ON POINT: Princeton High field hockey player Eleanor Wilkinson hits the ball in recent action. Last Wednesday, senior star and tri-captain Wilkinson chipped in a goal and an assist to help PHS defeat Ewing 8-0. The Tigers, who defeated Hamilton West 2-0 last Friday to improve to 8-2, play at Hopewell Valley on October 3 and at Hightstown on October 5 before hosting Lawrence High in October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Coming off a tough 2-0 loss to Allentown, Eleanor Wilkinson and her teammates on the Princeton High field hockey team were primed to bounce back as they hosted Ewing last Wednesday.

“That really motivated us, it was our second loss of the year,” said Wilkinson.

“It was a really good learning opportunity. We learned about playing against a more aggressive opponent, which we hadn’t really faced in the past. We have learned about playing on a new surface, adapting to our environment, and adapting with communication to our players.”

The Tigers showed aggressiveness against Ewing, jumping out to a 3-0 halftime lead on the way to an 8-0 win.

“We were trying to totally keep the possession within our team and use skills to our advantage,” said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson’s skill was on display as she assisted on the second tally of the game and then notched the seventh goal.

“I had a couple of opportunities where it just went off the post,” said Wilkinson.

“It was a straight ball right in the circle to the right post, so that was really nice.”

Wilkinson has enjoyed getting the opportunity to be in the center of the field for the Tigers.

“Our midfield is very strong this year,” said Wilkinson. “As mids, we have this game with Morgan Swanke and Ava Greene. I am in the center. That is definitely helping us a lot.”

Serving as a team captain along with Greene and star goalie Grace Cooke, Wilkinson is looking to set a positive tone.

“We are having a lot of fun this year, I think it’s why we are having a lot of success,” said Wilkinson.

“The seniors last year set a great example in just having fun and being motivated. Ava, Grace and me are trying to step up into that position that they held last year.”

PHS head coach Heather Serverson like the way her squad stepped up its defensive effort in the win over Ewing.

“We are working on playing team defense, that is our goal right now,” said Serverson.

“In practice we have been working a lot on dropping, double teaming, and communicating. I saw a lot of that today so I am really proud that they have been taking the things we have been working on in practice and taking them into the games.”

Serverson credited Wilkinson with sparking the team at both ends of the field.

“Ellie has been doing a great job defensively of getting the ball and then transitioning to offense very quickly and getting those nice cross balls for us in the circle,” said Serverson.

Swanke and Greene have also been giving PHS some very nice work. “I was putting Morgan all over the place and finally she has found her niche on that left side,” said Serverson.

“Whether it is forward or mid, she has been doing a great job over there. Ava is our steady Eddie in the middle. When she is playing well, we play well. When she is feisty, we are feisty. She just does a good job defensively, getting the ball back. It is almost like it is a personal insult to take the ball away from her.”

In Serverson’s view, her players need to work on producing a steady effort throughout the game.

“I just want them to fix the small things that we have been doing wrong,” said Serverson.

“With our last loss to Allentown, we really hung in until the end. We need to start from the beginning with a better tone, with more intensity, connecting, and communicating. We kind of fluctuate with our energy.”

With the postseason around the corner, Serverson is confident that PHS will bring the energy in the big games ahead.

“We are definitely improving; we have Olivia Weir back on the field, she has been out for quite a while,” said Serverson, whose team defeated Hamilton West 2-0 last Friday to improve to 8-2 and will play at Hopewell Valley on October 3 and at Hightstown on October 5 before hosting Lawrence High in October 8.

“They have better familiarity now, they know how the other players play and where they need to be. Once they learn how to play together, I can manage the rest. That familiarity is hard to just force.”

Wilkinson, for her part, believes that the lessons gained from defeat will help PHS keep improving.

“Although winning is very nice and we all love to win, we are learning a lot from our losses,” said Wilkinson.

“I think that is going to be really important moving into MCTs and the states. We need to focus on strengthening our defense, not the defensive players necessarily, but just our positioning on the field and skill-wise.”