FINAL ACT: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Charlotte Haggerty, left, goes after the puck in a recent game. Senior Haggerty starred as PDS swept Holton Arms (Md.) last weekend, scoring a goal as the Panthers won 2-1 on Saturday and then adding a goal and an assist in a 5-1 victory on Sunday. PDS, now 6-3, hosts Morristown Beard on January 16, plays at Upland Country Day (Pa.) on January 17 and at Pingry on January 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Charlotte Haggerty has been giving new meaning this winter to the famous Shakespeare line from Hamlet, which proclaims “the play’s the thing.”

The Princeton Day School senior is excelling again on the stage in a school production and has made time to play for the Panther girls’ hockey team.

“I am in the musical so when I have rehearsals that always has to take priority over practice,” said Haggerty. “It is really tough balancing that. Yesterday I had rehearsal and then right after that I ran up to make hockey practice.”

In order to be sharp for the PDS hockey team, Haggerty doesn’t waste a moment on or off the ice.

“When I am here, I make the most of it,” said Haggerty. “I do a lot of off ice training, working on speed and stuff, just the details that nobody really sees.”

Last Saturday morning against visiting Holton Arms (Md.), Haggerty made the most of her time on the ice, tallying a goal as PDS pulled out a 2-1 win.

With the contest knotted at 1-1 entering the third period, Haggerty and her teammates made a big push for the win, culminating with a goal by Ally Antonacci with 23.2 seconds left in regulation.

“The game was tied but we were really having possession of the puck most of the game,” said Haggerty.

“We just wanted to come out really strong. It was like something needs to change, somebody needs to make a difference, who is it going to be. Towards the end of the period, we started having a sense of urgency. We were so tired but we had to keep pushing.”

Haggerty got the scoring started with a goal midway through the first period.

“It was a scrum in the net and it was whose stick is going to be stronger, who is going to get up there and make the play and be better than the girl on the other team,” said Haggerty.  “I was just in there battling hard and I hit it in.”

Being on the ice with twin sister and star defenseman Caroline was a key factor underlying Haggerty’s decision to make time for hockey this winter.

“It is a lot of fun, we work well together, it means a lot,” said Haggerty, who had a goal and an assist as PDS defeated Holton Arms 5-1 on Sunday to earn a weekend sweep.

“I genuinely love this team, I love hockey and that is why I push myself. I just emphasize that every second you are on the ice you have to be working hard. I have to make the most out of that because I can’t be here all of the time.”

PDS head coach John Ritchie cites the hardworking Haggerty with setting the tone for the squad when she is on the ice.

“That stuff is contagious,” said Ritchie. “If you have one or two players that can really push not only the pace but the energy level on the bench, that makes a big difference.”

Richie liked the way his players pushed things in the offensive zone against Holton Arms.

“I thought today was our most complete offensive game,” said Ritchie, noting that the Panthers generated 50 shots.

“I still think we have some work to do defensively; we had a couple of breakdowns that Abby [Ashman] bailed us out on.”

Seeing PDS pull out the win in the waning seconds of the contest was heartening for Ritchie.

“It was the urgency factor, we talked that Rye Country Day (N.Y.) is probably the clear No. 1 in our division but as we position ourselves to get towards playoffs, we want to make sure that we get as high of a seed as possible,” said Ritchie.

“We beat Princeton the other day (4-0 on January 8) which was a good win for us and had an opportunity to play some of the other girls too so this was a big weekend.”

Ritchie credited freshman Lauren Chase and sophomore Elizabeth Thomas with producing good efforts against Holton Arms.

“I thought Lauren had a really good game, as a freshman she is getting more comfortable,” said Ritchie.

“She is aggressive, she can move the puck, she can rush the puck. She has a good shot from the point. We had Lizzie on the first goal with her stick in the right spot and getting an assist there.”

With PDS improving to 6-3 due to the sweep of Holton Arms, Ritchie believes his squad is heading in the right direction.

“Those little plays where everybody can contribute, that makes a big difference moving forward,” added Ritchie, whose team hosts Morristown Beard on January 16, plays at Upland Country Day (Pa.) on January 17 and at Pingry on January 21.

“The more girls we can have contribute the better, instead of relying on one, two or three. As those younger girls get more comfortable and they start contributing, that leads to why we had a good offensive day.”

Haggerty is primed to enjoy a very good finish to the final act of her hockey career.

“We have some tough games coming up,” said Haggerty. “We are looking to build off this weekend and stay strong going into playoffs.”