GOAL-ORIENTED: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Kate Becker gets ready to unload the ball in a 2021 game. Senior star Becker, who scored a team-high 77 goals last year, will be counted on to be the go-to finisher again this year for the Tigers. PHS opens the season by hosting Hightstown on March 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Katie Federico is confident that the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse program won’t miss a beat this spring as she guides the team in the absence of head coach Meg Dunleavy who is out on maternity leave.

“We are such good friends, it is going to be very similar; we have been talking a lot,” said Federico, who has been an assistant coach with the squad for the last six years and helped PHS go 9-6 in 2021 and advance to the South Jersey Group 4 sectional semifinals.

“She is going to take the program over next year, it is 100 percent clear. I am just filling in for this season.”

The team’s strong group of seniors will make Federico’s job easier this spring.

“It was a very easy transition because of them knowing me so well and we have seven seniors,” said Federico of the program’s Class of 2022, which includes Kate Becker, Jane Biggs, Sarah Glenn, Cartee O’Brien, Gigi Peloso, Grace Rebak, and Sarah White.

“Five of the seven have been on varsity since freshman year. I refer to them like the core four from the Yankees. They have played together since they were in elementary school. They are such a great group.”

Becker, who tallied a team-high 77 goals in 2021, provides leadership to go along with her production.

“Kate is pretty much the anchor of the team; she has always been a leader but I feel she has stepped up even more this year,” said Federico. “She is helping the underclassmen see things on both defense and offense. She is the one that gets it going and she is such a great teacher of the younger players.”

Sophomore standout Riley Devlin, who had 16 goals and three assists last spring in her debut season, will be depended on to get things going on offense along with Becker.

“Riley will be a midfielder but we will be looking for her to really step up from what Shoshi [Henderson] did in that sense,” said Federico referring to gifted playmaker Henderson who had a team-high 75 assists in her senior season and is now starring for Pomona College. “I could see Kate and Riley making a lot of connections this year.”

Federico is looking for O’Brien along with sophomore Sylvia LeBouef, sophomore Phoebe Steiger, junior Reece Gallagher, and junior Annie Terry to spearhead the attack unit.

“Cartee is that silent type of player who somehow sneaks in and is able to score,” said Federico. “The specific attackers are going to be Cartee, Sylvia, and Phoebe. Reece is going to be stepping in as well as Annie. It will be a nice group.”

A pair of seniors who will be playing at the next level, Grace Rebak, on her way to Williams College to play lacrosse and field hockey, and University of Chicago commit Sarah Glenn, will be shoring up the defense and midfield for the Tigers.

“I don’t worry when they are there, they are such great leaders and great teachers of the underclassmen,” said Federico.

“I feel like defense always has been a strength for us and it is coming into this season. Grace will be playing midfield a lot and Sarah will step up when Grace needs a break. We will need them on the circle on the draw. They are both so feisty.”

The trio of sophomore Joci Lee, senior Sarah White and senior Jane Biggs will be seeing plenty of action along the backline.

“Joci is returning, she has stepped up her game with just her awareness of how to defend the one on one,” said Federico. “Sarah and Jane will also be on defense.”

Colby College-bound Gigi Peloso, a four-year starting goalie for PHS, is primed for a big final campaign.

“She is looking great, Gigi is Gigi,” said Federico. “You can always count on her to always be there. You feel so secure when you see her in goal.”

Federico is confident that the Tigers will make plenty of noise this spring.

“I think it is the coming together, the communication is always the biggest piece, talking well on the field and getting used to that,” said Federico.

“Kate is always getting them talking. Sarah is the biggest voice on defense, you can always hear her. She encourages all of them. When you hear Gigi yelling, they respond to her. It is like, ‘OK, yup, I am going to do that. I am also looking for some of our attack players to step up and see the openings and go for it and have confidence to do it.’ That is a lot of it too, having confidence in themselves and trusting themselves.”