ON A ROLL: Princeton High boys’ soccer goalie Nicolas Holmelund gets ready to roll the ball up the field last Thursday against Hightstown. Senior star and co-captain Holmelund made two saves in the contest as PHS edged the Rams 1-0 to open the season. The Tigers, who tied Cherokee 0-0 last Monday as Holmelund made three saves, will play at Allentown on September 12 before hosting Trenton on September 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton High field hockey team has gone through preseason, Heather Serverson has been doing a lot of mixing and matching.

“We have been trying to get used to all of the new faces and combining them with the older seasoned players,” said PHS head coach Serverson, who guided the Tigers to 17-3 record last year as they advanced to both the Mercer County Tournament and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 4 sectional final.

“We need to learn to rely on each other, we need that trust built up. Right now, when we are on the field, we try to give the ball to certain people and pretty soon that is going to become a problem. Everyone can learn to step up when necessary and rely on each other when necessary.”

PHS will be looking to get the ball to a pair of star forwards, senior co-captain Mia Ramirez (11 goals, 15 assists in 2023) and junior Sarah Cate Walker (15 goals, 2 assists).

“Mia and Sarah were stepping up last year, they are going to have a presence this year,” said Serverson, whose team starts its 2024 campaign by hosting Notre Dame on September 13. “Sarah Cate has been doing some nice things in scrimmages. Mia has been doing some great things as well. They are working very well together and with the other new faces I am mixing in.”

In the midfield, the trio of sophomore Lila Casto (2 goals, 5 assists), junior Ani Bettencourt (5 goals, 1 assist), and freshman Tessa Boyle figure to have a big presence this fall.

“I think we are going to see some good things from Lila, she has done great things out of season,” said Serverson. “She came in playing even better than before, I think she is going to be a great spark for us in the midfield. Ani is returning, she got some time last year. She has been doing some work out of season too; her skills have gotten better and her game sense has gotten better. Tessa is a very good player. She came in with a great game IQ and she is just tough. She knows what to do with the ball and can maintain possession.”

The pair of senior co-captains Sophie Gono (1 goal) and junior Sofia Digioacchino will be spearheading the PHS defense.

“Sophie can play anywhere on the field, she will be our main defensive person this year,” said Serverson. “If I could, I would play her at defensive mid but I think I might have to stick her back a little more. She can still play the whole field from center back. Her speed is amazing. Her skills are so clean on defense. Sofia is our main communicator back there. She is a very smart defender in the way that she plays and the way she interacts with the unit.”

At goalie, junior Emily Suttmeier is primed to step into the starting role.

“Emily has been working really hard to make sure that she is the caliber goalie that we need,” said Serverson. “She has become even more coachable than she has been in the past. Her skills are just on point this year. She has been doing a good job in practice and scrimmages too.”

While it may take time for things to mesh this fall for the Tigers, Serverson believes that it should be another big season for the program.

“I think that we need to stay healthy and we need all the other variables to line up,” said Serverson, who is entering her 17th season at the helm of the program with a record of 193-83-10. “It is not going to be easy, it is more of a challenge than usual but I definitely think we are up to it.”