One down, one to go for PDS and Jill Thomas
Princeton Day brought home a Prep B state title in a thriller over Montclair Kimberley, 13-12, to get the final segment of Jill Thomas’ Hall of Fame coaching career off to a great start.
The Panthers were trailing late, 12-9, but rallied in the final six minutes to bring back the hardware.
The first round of NJSIAA state tournament play saw a pair of Colonial Valley Conference teams upset at home, in No. 7 Princeton and No. 7 Robbinsville.
Steinert and Hightstown had tough draws and fell. Hopewell Valley and Allentown moved on to face another foe.
Notre Dame and Princeton Day will begin Non-Public play this week, as well.
Here’s a look at the early week schedule.
Non-Public B NO. 16 MORRIS CATHOLIC (87) AT NO. 1 PRINCETON DAY (10-8), MONDAY 4 P.M.
Princeton Day has several players that are rising to the occasion at the right time, but there’s one that has been getting it done every time she’s on the field, Ali Surace.
“Ali Surace has been the “glue” for us all season long,” said Thomas. “She is always giving everything she has to the team ace effort.”
Surace, who is two points shy of 100 career points, has 33 goals and 20 assists this season and has been the quarterback for the Panthers.
PDS has five players over 20 goals and are led by Paige Gardner with 56, who four times this season has scored six goals in a game.
Sophomore Tessa Caputo has Tessa Caputo 38 and 28,
including scoring 20 in the last five games.
Senior Elle Anhut 26 and 20 and Junior Sophie Jaffe has 23 and 12, including five in Prep B final.
Morris Catholic has lost five of six after starting the season 7-2.
It is led by senior Riley Block with 67 goals and Jill Brough added 26.
“With the turn around on Monday and Morris Catholic coming to us we need to get out of the gate quickly,” said Thomas. “They have some quality wins and we can’t overlook that they are looking to come in a beat us as well.”
Top-seeded PDS should prevail in its first NJSIAA appearance.
Non-Public A
NO. 9 NOTRE DAME (8-7) AT NO. 8 MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY (89),
MONDAY AT 4:30 P.M.
These 8/9 games are always interesting and it’s only fitting as the Irish have had an interesting season.
Injuries have taken a toll and have been forced to rely on the defense.
“This season we have been tested against some of the best teams and players in NJ and our defense continues to play at a very high level,” said coach Bryan Fisher. “We will have to continue to believe in our team 1st defense. I know our girls will give a great effort.”
ND has won three of four and are getting a lot from everyone.
Alyssa Lienhard leads with 29 goals and Naomi Kahney has 27 and 15 assists.
MKA will be looking to rebound from the Prep B final loss to Princeton Day.
Senior Patricia ColumbiaWalsh leads with 59 goals and 39 assists. She has 165 career goals.
Sophomore Aeryn Curren has 52 goals.
“MKA year in and year out is a top quality north NJ lacrosse program,” said Fisher. “We will have to be able to get off the bus after a long trip north and be dialed in from the 1st whistle. If we can control tempo we have a great chance to pull off the upset.”
Like the Irish defense in this one.
South Jersey Group 2 NO. 8 HOPEWELL VALLEY (9-7) AT NO. 1 RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN (13-3), MONDAY, 5 P.M.
Hopewell Valley got some great goalie play down the stretch from Reese Reilly in the opening round win over Seneca and now it’s on to defending state champion Rumson-Fair Haven.
“We have come up with a game plan together that we need to stick to,” said Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards. “The team is really working well together. Everyone needs to leave it all out on the field. Leave nothing undone and play as a unit up and down the field. Rumson-Fair Haven is a very good well-coached team.”
The Bulldogs are led by Peyton Branagh with 78 goals and the catalyst has been Taina Harkins with 33 goals and 39 assists.
“Tai is an awesome player,” said Edwards. “She gives her all in every game. She makes amazing well timed feeds to her teammates. She is an all-around strong player.”
Junior Anderson Cappucci
has 31 goals for Hopewell.
R-FH is coming off a loss to Trinity Hall in the Shore Conference final and it snapped their nine-game winning streak.
Rachel James leads Rumson-Fair Haven with 37 goals, Elliot Van Nice has 34 and Jackie Braceland has 29 and 14 assists.
These two met last year and Rumson-Fair Haven came away with the win and this will be another tough matchup for the Bulldogs.
NO. 6 OCEAN TWP. (11-7) AT NO. 3 ALLENTOWN (13-5), TUESDAY 4 P.M.
Definitely one of the most interesting games in the bracket.
Allentown has shown it belongs among the best and Ocean Twp. started the season with eight straight wins and were 2-7 before defeating Delran in the first round.
The Redbirds reached the sectional final last year and although they are the higher seed Ocean Twp. is bringing some firepower.
Grace Martel is a gifted attack player with 111 goals this season, Jane Alto has 54 and Kayla Sobieski has 29 and 23 assists.
These two last met in 2017 and Allentown took a 14-2 win.
It has been a special season for Allentown with Jolee Roth, who has 92 career goals, leading the way with 64 this season and sophomore Chloe Conti has done all that’s asked.
Conti has 37 goals, 46 assists and 79 draw controls.
Delaney Nolan, just a freshman, chimes in with 31 goals and another rookie Mya Lourenco, who played well in the opening round, has 20 and 19 assists.
It could be a close one, but Redbirds prevail.