MORE TO COME: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse Morgan Foster heads up the field in action last week. Sophomore attacker Foster scored four goals as PDS topped Stuart Country Day 16-6 in its season opener on April 2. Foster added four more tallies in a 13-10 loss to Hopewell Valley last Monday. The Panthers, now 1-2, play at the Pennington School on April 12 before hosting the Hun School on April 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Morgan Foster was never able to get into a groove last spring in her freshman season with the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team.

Hobbled by a groin injury, Foster was sidelined for much of the campaign.

“I played the first few games and the last few games so I missed a majority of the season,” said Foster.

In the offseason, Foster worked hard to get up to speed. “I did a lot of training with Darius [PDS strength coach Darius Young] and a lot of work with Luke [former PDS trainer Luke Hensel],” said Foster.

“I was in the Philly showcase last winter where I was featured as a Fab 40 all star.”

As PDS opened its 2013 campaign last week at Stuart Country Day, it didn’t take long for Foster to emerge as a star.

The sophomore attacker scored the first goal of the game 1:35 into the contest and went on to tally four goals on the day as PDS pulled away to a 16-6 win in the April 2 contest.

Understandably, Foster was chomping at the bit to make an impact after last season’s frustrations.

“I was very excited to get back and get going and help the team,” said Foster.

In reflecting on her big game, Foster credited teamwork with paving the way to the scoring outburst.

“I just saw the ball coming down and my teammates were setting up great opportunities for me, letting me get open,” added Foster. “I was just happy I was able to finish.

After starting the 2012 season 0-5, the Panthers were thrilled to post an opening day victory this spring.

“It was a great way to start the season,” said Foster. “We were all really excited to get out there.”

PDS head coach Jill Thomas is excited to have Foster back at full speed. “Morgan is just a great player with a great shot,” said Thomas. “She makes good decisions with the ball.”

The Panther offense made a lot of good decisions as junior Sarah Brennan had three goals and two assists with senior Zeeza Cole scoring three, Corinne Urisko tallying two, and senior Hannah Levy scoring a goal and chipping in three assists.

“I think everyone stepped up,” said Thomas. “You could see there were a lot of nerves in the first game but everybody seemed to step up. We got some good minutes from a lot of people.”

Thomas was also happy with the team’s defensive effort. “I think Trigg stepped up,” said Thomas, referring to senior goalie Sarah Trigg who made nine saves in the win.

“Louise [Hutter] was tough back there as was Cami [McNeely] and Lizzie [Frieder]. They are reading it well, they know when to double, they are making good slides.”

After last season’s tough start, Thomas liked the way her team got out of the gate against Stuart.

“It is a new year so it was a great way to start,” said Thomas, whose team did hit some bumps in the road after the Stuart game as it fell 13-12 to Hill School (Pa.) last Friday and then lost 13-10 to Hopewell Valley on Monday. “They did a great job today.”

Thomas believes the Panthers can make 2013 a special year. “It is a great group of girls to work with, they are a lot of fun,” said Thomas, whose team plays at Pennington on April 12 before hosting Hun on April 16.

“Liz [assistant coach Liz Cook] and I are really enjoying them and we have since the beginning.”

Foster, for her part, is enjoying being on the field with the group. “This team is great; I think we can go really far,” said Foster, who tallied four more goals in the defeat to HoVal.

“Everyone is working so hard. If people keep working hard, I think everyone’s opportunities will open up and everyone will shine.”