NO BACKING DOWN: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Grace Rebak races up the field in a 2021 game. Last Wednesday, senior star Rebak chipped in four assists to help PHS defeat Hightstown 15-1 in its season opener. The Tigers, who topped WW/P-South 12-1 on Friday and then blanked Monroe 12-0 on Saturday to improve to 3-0, play at Lawrenceville on April 6, host Robbinsville on April 8, host Montgomery on April 9, and then plays at Hopewell Valley on April 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

A big question mark surrounding the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse coming into the season was how to pick up the playmaking slack left by the graduation of Shoshi Henderson, who dished for 75 assists last spring to spark the Tiger attack.

While PHS senior star Grace Rebak has been known more for her defensive prowess over the years, she may have provided part of the answer to that question last Wednesday, passing for four assists as the Tigers cruised to a 15-1 win over Hightstown in their season opener.

Rebak, a Williams College commit who will be playing both field hockey and lacrosse at the next level, is enjoying playing a greater role in the Tiger offense.

“I played midfield last year and I am going to play it again,” said Rebak. “I love seeing both sides of the field.”

After scoring just one goal in the first 8:47 of the opener, PHS exploded for seven unanswered tallies in the next 7:33 to build an 8-1 lead and never looked back.

“Our offense has been doing super well,” said Rebak, who had a goal and an assist in a 12-0 win over WW/P-South last Friday and then chipped in a goal and two assists in a 12-1 victory over Monroe a day later.

“We have been working on a lot of plays. We practiced some of those plays, especially further on in the game when we got our thing down. In the beginning, we were getting our groove and I think we got into that.”

The team’s unity on and off the field helped it find that groove.

“Our team has a lot of chemistry,” said Rebak. “It is a sophomore/senior team. We have a lot coming up which is really nice for the team in the future but we are also super grateful to have all of our seniors. We have been playing together since elementary school through middle school too and with our club teams.”

Rebak has developed a special connection over the years with classmate and fellow defender/midfielder Sarah Glenn, a University of Chicago commit.

“In middle school we started on the defensive end together and we have just had that ever since,” said Rebak. “We know where each other is on the field. It is super nice to communicate with her and still play with her.”

With veteran assistant coach Katie Federico taking the helm of the program this spring as head coach Meg Dunleavy is out on maternity leave, the team’s chemistry and on-field communication has remained intact.

“She is a great coach, I commend her for being a first year head coach and hopping right in there,” said Rebak. “She is doing a great job encouraging the team. We have been doing a lot of great drills at practice and fun things to get the team together.”

Federico, for her part, was encouraged by the team’s offensive prowess in the opener.

“It was everybody to everybody, Kate [Becker] has such a big voice out there on the offense and she really helps them and guides them,” said Federico, who got six goals and three assists from senior star Becker against Hightstown with sophomore Riley Devlin chipping in four goals and sophomore Avery Gallagher, junior Reece Gallagher, junior Anna Terry, sophomore Sylvie LeBouef, and sophomore Phoebe Steiger scoring one apiece.

“Phoebe and Sylvie have really stepped up as well and really put in the effort in the offseason. I think with the offensive piece, it is getting used to connecting together because we had that Shoshi/Kate piece last year. It is filling that void. The underclassmen are really starting to step up, they are starting to jell together.”

Having senior stars Rebak and Glenn together on the field is comforting to Federico.

“Grace did great, you can always count on Grace,” said Federico. “Like her as a field hockey player, she is always that steady, calm player. She was sick for two days prior to this and came out here and you would never have guessed it. We have that ability to depend on her and is the same thing with Sarah Glenn. She can be anywhere and her voice just leads all of them.”

As usual, Colby-bound senior goalie Gigi Peloso spearheaded the defense, making five saves and directing the unit.

“I am so confident in our defense,” said Federico. “They have been playing together for a long time and with Gigi back there you don’t even have to think. It is the same thing with the midfield, being able to move Sarah and Grace back and forth between defense and midfield. Then having Riley [Devlin] with her speed.”

For Federico, seeing the Tigers getting up to speed so quickly took away the nerves from her debut as interim head coach.

“It was a very weird experience being out here without Meg because I am just used to that piece of it,” said Federico, whose team plays at Lawrenceville on April 6, hosts Robbinsville on April 8, hosts Montgomery on April 9, and then plays at Hopewell Valley on April 11.

“But once it started, it was OK. We are just back to what we normally do and the girls are like that. It is almost the exact same team, it is not that much of a change. We are not changing anything about the way we play so come next year when Meg is back she can slide right in and I will go back to my spot.”

Rebak, for her part, is confident that PHS will keep playing well all spring.

“This was definitely a confidence builder,” said Rebak, reflecting on the opener. “We are going go out there really strong this year and we are really excited for that.”