SHOWING PROMISE: Princeton High girls’ hockey player Maggie Herring controls the puck in recent action. Sophomore forward Herring’s offensive prowess has helped PHS produce a promising 2-3 start this winter. The Little Tigers are next in action when they play at Princeton Day School on January 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Producing a promising 2-2 start this season, the Princeton High girls’ hockey team was looking to head into the holidays on a high when it played Princeton Day School last Wednesday in its final game of the calendar year.

“Coming in and taking the first two wins is a big thing,” said PHS head coach Christian Herzog, referring to his squad’s 5-3 win over Pingry and 4-3 triumph over Summit in its first two outings.

“I tried to let them know I would like us to put our best foot forward today. Coming in 2-2 with a .500 record, I would have liked to see us going into Christmas break with a little more relaxation with a big win.”

But unable to find an offensive rhythm, the Little Tigers fell 3-0 to the Panthers at Lisa McGraw Rink.

“It is a different team this year, we had a little more confidence coming into this game but it didn’t help that we dropped two in a row to Portledge and Mo-Beard the last two days,” said Herzog.

“We were real hyped coming in. I know the girls were feeling real positive with their chances today. We still have to work on some serious position issues, angles and little things.”

Despite trailing 2-0 heading into the third period, PHS was feeling good about its chances against the Panthers.

“Even when we went into the locker room after two goals, they were still positive,” said Herzog.

“They know that is only three bounces away and anything is possible but we didn’t finish.”

Sophomore forward Maggie Herring has been doing a lot of finishing this season with a team-high seven goals through five games.

“Maggie is doing well with the numbers but we also need her to use her strength to beef up some other people and make them playmakers,” said Herzog of Herring, who also has four assists.

“You go in here or anywhere in the league and you have only one or two goal scorers; it is real easy to stop those one or two goal scorers.”

Junior Allie Callaway is doing well on defense in her return to the team after a season-long hiatus due to injury.

“Allie is a strong player, I like her physicality,” said Herzog. “I like that she can just move two or three girls out of the front of the net. She is physical; she has got some size. She is a really good defender.”

After going 2-11 last season, Herzog likes the progress the team has shown already this winter.

“Last year, I think we only had wins against Academy of New Church, which isn’t in our league,” said Herzog.

“This year, we started off a little more positive. The girls are buying in a little more. Last year, the focus with them was having fun. I told them we have got eight seniors this year with a variety of different skill levels. This is the year where we have the strongest collective team.”

Herzog is hoping for a strong effort when PHS returns to action from the holiday break.

“I think going back to the beginning of the season, the girls are still hopeful; they are confident,” said Herzog, whose team starts 2015 by playing at PDS on January 5. “This is just one game. We can build on this, it goes back to the core of their confidence.”