With Sindhwani Gaining Confidence PDS Girls’ Hockey Primed for Playoffs
By Bill Alden
Sasha Sindhwani didn’t waste any time getting things going for the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team as it hosted Randolph High last Thursday.
The junior forward flew up the ice and found the back of the net 24 seconds into the contest.
“It was just a really nice opportunity for me,” said Sindhwani. “I am just really glad I took it.”
Sindhwani’s early tally set the tone as PDS pulled away to a 9-1 win over Randolph in improving to 6-10-2.
“We got everyone out playing today,” said Sindhwani. “Everyone was just passing really well today and we got everyone to score.”
Sindhwani, who was the top scorer this past fall for the PDS field hockey team with 24 goals, showed that she has a finishing touch on the ice as well, achieving her first hat trick in the win over Randolph.
“I had four; it was going back to field hockey season,” said a smiling Sindhwani.
While field hockey is her main sport, Sindhwani looks forward to spending time on the ice.
“I think it is more of a break because I really like this team, it is really like a family,” said Sindhwani.
“It doesn’t help my game too much because I am left-handed in ice hockey and there is only one hand in field hockey.”
The athletic Sindhwani has shown a lot of improvement in her ice hockey skills this season. “I think my stick handling has improved,” said Sindhwani. “The passing all around the team has improved and that has helped me as well.”
For Sindhwani, playing ice hockey helps her stay sharp as a competitor.
“You come out here with the same mindset as playing with these club teams and I think that is really helpful too,” said Sindhwani.
PDS head coach Lorna Cook likes the mindset Sindhwani is bringing to the ice.
“Sasha played so well yesterday; she was flying out there against a really good Portledge team (a 2-0 loss on January 31),” said Cook.
“Her confidence has gone way up and you can just see it and it is great to see her get rewarded like that. It is her first hat trick and then she adds another one too, so that was pretty cool.”
It was cool for Cook to see a number of her players get rewarded with goals against Randolph.
“It was great for the team, you see the energy on the bench and how excited they were,” said Cook, who had three players, Hannah Chloe, Aaliyah Sayed, and Brianna Astbury, each score their first career goal in the win over Randolph.
“They were all trying to get the puck to players that don’t get as many chances.”
With PDS hosting a state Prep semifinal on Friday, Cook is looking for maximum effort at both ends of the ice.
“I think our big thing is that we tend to play really well against better teams and then we tend to play down a little bit against teams that are slower,” said Cook, whose team will also be taking part in the WIHLMA (Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic) tournament at the Shady Side Academv (Pa.) from February 16-18.
“It is just a matter of making sure that we put in our full effort and play the way that we want to play and getting contributions from everybody. We have got to find the back of the net. Our defensive-zone coverage has gotten a lot better.”
In Cook’s view, team chemistry has helped the team get better as the season has unfolded.
“They are excited to be here, they are ready to work; it has definitely been a tougher season than we are used to with this program,” said Cook.
“The fact that they are still positive is a testament to the way that the room is. They love being around each other. You have to work to maintain that and they have done a really good job of making sure that they keep that in the forefront. You have to be supportive of each other. You have to make sure that you come here with a really good attitude and make it fun for everyone else, they have definitely done that.”
Sindhwani, for her part, believes that the Panthers are in for some fun times down the stretch.
“I think the focus is mostly team bonding; we are doing a really good job of connecting on the ice, so now it is more off the ice as well,” said Sindhwani.
“We are going out there to just have a really good time and try to win those games and see what we can do together.”