FRENCH LESSON: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Kiely French controls the puck in recent action. Last Saturday, junior star French scored a goal but it wasn’t enough as PDS fell 2-1 to Mater Dei Prep in the championship game of the Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational. The Panthers, now 4-3-1, are next in action when they play Pingry on January 5 in the Bridgewater Sports Arena. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hosting Mater Dei Prep in the championship game of its Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational last Saturday, the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team controlled the puck in the first two periods but found itself trailing 1-0.

Kiely French and her teammates were feeling snakebitten, having outshot Mater Dei 19-6 through the first 30 minutes with nothing to show for their efforts.

“We got a little frustrated,” said junior star French. “Defensively we were skating it up a lot and we had the chances but then we kept missing and nobody was open. We hit a lot of posts.”

With 1:03 remaining in the third period, French broke the ice for the Panthers, finding the back of the net to knot the contest at 1-1.

“I got it, I shot it; I think it hit off of somebody’s skate and it went in,” said French, recalling her tally. “I was ecstatic, I was really happy.”

Seconds later, though, French and her teammates were unhappy as Mater Dei responded with a goal to pull out a 2-1 win.

French acknowledged that PDS may have relaxed after her goal.

“I think a lot of us thought there is one minute left and nothing bad is going to happen but obviously that one minute can mean the entire game,” said French.

That one bad minute, though, can’t negate the progress the Panthers have made as they have gotten off to a promising 4-3-1 start.

“We are definitely on the right track, especially because we have so many new players,” said French, reflecting on the team’s 19-player roster which includes 14 newcomers.

“It is great, I love it. I knew a lot of them from field hockey so it is fun teaching them how to play another sport that I love.”

The players are having fun learning together. “It is just a great team dynamic because nobody is getting frustrated at each other,” said French.

“We are all helping each other out even though we are at different levels so I think that is good.”

With no seniors on the roster, French and fellow returning juniors, Ashley Cavuto, Annika Asplundh, and Kristi Serafin, have assumed the leadership mantle.

“It is definitely different than last year; we were all sophomores and we didn’t have that one year that the juniors usually have to follow in the seniors’ footsteps,” said French.

“I think because we have all played before, we are taking a really good leadership role; we are always there for each other. We have a big sister, little sister thing and that is really nice. On the ice we are talking a lot and we are helping everybody get in the right position so they know where they should be.”

French has developed a comfort level with playing on defense, getting moved to that position last season after being a forward in club hockey.

“I like it because my entire life I played offense and so last year I was a new defenseman,” said French who had a goal and four assists in a 7-0 win over Princeton High last Wednesday.

“I think this year I have improved a lot from last year. I know my timing is a lot better and then when I play forward for club hockey, it is better from what I have learned playing defense.”

Even though PDS is not in action until it plays Pingry on January 5, French believes the team can improve over the holidays.

“When we come back, we have a few big league games that we need to win,” said French.

“I know over break a lot of us are going to get together and do sticks and pucks and just work on skills and passing. We want to make sure that we keep the team dynamic and that we are still working as a team even though we know there is this two week lay-off period.”