WALK THIS WAY: Princeton High field hockey player Sarah Cate Walker controls the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, junior forward Walker scored two goals as PHS defeated WW/P-North 7-1. The Tigers, who topped WW/P-South 7-0 on Monday to move to 5-5 with Walker chipping in three goals and one assist, host Hopewell Valley on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sarah Cate Walker set the tone for the Princeton High field hockey team when it hosted WW/P-North last Wednesday afternoon.

PHS junior forward Walker scored a pair of goals as the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 7-1 win over the Northern Knights.

Walker started the scoring on the day, tallying a goal five minutes into the contest.

“It was really great teamwork from all of us,” said Walker, reflecting on her score. “There was some great passing in and out. It was working together to get the ball in the circle.”

With PHS up 2-0 on a goal by Riley Kohut, Walker’s second tally came as she tipped the ball past the WW/P-N goalie with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.

“Something we have been working on in practice is being on post and pads and really getting in front of all of the balls,” said Walker. “It is getting touches on the ball so that was just a part of it.”

Coming into the day having lost its last two games, the win over North gave the Tigers a lift.

“I think it was definitely very beneficial for us, it was a little spirit booster,” said Walker. “This really just helps us settle in and get ready for future games. We are looking to work together as a team, passing in and out and really spreading the defense apart.”

As Walker has boosted her game, she has assumed more responsibility on the field.

“I am definitely in a new role this year, more of a leader’s role; it has been really fun helping the younger players out,” said Walker, who tallied three goals and an assist to help PHS WW/P-South 7-0 last Monday to improve to 5-5. “I play for Princeton Field Hockey Club and I have done a lot of work out of season with club and stuff like that. Having more of a leadership role helps build confidence for me as a player. I am still looking to improve of course.”

Playing on attack with senior star Mia Ramirez, who tallied her 100th career point on a second quarter goal against North, has helped Walker’s confidence.

“It is like a trust thing for us, it is easy to see where we are on the field,” said Walker. “It is the third year we have played together. We have been building that trust from the very beginning. Now we get to use it on the field, going in and out.”

PHS head coach Heather Serverson was looking for her team to fight hard from the beginning against the Northern Knights.

“Our one goal was to go out and set the tone and play as though we are playing for the county championship,” said Serverson. “That was our goal, to have that kind of tone, and that kind of pace to everything.”

Serverson credited Walker with setting the pace for the Tigers.

“Sarah Cate has been doing a good job getting her stick in the circle, getting on the pad and coming off when she needs to,” said Serverson. “She has also been doing a lot for us to get the ball upfield when we can’t necessarily generate that on our own. She has definitely been improving as the season has been going on.”

PHS showed balance in the win as freshman Cassandra Farran, freshman Heidi Johnson, and sophomore Lila Casto also chipped in goals.

“We are trying not to pass to Mia all of the time,” said Serverson. “It was nice that I was able to get a lot of the subs in today and they did some great things. There were a lot of great connections out there, playing off of each other.”

While Ramirez may not have been the focal point against North, she still made history with her 100th point.

“The best part about that is that she doesn’t make a big deal about it, she is such a team player,” said Serverson. “She was almost embarrassed when we announced it, which is why we love her so much. Her stick work just continues to improve every game. She is such a committed player. I think she still has a space in her basement where she goes home and works on skills as a senior.”

While PHS has gone through some ups and downs in its 5-5 start, Serverson believes her squad is in a good place.

“We are slowly coming along, we have a lot of young players on the team,” said Serverson, whose team hosts Hopewell Valley on October 9. “It is tough because not only are they not familiar with the players, they are not familiar with that varsity pace and experience. We are now at the point where we are starting to get used to that and they are building their confidence.”

In Walker’s view, things are coming together for the Tigers. “We have a lot of new players,” said Walker. “It is just getting everyone situated on the team and learning our positions. It is learning how to work together as a team and passing.”