HARD KNOX: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Eibhleann Knox, right, chases down the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, freshman forward Knox scored two goals to help second-seeded PDS defeat seventh-seeded Kent Place 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state girls’ tournament. The Panthers, now 13-5, host third-seeded Summit in the semis on March 3 with the victor advancing to the title game on March 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It took a little while for Eibhleann Knox to develop a comfort level as she joined the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey program this winter.

“It was stressful in the beginning of the year,” said PDS freshman forward Knox. “I knew no one being new; I had to get to know everyone and the coaches.”

Emerging as a key offensive performer for the Panthers, Knox has fit in nicely.

“I think my confidence has gotten better, especially in my passing,” said Knox. “I really try to look up. I don’t like being selfish so I try to move the puck.”

Last Monday, displayed her confidence, scoring two goals to help second-seeded PDS defeat seventh-seeded Kent Place 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state girls’ tournament.

“They were both breakaways, both were off good passes,” said Knox, reflecting on her two second period tallies. “I know I did exactly the same thing for both, I shot in the same place.”

The Panthers are in a good place collectively, having won nine of their last 10 games, including a 3-2 victory over Morristown-Beard in the state Prep title game on February 3, to improve to 13-5.

“The first Trinity Hall game (a 3-2 win on January 25) was when we started to play better,” said Knox. “We kept playing well, so we set the expectations high for ourselves. So now if we don’t meet them, it is bad.”

By beating Kent Place, PDS earned a rematch with third-seeded Summit in the state semis on March 3 and will be looking to turn the tables on a Hilltoppers team that edged the Panthers 2-1 on January 11. The victor of the semi will advance to the title game on March 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

“We definitely outshot them,” said Knox. “They just put two in, we want redemption.”

PDS head coach John Ritchie liked the way his team pulled away from Kent Place on Monday.

“I think it took us a period to get ourselves going a little bit that has been our Achilles heel the last couple of games,” said Ritchie, who got a goal apiece from Lauren Cause, Logan Harrison, Claire Meehan and Izzy Cook in addition to the two scored by Knox. “We have taken some time to get going. In the second and third periods, we rebounded really well.”

Knox has been playing really well for the Panthers in her debut season for the Panthers.

“She is a very talented freshman, she has a very bright future ahead of her,” said Ritchie. “She has the ability to make those plays every single game. One of her best assets is that she is a great playmaker, she has got good vision. She has done a really nice job this year, we are really impressed with her.”

Ritchie was impressed with the effort he got from his corps of defensemen Chase, Cook, Aerin Bruno, Nat Celso, and Nora Appleby.

“Today is a game where all five defensemen held their weight, they were productive in shutting down the transition plays,” said Ritchie. “They have got a little bit of a shorter bench so I think they got a little tired as the game went along, which made it easier. The ability to have five defensemen playing is a big thing. When I first started here, we had three.”

Getting another shot at Summit is a big deal for a surging PDS squad.

“We are looking forward to it; they are a good team and for a couple of years, they have had our number,” said Ritchie. “I thought we really outplayed them, I know we outshot them. We had a poor five minutes in the third period and they scored two goals deservedly. We just couldn’t break their goalie who is a strong goalie in her own right. We have to bear down. Some of the goals that we scored today were a little more blue collar, gritty and I think that is going to be a key for us to score against Summit as well.”

In Knox’s view, the Panthers have what it takes to keep going to another title.

“I think we can do it if we keep playing well and don’t let down,” said Knox. “We are playing way different than we did in the beginning. We are shooting more and passing better. We are playing more as a team.”