Princeton University Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Team Honors 2004 Team, Reilly Family and John McPhee
October 29, 2014 | Men's Lacrosse
A team of overachievers, a family whose behind-the-scenes efforts have helped more than 10 classes of players have a better experience and a man whose connection to the program dates back to the 1930s but whose actions impact every current player were honored at the seventh annual Friends of Princeton Lacrosse Fall Celebration Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency.
The 2004 Princeton men's lacrosse team started its season of uncertainty after graduation claimed 11 major contributors from the year before and ended its season in the Final Four.
Princeton started the 2004 season with only four players who had ever started a game before and with just three of its regular starters. By season's end, Princeton had won a share of the Ivy League title and then defeated Rutgers and Maryland in the NCAA tournament to reach the FInal Four, where the season ended with an 8-7 loss to Navy.
At the event Saturday night, each class selected one player to introduce the returning members of his class, and then Oliver Barry, an All-America defenseman then and now a doctor, spoke on behalf of the entire team.
The 2004 team was honored after Denise and Dennis Reilly, who led the parents' group while their three sons - Brendan '09, Connor '13 and Brian '14 - all played. It was Brian, who is also a young alumni trustee, who introduced his parents, who then each spoke about what it meant to them to be able to work closely with the coaches, players and other parents.
Lastly, John McPhee was presented the Beth Tortolani Cup, given in memory of the mother of Princeton All-America attackman and 1992 NCAA champion Justin Tortolani, who was in attendance with his father and son.
The Tortolani Cup is given to a member of the program who has given a great deal to the team and to the players. Denise Reilly is a former winner.
McPhee spoke about John Higginbotham, for whom the team MVP award is named and against whom he had a boxing match as a child at a summer camp where Higginbotham was a counselor. Higginbotham, whom McPhee called a "blonde giant," boxed young McPhee from his knees.
One year later, Higginbotham was killed in World War II while a pilot with the Canadian Air Force.
In addition to the honorees, the night also featured the current Princeton team, which introduced itself to the audience in numerical order, as has become custom.