TAKING HER SHOT: Princeton High girls’ hockey Maya Hagt, right, fires a shot in a game last winter. Last Friday, junior forward/defender and team captain Hagt scored a goal PHS fell 8-3 to Cranford. The Tigers, now 1-6, play the Lawrenceville JV on January 18 at Hobey Baker Rink. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Maya Hagt and the Princeton High girls’ hockey team started 2024 with a bang.

With junior forward/defender and team captain Hagt chipping in a goal, PHS defeated Newark East Side 4-1 last Wednesday in its initial action of the new year as the program posted its first win since 2022.

“It has been a while, we didn’t win last year; it was really good for the team having that win,” said Hagt. “It was difficult the first time we played that team and we lost. It was really a confidence builder.”

Coming into last Friday, the Tigers were excited to build on that win as they hosted Cranford at Hobey Baker Rink and held their annual Senior Night celebration.

“We were pretty pumped for today with Logan in net,” said Hagt, referring to senior goalie Logan Hollingsworth. “Logan had that really good save right in the beginning in the first 10 seconds of the game and that gave us a lot of confidence. I think we were in it.”

With junior star Cassie Speir tallying two goals, the Tigers were very much in the game as they trailed 3-2 heading into the second period. But things got away from PHS in the frame as the Cougars scored four unanswered goals to go up 7-2.

The Tigers played hard to the final horn, pressing forward in the third period

“We had a timeout and we had to stay in it, especially for the seniors,” said Hagt. “We definitely tried our best.”

Hagt had her best moment of the game down the stretch, tallying a goal with 11:50 left in regulation to narrow the gap to 7-3.

“It was a beautiful play, Taylor [Davidson] came across the ice and it was cross ice pass,” said Hagt, whose goal ended the scoring on the evening for PHS as it fell 8-3 to move to 1-6. “I came in and I just shot it. I wasn’t sure it went in but everyone was cheering and I was like that must have gotten in.”

The addition of freshman Davidson has given PHS another key offensive threat in addition to Hagt and Speir.

“It has been nice because last year, it was mainly me and Cassie,”said Hagt. “I got sick so I couldn’t play for a while, I only played like four games or something. Then Taylor came in and now we have three players. It has been a lot of fun with her, she is really a great person.”

Hagt is looking to make the most of her time on the
ice this winter.

“I have definitely been working on my endurance,” said Hagt. “We have pretty long shifts out there. I have been working on trying to stay out there longer, still making good plays even when I am tired.”

As a team captain, Hagt has concentrated on creating a good chemistry around the Tigers.

“I definitely try and uplift everyone, being able to connect with people is the most important thing for me,” said Hagt. “Being down to earth with everyone and bonding with them is the big thing. I think the team we have built is really, really good, especially this year. We have a ton of great girls. It has been so much fun, being able to bond with them.”

PHS head coach Christian Herzog credited Hagt with making a big impact for the program, on and off the ice.

“Maya had a little run with about a goal a game for a few games,” said Herzog of Hagt, who now has four goals and three assists on the season.

“She is a great leader. She embodies everything a captain should be with the organization and the relationship aspect. She is really good about getting the girls together.”

Herzog was hoping that things were going to come together for a second straight game for the Tigers.

“You talk to them in the locker room, they are all pumped up,” said Herzog. “It is weird, a few bad bounces go the wrong way.”

Speir has been showing the Tigers the way with her offensive output, tallying
a team-high 17 goals so far this season.

“Every time it is the same thing, she is a workhorse,” said Herzog.

Herzog likes the things that his two seniors, Hollingsworth, and forward Theresa Douglas, have given to the team.

“Logan was the first one to volunteer to play goalie when no one else would raise their hand,” said Herzog. “It is an unforgiving position — you have a lot of pressure on you at all times. This is Theresa’s first year at ice hockey, she is a real likable kid. Playing on this team has been good for her in a variety of ways, filling into a network and a different friend set. We try to give them an opportunity to fit in and have some level of experience and success. She enjoyed it.”

Looking ahead, Herzog would like to see PHS enjoy some more victories this winter.

“Getting more wins is always on the agenda,” said Herzog, whose team plays the Lawrenceville JV on January 18 at Hobey Baker Rink. “We have been putting up the numbers. Today is the exception, for one reason or another it didn’t come to fruition.”

Hagt, for her part, is confident that the Tigers will keep putting in a hard effort no matter what the scoreboard says.

“I am really excited to hopefully get another win and keep building on what we have so far,” said Hagt. “The bond we have and the community on the team is really good. My biggest focus is making sure that everybody has fun, that everyone is participating and putting everything in. Even if we don’t win, as long as everyone is putting all of their effort in, I don’t think we have anything to be ashamed of.”