CENTER STAGE: Princeton High girls’ soccer standout Kate Kerr dribbles the ball in a preseason training session. Senior midfielder Kerr should be a commanding presence in the center of the field for PHS this fall. The Little Tigers get regular season play underway by hosting Hopewell Valley on September 6.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Princeton High girls’ soccer team, this fall is going to be about new faces in new places.

“The whole 11 looks different, said PHS head coach Greg Hand, noting that he lost the core of his team up the middle with the graduation of midfield stars Mason O’Brien and Logan O’Meara together with standout defenders Mia Haughton, Roni Nagle, and Katie Reilly.

“We are a substantially different team than we were. The challenge is to find the right players and the right mix.”

Hand thinks he has some good players at forward in junior Ally Rogers, sophomore Shannon Pawlak, freshman Gabrielle Deitch, and junior Jordan Provorny.

“Ally Rogers is coming back from an ACL injury suffered late last season,” said Hand, who guided the Little Tigers to a 10-4-4 record in 2011.

“She is in great shape, she has gotten more skillful. She is quite tricky and very tenacious. Shannon also has quick feet and is a very quick decision-maker. She has a wicked shot and is able to adjust and place it. Gabby Deitch has shown a lot; she has a solid skill set for a freshman. We know Jordan Provorny from JV, she has developed a lot ”

The development of senior star Meghan Brennan has prompted Hand to move her to midfield from forward.

“We are using Brennan more in midfield; her game has improved in every dimension,” noted Hand, whose club starts its 2012 season by hosting Hopewell Valley on September 6.

“She came in extremely fit. She has an attacking mindset but she is one of those kids who can make things jell. We are expecting a lot from her.”

PHS will also be expecting a lot from battle-tested Kate Kerr in the midfield. “Kate Kerr has been developing through high school,” said Hand.

“She will likely spend most of her time in the front of the midfield with Meghan behind her. She is always fighting and able to get off good shots. She is a presence in the center.”

The pair of freshman Taylor Lis and junior Eva Reyes should give the Little Tigers some good play on the outside of the midfield.

“Taylor is a very smooth player, very aware,” added Hand. “She is visually improving as she gets used to the U-19 environment we are in. On the left side, Eva will hold that spot down. She came in very fit and her feet have improved since the end of last year. She is right-footed but now can do more things with her left.”

In the middle of the defense, junior Dana Smith and freshman Haley Bodden will play key roles.

“Dana Smith is playing sweeper now and is likely to move to stopper,” said Hand, noting that last year’s sweeper, Emily Pawlak, is recovering from a broken foot and should be in action later this month.

“She has a lot of pace and has great judgment. She reads 1-v-1 situations very well. She comes up and tackles well. In front of her is Haley Bodden. She is tall, athletic and keeps her balance. She can keep her space, you can’t move her.”

The athleticism of Kaitlyn Carduner should be a big help as she moves to the defense from her previous spot in the midfield.

“Carduner played midfield last year but we are glad to have her in the back,” said Hand, who will also be using junior Emily Costa and senior Maddie Luther on defense.

“It is a spot she plays on her club team and she has gotten used to it and very confident. She can track people down if we are in trouble.”

The presence of four-year starter Emily Ullmann in goal gives Hand a lot of  confidence.

“Emily trains a lot and trains at a high level,” said Hand of Ullmann, who yielded only eight goals last season in 18 appearances.

“She is an even more complete goalie than she was a year ago; she sees the game so well. She is a real shot stopper and real tactician. Her greatest strength is not just that she talks but that everything she says is on point, helping us to get in a better shape or to execute better.”

In Hand’s view, the Little Tigers have what it takes to ultimately find the right shape.

“The team feels like a really good team; it is nice to see that they have the same approach to training hard,” said Hand.

“We need to get on the same page; we are figuring out what our game is going to be. I think this is a team that could continue improving during the season.”