(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: CHARLOTTE’S WEB: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey star Charlotte Lescroart clears the puck last Saturday in PDS’s 5-3 win over Lansdale Catholic in the first round of the PDS Invitational Tournament. The Panthers fell 3-0 to Rye County Day on Sunday in the championship game to move to 2-2 on the season. Senior defenseman and co-captain Lescroart was named as the PDS recipient of the Christopher Reeve Sportsmanship Award for her efforts in the tournament.

With Lescroart Providing Positive Leadership, PDS Girls’ Hockey Takes 2nd at Invitational

Bill Alden

Things didn’t go well in the beginning or at the end as the Princeton Day School girls’ ice hockey team played Rye Country Day School last Sunday in the championship game of its annual PDS Invitational Tournament.

Six minutes into the game, the Panthers found themselves trailing Rye 2-0.

With PDS goalie Bryanna Mayes coming up big, the Panthers held the fort through the middle of the game and were behind 2-0 heading into the third period.

The Panthers, though, were unable to produce a happy ending as they gave up a goal early in the third period. Later, they suffered a scare as junior defenseman Savannah Hecker skidded into the boards and collapsed in a heap, crying in agony. Hecker was taken off the ice on a back board and left the rink in an ambulance.

While concerned by Hecker’s plight, the Panthers kept their heads, pressing forward and playing solid defense to keep the final margin at 3-0.

PDS co-captain Charlotte Lescroart was proud of how she and her teammates kept battling despite falling behind early.

“They scored two goals really quickly and then we held them off in the second period, no goals were scored” said defenseman Lescroart, who was named as the PDS recipient of the Christopher Reeve Sportsmanship Award for her efforts in the tournament.

“In the third, they got one really quick goal. I think we played them pretty well; I think we did give them our best shot. None of us are upset about what happened.”

While the Panthers were upset by Hecker’s injury, they circled the wagons to make up for her absence.

“With Savannah out, it was a little upsetting,” said Lescroart of Hecker, whose injury turned out to be less serious than it appeared as she was released from the hospital with a initial diagnosis of cramps and bruises.

“She is a really great defender, a really big help for us. But I think it only gave us a little more fire to keep playing harder.”

After posting a 5-3 win over Lansdale Catholic on Saturday in the first round of the tournament, PDS was primed to give powerful Rye a battle.

“The team yesterday was not as strong as today,” asserted Lescroart. “I think we really did show up today to play and we gave it our best shot. I think we played this team harder than we played the team yesterday. We tried our best.”

In Lescroart’s view, the team’s best offensive hockey is yet to come.

“On offense, we are working on building a little more team chemistry and trusting each other,” said Lescroart of the team’s attack which was paced by two-goal efforts from senior Georgia Travers and freshman Megan Ofner in the win over Lansdale Catholic.

“I think it is just growing steps at the beginning of the season and that we will be great by the end.”

With PDS at 2-2, Lescroart thinks the Panthers can grow into something special.

“I am really pleased with the girls; we have had some really tough teams to play,” said Lescroart, who will look to help PDS get back on the winning track when it hosts Pingry on December 18.

“We played Hill earlier and we played a great game against them (a 3-2 loss) so we know as the season continues we are going to be so much better. We are going to become a really competitive team.”

The Panthers are already clicking off the ice as the team has bonded quickly. “I do feel a really great chemistry,” said Lescroart, whose co-captains are Travers and Mayes.

“I think we have eight new girls on the team this year; they have fit right in. Everybody loves them. We have three freshmen on the team and they are all really strong players so we are really grateful to have them. We hang out a lot off the ice.”

Lescroart, for her part, was grateful to win the Reeve award last weekend. “The award is pretty awesome,” said Lescroart. “Last year, one of the really big hot shot players won it. I didn’t think I had a shot so I appreciate it. I am really thankful I got it.”

And PDS can be thankful to have a positive leader like Lescroart giving it her best shot.

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Calendar