The Panthers will look to keep on the winning track as they play at Peddie on September 22 before hosting Blair Academy on September 24 and South Hunterdon on September 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

In recent years, the rivalry between the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team and Hun has been heated, producing a slew of tightly contested one-goal games. more

Joanna Hallac was pleased by the way her Hun School girls’ soccer team performed in the first half as it hosted Princeton Day School last week.

The local rivals were locked in a scoreless tie at halftime in the September 13 contest, with Hun generating some superb chances by Nicole Apuzzi and Bryonna Worthy.

“I thought in the first half we were more dangerous,” said Hun head coach Hallac. “We had better looks at the goal.” more

NO JOSHING: Hun School football star Joshua Henderson runs to daylight in season-opening action against visiting Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada earlier this month. Sophomore running back Henderson rushed for two touchdowns to help Hun prevail 38-13 in the September 10 contest The Raiders are next in action when they play at Capital Preparatory Magnet School (Conn.) on September 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While it may appear that things came easily for the Hun School football team as it rolled to a 38-13 win over Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada in its season opener, the Raiders faced a number of challenges in the encounter. more

HEADS UP: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Sam Serxner heads the ball up the field last Thursday as PHS edged Hopewell Valley 2-1 in the season opener for both teams. Senior defender Serxner assisted on the winning goal midway through the second half, sending a free kick into the box that Quentin Pompliano headed into the back of the net. The Little Tigers host Notre Dame on September 15 and WW/P-S on September 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton High boys’ soccer team opened its season by hosting Hopewell Valley last Thursday, Sam Serxner was just one of three returning starters in the lineup for the Little Tigers. more

ON THE RUN: Princeton High quarterback Vince Doran rolls out to fire a pass last Sunday against Pemberton in the season opener. Junior Doran hit on 19-of-35 passes for 149 yards in his debut as the starting QB but it wasn’t enough as PHS fell 33-6 to the Hornets. The Little Tigers will look to get in the win column when they play at Hightstown on September 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Between the 20-yard lines the Princeton High football team held its own as it hosted Pemberton last Sunday in the season opener for both teams. more

FANCY FOOTWORK: Hun School girls’ soccer player Kara Borden shows off her ball skills last Saturday against Notre Dame in the season opener for both teams. Junior star Borden notched a goal to help Hun earn a 2-2 draw with the Irish. In upcoming action, the Raiders host Germantown Academy (Pa.) on September 15 and Oak Knoll on September 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Two years ago, the Hun School girls’ soccer team reached new heights as it defeated perennial power Pennington 2-0 to win the state Prep A title. more

LAW AND ORDER: Hun School field hockey player Delia Lawver marks a foe in action last season. Hun will be depending on senior star Lawver to keep order in the midfield this fall. The Raiders start their 2016 campaign when they play at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Over the years, the Hun School field hockey program has displayed a propensity for coming on strong down the stretch. more

With a horde of players hitting the field this summer the Hun School boys’ soccer program, Pat Quirk has been busy sorting through the talent at his disposal.

“We had 65 kids come out for the three teams that we have, it is very good,” said Hun head coach Quirk, who guided his varsity team to a 5-12 record in 2015.

“They are at about the same level so we are just kind of weeding through that right now. We have a good core of returning kids from the varsity team, for sure, and we got some incoming kids that are very, very skilled. I think are going to jell well together.” more

GETTING THEIR KICKS: Members of Princeton High boys’ soccer team enjoy kicking the ball around in a drill at recent practice. PHS, coming off a 16-2-3 campaign last fall, open the 2016 season by hosting Hopewell Valley on September 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The bar has been set high for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team. more

For Heather Serverson, guiding her Princeton High field hockey team through the preseason has been akin to working on a jigsaw puzzle.

“We have some seasoned players so it really is just a matter of figuring out how we can function best as a team,” said Serverson, who guided PHS to a 13-6-2 record in 2015 and the semifinals of both the Mercer County Tournament and the North 2 Group 4 sectional.

“We have the experience under our belts; we still haven’t quite figured out how we work best together yet.” more

FLYING SOLO: Princeton High football payer Alex -Solopenkov races up the field in action last fall. Senior receiver -Solopenkov figures to be a key target this fall for PHS. The Little Tigers start their 2016 season when they host Pemberton on September 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Charlie Gallagher acknowledged that his Princeton High football team has been feeling the heat over the last few weeks. more

LEADING THE WAY: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Abby Atkeson runs through a drill at a recent practice. Senior captain Atkeson will be counted on to provide gritty play in the midfield this fall for the Panthers, who have won two straight state Prep B titles. PDS is slated to open its 2016 campaign by hosting WW/P-S on September 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Over the last few years, the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team has provided living proof of the adage that defense wins  more