FINAL PUSH: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Kiely French goes after the puck in recent action. Last Friday, senior defenseman and co-captain French scored a goal to help PDS defeat Oak Knoll 3-0 and improve to 10-5. In upcoming action, the Panthers play at Portledge School (N.Y.) on January 25 before hosting Kent Place on January 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Kiely French shrugged her shoulders after scoring a second period goal for the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team as it hosted Immaculate Heart Academy last week.

With PDS already up 4-0 in the January 17 contest, senior captain and star defenseman French was looking to set up a teammate as she sent the puck into the crease area.

“I really wanted Rebecca (Tang) to get a goal,” said a smiling French, reflecting on her accidental tally.

The Panthers ended up getting plenty of goals for the evening as they rolled to a 9-1 win, bouncing back from tough defeats from Morristown-Beard (3-0 on January 13) and the Hill School (Pa.) (4-1 on January 8).

“We have a lot of girls that when we play better teams like Shady Side and Hill, they don’t get a lot of playing time but they get to watch the game which is good, they get to see where everybody should be,” said French.

“In these games, they get to go through everything they have learned from watching us in better games. It was a really fun game. In games like this you get to experiment with things that you wouldn’t normally be able to experiment with.”

French is having fun in her senior campaign with the Panthers.

“I am pretty happy with where we are at,” said French. “I think the Mo Beard game on Friday was kind of rough because we had a few people out with concussions. Other than that I think we just need to step up our game in terms of putting in more effort. I think we are there with team bonding and where we should be as a team. I think sometimes our execution doesn’t necessarily go the right way.”

In French’s view, she and the other veterans on the squad feel an extra responsibility to produce.

“We have a lot of girls who are starting hockey for their first time so we are really relying on the girls who have been playing and have more experience,” said French. “I think sometimes that is a lot of pressure.”

As the Panthers’ leading scorer last winter with 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists, French has developed a greater ability to handle that pressure.

“I know from sophomore year, I definitely had a confidence issue and I think this year I have really pushed through that,” said French, who scored a goal to help PDS defeat Oak Knoll 3-0 last Friday and improve to 10-5.

“I think building off of my junior year and being able to lead everyone in the right direction has really helped me with my confidence on and off the ice.”

As a co-captain of the team, along with classmate and fellow defenseman Kristi Serafin, French is assuming a greater leadership responsibility this winter.

“Kristi and I work really well together both on and off the ice,” said French.

“We have a lot of classes together too so that always helps with it. She is more talkative on the ice and I am more talkative off the ice in terms of bonding with people. Kristi is a very skilled player and I think she is better than me in certain areas and we work well together.”

While French also stars for the PDS field hockey and softball squads, she feels a special bond with her hockey teammates.

“I love being a part of this hockey team,” said French. “We have a special thing. We have our own rituals. We each bring something different to the team that really brings us together. I would have never been friends with some of these girls if it weren’t for hockey. I am so glad that I am.”

With the Panthers playing at Portledge School (N.Y.) on January 25 before hosting Kent Place on January 27 as they sharpen up for the upcoming WILHMA (Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic) and state prep tournaments, French believes PDS can be a title contender.

“I think we definitely have what it takes as long as we push it,” said French.

“We are already together as a team. Every time before games, we have team goals and personal goals; as long as we follow through with those goals, we can do whatever we want.”