IN FOCUS: Princeton High field hockey player Trish Reilly focuses on the ball last Thursday as PHS hosted East Brunswick in the North 2 Group 4 sectional quarterfinals. Senior star midfielder Reilly chipped in a goal and an assist to help the third-seeded Little Tigers cruise to a 6-1 win over sixth-seeded East Brunswick. The victory improved PHS to 13-5-2 and set up a sectional semifinals matchup at second-seeded Hunterdon Central slated for November 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Trish Reilly brought a special sense of urgency as the Princeton High field hockey team hosted East Brunswick in the North 2 Group 4 sectional quarterfinals last Thursday.

“Today was my last time playing on this turf so there was a lot of emotion on on the line, a lot of nostalgia,” said PHS senior midfielder Reilly.

Coming from a tough 1-0 loss to Allentown in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals a week earlier during which it fought the Redbirds tooth and nail, PHS was looking to build on that effort.

“We had the best game of our lives against Allentown so we are planning to take that energy and channel it into every game,” said Reilly.

With the third-seeded Little Tigers locked in a scoreless tie with sixth-seeded East Brunswick in the early going, Reilly provided PHS with a jolt of energy as she rocketed a ball throughout the circle into the cage for the first score of the game.

“I was just sending it in, I trusted my teammates from there to get it in,” recalled Reilly. “It just happened to go in on its own.”

After Reilly’s tally with 23:17 remaining in the half, PHS scored three unanswered goals in the next 12:39 to take a 4-0 lead.

“That is kind of how it
always is, we struggle for the first few minutes on getting a finish and then as we get it, the floodgates open and everyone takes a turn,” said Reilly who got an assist on one of the three goals, two of which were tallied by junior star Avery Peterson with the other coming from Jordyn Cane.

PHS never looked back, pulling away to a 6-1 win as Anna Cincotta and Kennedy Corrado added second-half goals. The win improved PHS to 13-5-2 and set up a sectional semifinals matchup at second-seeded Hunterdon Central slated for November 3.

“It was a confidence builder and it was also nice because we got everyone playing time today,” said Reilly, reflecting on the victory. “That is always awesome and preferable.”

While Reilly has worked hard to hone her shot, she prefers to set others up.

“I like dishing it out and making my team look good getting points,” said Reilly, who has committed to Lehigh University where she will play for its field hockey program.

In Reilly’s view, PHS is a team that will be tough to beat in the states. “We have a lot more high-level experience,” said Reilly. “A lot of our girls are playing in clubs so we are not scared, we are not intimidated. Last year we came out strong in our final state game but ended up losing in literally the last minute so we are just going to have that one extra minute of training to keep it going.”

PHS head coach Heather Serverson liked her squad’s strong execution in the win against East Brunswick.

“I think it was just everyone doing the little things well and connecting well,” said Serverson.

“It wasn’t like we had one person that really stood out, everyone was able to contribute and that is the way we play best. We don’t really have superstars that we rely on, we rely on everyone to support each other.”

PHS does rely on Reilly to provide a spark. “Trish tends to be the catalyst, energy-wise for the team,” said Serverson.

“When she starts to get things going, other girls fall into place and everyone starts to move in the direction with her.”

While PHS faces a big challenge in Hunterdon Central (16-5), Serverson likes her team’s chance to make a big run.

“I think we just need to play like we did against Allentown, when we had our best game,” said Serverson.

“I think if we play our best game, we can hang with anybody. We can get a title but in order to do that, we have to have the same energy when we come out on the field each day.”

Reilly, for her part, wants to spend a lot more time on the field with her teammates.

“I want this to last as long as I can because it is my last year and I don’t want to stop playing with these girls,” said Reilly.