(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) WELL DONE: Princeton Day School senior star Keely Langdon, left, races past a Lawrenceville defender in action last spring. Last Thursday, Langdon fired in four goals to help spark PDS to a 13-3 win over WW/P-N. In upcoming action, PDS, now 2-0, will host Notre Dame on April 13 and Stuart on April 14 before playing at Lawrence High on April 17.

Langdon in Middle of the Action as PDS Girls' Lacrosse Starts 2-0

Bill Alden

Keely Langdon and her teammates on the Princeton Day School girls' lacrosse team got to work out some opening day kinks when they hosted Purnell School last Wednesday.

With inexperienced Purnell not in PDS' class, the Panthers stayed warm on the drizzly, chilly day by running through their playbook, focusing on passing and catching as they cruised to a 10-0 win.

For Langdon, the game still had value despite the one-sided nature of the affair. "Everyone was a little nervous, it's good to get confident with the ball on your stick," said Langdon, who scored two goals and three assists in the victory.

"We were able to involve some of the new players and we were trying to move the ball around. I think a lot of people started to see more field, they have a better field sense after the game."

Langdon knew that field sense would come in handy the next day when the Panthers hosted WW/P-N. "That's always a challenging game," said Langdon. "It's great competition."

PDS proved to be more than up to that challenge as they posted an impressive 13-3 victory over the Northern Knights as Langdon scored four goals to lead the way with Katie Briody and Nina Crouse chipping in three apiece.

In Langdon's view, what makes PDS so formidable is its core of seniors. "There are seven of us," said Langdon. "We have defenders in Claire Alsup and Ali Hiller. We have Maria Cannavo in goal. We have the two Crouses [Allie and Nina] and Katie Briody up front. We have strong seniors all over the field; that's great. It's a real cohesive group, everyone is good friends. We have our little rituals that we do before the game."

While Langdon's domination in the center of the field has been a constant for PDS, she is looking to provide the team with something extra this spring.

"I'm definitely working on being a leader," said Langdon. "I'm a team captain along with Katie. I think we are really going to go far this season."

The Panthers' know what it takes to go far after their stirring run in last year's prep A tournament which saw them run past Lawrenceville in the semis before dropping a heartbreaker to powerful Oak Knoll in the title game.

"After beating Lawrenceville and then going OT with Oak Knoll, I think it shows that we're good," asserted Langdon.

"If we work hard this year and with our good group of seniors, we are hoping we can get back. We're shooting for the stars with the Mercer County Tournament, Bedesem Division, Patriot Conference, and Prep A."

Next year, Langdon will be shooting for the Ivy League title as she heads to Penn where she will play lacrosse for the Quakers. "I did a bunch of camps and recruiting stuff last summer," said Langdon. "I really liked their coach and Penn is such a great school. I love the campus. I'm excited to play for them; they are having a great season this spring."

In the meantime, Langdon, who also starred in soccer and basketball for PDS, is looking to have a great season in her last days as a Panther.

"It's kind of sad, it's been 12 varsity seasons and it's finally coming to an end," said Langdon, who will look to help PDS keep rolling as it hosts Notre Dame on April 13 and Stuart on April 14 before playing at Lawrence High on April 17. "I really want to end on a high note with lacrosse. We all have such high expectations for ourselves this season."

With a star like Langdon patrolling the middle of the field, those expectations could well be met.

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