Big Red win state girls’ hockey
By: Justin Feil
Sarah Herr, Becky Mantell and Payson Sword all grew up with similar backgrounds for hockey, had even played against each other in a number of leagues, but until this year the three had not had the pleasure of playing all together.
The three Princeton residents have made the most of that opportunity as freshmen on the Lawrenceville School girls’ ice hockey team.
"We’re all pretty excited," Sword said. "The three of us had several friendships on the side. We could start everything new at Lawrenceville."
Starting new this year meant blending together under a different system while putting their own stamp on the Big Red’s third straight state prep championship. Herr scored twice and Mantell once in a 7-3 win over Morristown-Beard on Wednesday. Saturday, they wrapped up a 16-8-1 season with a 7-1 win over the Lady Patriots U-16 club team.
"It was really exciting," Mantell said. "I think we were very optimistic coming into the game. We have the title of being the best in the state. We knew we had to keep our heads and not get too excited about it. It was really great for me to play in the game. I hope we get back and win a state title again next year."
And the year after. And the year after. Being three-fourths of the Lawrenceville freshmen, the Princeton crew has a chance to be a part of something special. Both Mantell, who plays on the first line, and Sword, who plays on the second line, are forwards while Herr is on defense, and though she’s played defense ever since she started skating at 4, she’s not totally defensive-minded.
"I’m learning how to score," said Herr, who had other two-goal games this season before the state final. "My brother and sister are leading scorers and I have to keep up with them. I’ve come really close to (a hat trick). I have little scoring streaks."
Herr picked a good time for another two-goal game for the final. And she hopes that it’s just a start to a big career for the Big Red.
"Definitely, I’d like to work on my offense," she said. "I’ve had the potential, I just don’t always use it. I have to learn how to use it."
She has three more years, and that’s the best thing for Lawrenceville. They have three quickly budding stars that have three more years of improvement.
"I think the players we have now and the players we’ll be getting, we’ll be confident about our success for the next three years or so," said Mantell, who paired with Alyse Ruff on the first line. "I got most of what I’d want to get out of it this year. It’s been an up and down season. It’s hard transitioning to the system. I’m prepared for next year now. I had a lot of fun this season. That was something positive about the season."
Lawrenceville used the Middlebury system that employs a forward line of two rather than three players, then a second line of two defensive players and a middle back before the goalie.
"I’ve been playing club for a long time," said Mantell, who is in her second year with the Princeton Tiger Lilies U-19 team. "I played for a competitive team last year and it really prepared me for Lawrenceville hockey and high school hockey. Adjusting to the system was harder than adjusting to the hockey."
Opponents couldn’t have expected a Lawrenceville team that relied so heavily on its Princeton freshman to be so good already. But a quick peak at the trio’s background serves notice that they had all the makings of early contributors. They all started playing before they even were in first grade. They all were in boys leagues.
"When they started to check," Sword said, "I worked my way into girls’ hockey."
Sword now plays for the Nassau U-19 Wildfire club team. Herr continues to play for the Mercer Chiefs bantam team, her third year with the boys’ team. Growing up, the Princeton residents saw each other in various venues.
"I played soccer with Payson when we were little and we go to the same church," Herr said. "Payson went to school until the end of second grade with me. I’ve been going to hockey camp with Becky the last couple years and we’re neighbors.
"We played against each other when she played for a boys’ team. She was pretty good. She was big and she had a really good shot. She was definitely as good as the boys were."
Now, the three are pulling their talents together for the Big Red, not just on the ice. Mantell was on the varsity field hockey team in the fall, while Herr and Payson were part of the unbeaten freshman squad. In the spring, they’ll help some new teams. Herr plays lacrosse, but considers ice hockey her top sport. Sword will take up crew this spring, but it’s hockey that provides the most enjoyment.
"We all love the game so much," Sword said. "We all got really close. Before, we were more along the lines of acquaintances."
Not only have the three become better friends, but they’re helping the Big Red become a better team. The three all were excited about the schedule that had them playing New England teams, and wins over Kent, Millbrook and St. Paul’s showed the team has some strong building blocks for the future.
"Lawrenceville has been trying to play more teams in New England," Mantell said. "A state championship is still a big deal, but slowly we’re trying to win those tough New England games."
The Princeton trio also helped the Big Red to a sixth-place finish in the Taft Tournament, one spot better than the team finished last year. And with the three returning, a year older and a year better, the Big Red figure to be in good shape for the future.
"Every year," Herr said, "the standards are raised a little if you’ve accomplished a lot. You always want to do at least as well as the year before. Doing better is always the goal."
With Sarah Herr, Becky Mantell and Payson Sword skating together, Lawrenceville is getting some of the best that Princeton has to offer. It’s given the Big Red girls’ ice hockey team plenty of pleasure already, and there’s more to come.

