G-FORCE: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Gia Massari sends the puck up the ice in recent action. Last weekend at PDS’s annual Harry Rulon-Miller Invitational, sophomore defenseman Massari starred at both ends of the ice. On Friday, she tallied three goals and an assist as the Panthers topped Summit 6-2 in an opening round contest. A day later, she scored the lone goal for PDS as it fell 4-1 to Chatham-Madison in the championship game. The Panthers, now 2-5, host Princeton High on January 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team fell behind visiting Chatham-Madison 2-0 in the second period last Saturday in the championship game of the Harry Rulon-Miller Invitational, Gia Massari took matters into her own hands.

“When we were down, I was trying to carry the puck more to get us more opportunities to score,” said PDS sophomore defenseman Massari.

Massari achieved that goal, getting loose on a breakaway and firing the puck into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game with 7:13 left in the second period.

“I weaved around the girl and took a shot,” recalled Massari. “I didn’t know it went in at first, and it did; I was happy.”

Although PDS didn’t produce a happy ending at its annual tournament, yielding two goals in the last minute of the third period to suffer a 4-1 loss, Massari enjoyed the weekend.

“I think it was a good experience,” said Massari, who tallied three goals and an assist as PDS defeated Summit 6-2 in a first round contest on Friday. “It is a fun tournament and I had a good time.”

Having been moved to defense from forward this season to shore up the team’s back line has been fun for Massari.

“I have been playing defense for my club so I have had some time there,” said Massari, who competes for the New Jersey Colonials.

“It is more skating. If I want to skate up, I have to come back. I have gotten used to it so it is all good.”

With the Panthers having posted a 2-5 record heading into holiday break, Massari believes the team can do some good things when it hits the ice in 2018.

“In the past few games we have been playing better and we are improving,” said Massari.

“We have a practice and then some games so it is just to be in shape and come back strong again.”