STICKING WITH IT: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Natalie Celso controls the puck in game last season. Last Friday, senior defenseman Celso scored two goals to help PDS defeat Princeton High 11-1. The Panthers, who moved to 3-2 with the win, host the Portledge School (N.Y.) on January 19 and Morristown Beard on January 21 before playing at Trinity Hall on January 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Natalie Celso is looking to be more assertive this winter in her senior season for the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team.

“I have been used to being a pretty quiet person on the team, I am trying to fill this big role,” said defensemen Celso.

“It is my first year really being in a leadership role for any team I have played with and it is big shoes to fill. It is fun and I think it is really helping me build confidence in myself and my own skills.”

Last Friday evening, Celso displayed her skills, tallying two goals to help PDS defeat crosstown rival Princeton High 11-1 at the Ice Land Rink and improve to 3-2.

“I was just able to keep my head straight and hold on to it,” said Celso. “I am working on trying not to panic with the puck.”

Coming off a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Summit on January 11, the Panthers were focused on finding the back of the net against PHS.

“We really wanted to work on scoring more,” said Celso. “We got stuck on the last game or so; we just had trouble putting the puck in the net. We definitely worked better together today than we have in the past games. When there is not as much pressure, it is really easy to start working on the things we have been struggling with.”

PDS produced some good work on the defensive end, holding the Tigers to 12 shots on goal with freshman Cece Gibb notching their lone score.

“Gibb is fast; we had a couple of tough breakouts, but I think we were pretty good at staying in position,” said Celso.

“Sometimes we did go too far in their zone and no one was covering us back, other than that I think we did well.”

PDS head coach John Ritchie was happy to see his offense to do so well as it jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and extended the margin to 8-1 by the end of the second.

“We are always going to strive to be better so I think it was nice for us to score a couple of goals and have them build some confidence,” said Ritchie.

“It was important. We got some players some ice time that don’t normally get a regular shift in some of our tougher games so that is always good.”

In addition to the two goals scored by Celso, junior star Lauren Chase contributed two goals and three assists with sophomore Emily McCann getting two goals and two assists, freshman Eibhleann Knox scoring two goals, and sophomore Logan Harrison tallying one goal and two assists.

Ritchie is looking for Knox and Harrison, in particular, to provide offensive production.

“Eibhleann and Logan have the ability to score every game, the two for them,” said Ritchie.

“It is this mentality where they are playing against
older players and we are looking for them to build confidence and carry us a bit.”

Celso has emerged as one of the key older players for the Panthers.

“Nat has come a long way since she was a freshman, that is the reason why she has become one of our team leaders,” said Ritchie.

“She is playing more confident, she has filled Hannah Choe’s shoes from last year. She is playing a lot of minutes for us, she is solid. We can’t ask much more of her, the goals are an extra bonus.”

With PDS hosting the Portledge School (N.Y.) on January 19 and Morristown Beard on January 21 before playing at Trinity Hall on January 25, Ritchie is hoping the win over PHS is a harbinger of things to come.

“It is a good group, they have worked hard,” said Ritchie. “The last two games are something to build some momentum going forward. I didn’t really like the way we were playing before break even though we were winning games. Hopefully we can use this game as a little bit of a momentum push forward for us.”

Celso, for her part, is looking to make the most out of her senior campaign.

“We need to work on connecting passes, I think it is hard because half of us play travel,” said Celso, who competes for the PHC Belles club program.

“I am just glad we are playing to be honest. We had a half a week off and I got worried about it.”