BRINGING HER A-GAME: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Alysse Kiesewetter dribbles the ball in game earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior defender/midfielder Kiesewetter tallied two goals to help PHS rally for a 3-1 win over Steinert. The Tigers, who topped WW/P-South 5-0 last Monday to improve to 7-6-1, host WW/P-North on October 12 before starting action in the Mercer County Tournament on October 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the last two years, Alysse Kiesewetter has established herself as a star on the back line for the Princeton High girls’ soccer team.

But after PHS star midfielder Casey Serxner got sidelined earlier this fall with a leg injury, Kiesewetter has seen her role change, becoming a more attacking player.

“I usually play left back, but we have been needing to get some more goals,” said Kiesewetter. “I like playing midfield too, I like going up.”

Displaying her versatility last Thursday, Kiesewetter scored two goals on penalty kicks as PHS rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit against visiting Steinert to pull out a dramatic 3-1 victory.

“We know it is Steinert and they are very competitive every single year,” said Kiesewetter. “Last year we lost twice to them. This year, we had a better mindset. The first half was a little rocky with them scoring pretty early. Halftime came along and we were like, ‘we have to be aggressive’ and that is what we did.”

That aggressiveness paid dividends as the Tigers eventually broke down a stingy Tartan defense that had yielded only two goals on the season coming into the contest.

“Their defense was very strong, we knew we had to pass it around them,” said Kiesewetter. “We have been focusing a lot in practice on possessing the ball, doing give-and-goes. I think we did that really well today.”

Kiesewetter got things going for PHS, burying a penalty kick with 27:39 left in the second half. Six minutes later, Tiger sophomore star Quinn Gallagher raced down the right flank and slotted the ball into the back of the net to put PHS ahead 2-1. With the Tigers clinging to that lead, Kiesewetter struck again, knocking in another penalty kick with 2:53 remaining in regulation.

While Kiesewetter felt some nerves as she took the PKs, she kept her head and coolly focused on where she was sending the ball.

“I usually go bottom right, but today I decided to switch it up a little bit and go top right,” said Kiesewetter. “I hadn’t taken a PK year this year, it was like, ‘oh no.’ Once the second one came along, I thought I am going to the opposite side.”

Coming through against Steinert was a confidence builder for the Tigers.

“We have been rivals for years,” said Kiesewetter. “This will definitely give us a little push. It has definitely been a little harder this year because we had some very close games, losing by one. It is just being confident, we have really been working on that and working as a team. I think we did that really well today.”

As a three-year starter and team co-captain, Kiesewetter has looked to instill confidence in her teammates.

“I just try to look out for everyone that is younger and just to help them along and help them gain confidence,” said Kiesewetter. “With Casey out, it has been hard on us. All the captains have been coming together and just getting the team together. It has been really fun.”

PHS head coach Dave Kosa acknowledged that his squad had a hard time in the early going against Steinert.

“In the first half, I think we were a little on our heels,” said Kosa. “They were the more aggressive team. We made a mistake and they capitalized on it. They are a really good team, they are a great program.”

Things got really tough for PHS early in the second half when freshman star goalie Julia Zaldarriaga left the game after going down with an injury. With last year’s goalie Olivia DeLuca coming in off the bench, the Tigers kept fighting.

“The fact that we battled back is a testament to the girls and their hard work,” said Kosa. “Steinert had given up two goals the entire season and we got three today. We have been so close, and this is the time where we finally got over the hump. It was great to see. I am very proud of them.”

The team’s grit bodes well for the homestretch of the season.

“Every game is going to be a battle, we are getting ready for tournament time,” said Kosa. “It is just a matter of leaving it all out there. The fact that Julia went out — she has been our rock on the back line — our defense stepped up big time. It was very physical out there, especially in the second half. We took their best shot and we kept battling against them so it was great.”

Moving Kiesewetter into the attack has given PHS a shot in the arm.

“We were having trouble scoring goals in the beginning especially when we lost Casey a couple of games ago so we moved her up,” said Kosa of Kiesewetter, who had tallied two goals and three assists so far this fall. “She has given us a great offensive punch. She just gives a threat with her corner kicks and taking it down the left side. She gives us that speed on the perimeter. She has made some great crosses. On the penalty kicks, she went top corner first time and then she went the other side the second time. It was great poise by her.”

Gallagher has also demonstrated poise this season, coming up with some clutch play.

“Quinn has had some big goals for us, she tied the game against Robbinsville (1-1 on October 3),” said Kosa. “She has got a big foot but again when she turns it on, she is tall and gets by people. She is deceptive like that and it really helps us.”

Getting by Steinert gave the Tigers a glimpse of their potential.

“It shows them that we can compete against the best teams,” said Kosa, whose team topped WW/P-South 5-0 last Monday to improve to 7-6-1 and will host WW/P-North on October 12 before starting action in the Mercer County Tournament on October 16.

“We have been close; Allentown was a 1-0 loss, Notre Dame was 2-1, PDS was 1-0. So with all of the top teams we have been right there. We just needed that extra boost and today we got it.”

In Kiesewetter’s view, PHS has what it takes to be a top squad.

“It is just working together and working as a team,” said Kiesewetter. “We didn’t really do that in the beginning,
and more wins here have inspired us.”