(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: CLEAR FOCUS: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Charlotte Lescroart clears the puck in a game this season. Senior co-captain Lescroart’s leadership and consistent play helped PDS go 10-10 this winter.

PDS Girls’ Hockey Made Progress but Needs to Develop Consistency

Bill Alden

In late January, the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team didn’t bring its A-game as it lost to Holton Arms.

Lacking energy, PDS never got in synch and got badly outplayed in the third period in falling 3-1.

Getting a second crack at Holton Arms three weeks later in the WIHLMA consolation playoffs, the Panthers were primed to make amends.

Showing how formidable it can be. PDS rolled to a 4-2 win over Holton Arms with four different players notching goals as Stephanie Sydlo, Ginny Stattman, Megan Ofner, and Georgia Travers each found the back of the net.

Panther co-head coach Kat Smithson gave her players an ‘A’ for their performance in the rematch.

“Between the second and third period, I said who are you and where did you come from,” recalled Smithson with a laugh.

“It was the first time all season, I had seen everyone playing together as a unit. They worked hard all over the ice. The breakouts came together, we were really getting through the neutral zone.”

A day later, things didn’t hold together as PDS fell 2-0 to Princeton High in the consolation final and season-ending game. “We didn’t play well,” said Smithson, whose club ended the winter with a 10-10 record.

“It was the seniors’ last game and instead of taking advantage of that, they had mixed emotions,” said Smithson.

“The effort was there, we just couldn’t generate offense. We made a million passes in the crease but no one was standing there on the other end. We struggled in the defensive zone; we were scrambling around too much.”

PDS co-head coach Gretchen Jaeckel noted that the bull’s eye was on the Panthers’ back in view of the fact that it had edged PHS twice in regular season play.

“It is tough to beat a team three times in a season when you are so evenly matched,” said Jaeckel. “When you have won twice, the pressure is on you. The underdog has nothing to lose.”

The setback in the finale, though, didn’t diminish the progress PDS made over the season.

“It’s an improvement, we didn’t have a winning record last year,” said Smithson, noting that PDS was 9-11-1 in 2007-08.

“We had some nailbiters, games that we had opportunities to win but that we didn’t take advantage. I was impressed with them as a whole, we had a good mix of girls. They pulled through some tough situations.”

The team’s improvement on the defensive end impressed Smithson. “Our defensive zone play was better,” said Smithson.

“We were tighter in the defensive zone, we were more physical in the offensive zone.”

Jaeckel, for her part, liked the way the Panthers progressed offensively. “At the beginning of the year we had challenges with the first line and getting them to play as a line rather than individuals,” said Jaeckel, referring to the trio of Travers (16 goals and 10 assists), Sydlo (5 goals and 12 assists), and Ofner (10 goals and eight assists).

“The players wanted to do things on their own. They realized that when they played together rather than as individuals, they were better.”

Jaeckel was heartened by how senior defensemen Charlotte Lescroart and Lexi Deana-Roga got better and better over their careers.

“Charlotte and Lexi were new to the game as sophomores,” said Jaeckel. “It was rewarding to see how much they improved as players over the last three years.”

The Panthers’ last line of defense, senior goalie and co-captain Bryanna Mayes, has displayed her love of the game from the minute she walked through the door four seasons ago.

“She is so passionate and knowledgeable,” said Smithson of the four-year starter who posted a 2.65 goals against average this season.

“When she is yelling at people, her intensity gets mistaken for a mean streak. She is super feisty and mentally strong.”

Senior co-captain Georgia Travers has consistently provided offensive strength for the Panthers.

“Georgia leaves a big legacy,” added Jaeckel. “She led the team in scoring the last three years; she was definitely a key player for us. We have some girls who can step in and fill the void like Ofner, Bailey Outerbridge, and Courtney Lackey.”

The Panthers will need those returning players to work hard over the offseason in order to continue the program’s progress.

“The biggest part of our success next season will be post season training,” said Smithson.

“Some of the girls didn’t skate until the winter. I got some girls in skating clinics last summer. They need to skate more as a team this summer.”

In Jaeckel’s view, the coaches need to play a bigger role in helping the team bring its A-game every night.

“One of our goals next year is to find a way to motivate them the whole time,” added Jaeckel.

“It’s a long season, it is tough for the kids. It is one of the harder times of the year academically. We have to find a way to keep them up and positive; take them to spinning class and other off-ice stuff like that.”

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