KNOW HOW: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Holly Howes, left, kicks the ball in a game last year. Senior forward Howes figures to be a go-to finisher for PHS this season. The Tigers open their 2023 season by playing at Allentown on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With a number of freshmen and sophomores being pressed into service last fall, the Princeton High girls’ soccer team went through an up-and-down campaign.

PHS got off to an 8-2-2 start but faded down the stretch to end the season with an 8-8-2 record.

Looking ahead to the 2023 season, Tiger head coach Dave Kosa believes that taking those lumps will pay dividends this fall.

“The year of growth hopefully will help us because we had four or five freshmen that started last year for us,” said Kosa whose team kicks off the fall by playing at Allentown on September 7. “We are just hoping that experience will pay off for us this year. We have a lot of talent on the roster but we are still young. It is just a matter of everyone meshing together and understanding their roles.”

The Tigers boast plenty of talent at forward in senior Holly Howes (8 goals, 3 assists in 2022), junior Manuela Dante Boarato, sophomore Quinn Gallagher (2 goals), and sophomore Kacey Howes (2 goals, 4 assists).

“Holly has had a pretty good preseason,” said Kosa. “Manuela was a transfer last year. When she was cleared and eligible to play, she played for a half and then got injured. She is very talented. She looked good during the summertime and looked good in preseason. Quinn has shown some promise as well. Kacey Howes, Holly’s younger sister, has been playing everywhere from striker to outside mid to center mid. She is versatile and she is skilled too.”

In the midfield, PHS will get an infusion of skill with the return of senior Casey Serxner, who was sidelined last year due to injury. “Casey worked really, really hard to get back, she is wearing a brace,” said Kosa of Serxner, who tallied 15 goals and 23 goals in 2021 as a sophomore, helping the Tigers reach the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state final. “She is such a tough competitor. She is going to be a great playmaker for us this year. It is nice to have her back. She sees the field really well. She is able to distribute and get her own shot off.”

Along with Serxner, the midfield unit will include sophomore Clara Burton (1 goal), senior Brielle Moran (1 goal), senior Grace Defaria, and the versatile Kacey Howes.

“Clara is very talented as well, she looks good,” added Kosa. “Last year Clara and Kacey pretty much manned the two center mid positions for us all season. Brielle will be on the outside for us on the left side. Grace — who has played a little back, little outside mid, and a little striker — has played well and practiced well. It looks like she is going to start for us on the right outside mid.”

Senior star Alysse Kiesewetter (7 goals, 4 assists) will spearhead the PHS back line.

“Alysse is really great on overlaps, her and Brielle work really well together,” asserted Kosa. “Last year she really served up some great corner kicks. She is going to be taking the corners this year. She really is a threat from the back, it is really great to have her back.”

Joining Kiesewetter on the defense will be Ava Tabeart (1 assist), sophomore Romy Johnson (1 goal), and junior Marina Zaldarriaga (3 goals, 3 assists).

“Alysse will man the left side,” said Kosa.“We are moving Ava to the sweeper. Romy is going to move up to stopper and Marina will be the right outside back.”

Zaldarriaga’s younger sister, freshman Julia, is primed to make an immediate impact at goalie.

“Julia has great instincts, she has had a great preseason so far,” said Kosa, whose back-up goalie is sophomore Olivia DeLuca, the starter last fall. “She has a really top line IQ of the game. She is really talented, she has been amazing so far. We are looking for her to do great things this year and then in the years to come.”

Kosa believes that the Tigers can do some very good things this fall if they are sharp around goal.

“Adding Casey, Julia and Manuela gives us a stronger outlook on paper but they have to perform on the field,” said Kosa. “The big thing last year is that we started out hot and in the last six games, we scored two goals. Our key to success is to be able to get the ball in the back of the net; having Casey helps but we still need to have the other girls step up.”