Moseley gives PHS fast start

Senior scores two goals in girls’ hockey win over Stuart

By: Justin Feil
   Carley Moseley has some advice for the first-time players on the Princeton High girls’ ice hockey team.
   "Stick with it," said the PHS senior. "It definitely has been one of the highlights of my high school career. I’ve had such a good time. It’s such an eclectic group. You have to be a little crazy to wake up that early. You have to want to be there."
   Moseley can identify with any of the record number of first-year players that came out for the Little Tigers team this year. She was in their shoes, or skates, three years ago and knows the struggles.
   "A lot of girls have been playing since they were 8," Moseley said. "I started as a freshman. It was all new. I couldn’t tie my own skates. My coach had to do it. It’s nice to be able to do your own. It’s hard. There’s a lot of equipment. By my sophomore year, I could."
   On the ice, she also showed great improvement each season.
   "I have come far in basic skills," Moseley said. "My knowledge of the game and skating is better. There are always things I’m trying to improve on, like get to puck faster, skate faster and pass better. It’s good to skate with someone who has as much experience as Dee Dee (Mahon)."
   The two worked well together in Princeton High’s 4-0 win over Stuart on Wednesday. Mahon won the opening face-off and found Moseley, who scored 22 seconds into the contest. On the ensuing face-off, the two connected again for a goal just nine seconds later.
   "It was fantastic," said PHS head coach Matt Becan, whose team improved to 3-0. "To see us score right off the bat like that and see Carley take the initiative and lead the team like that and open the game like that, I was very impressed. It was a lot of fun to watch. One of our goals going in was to set a tone early. By scoring like that, we were able to do that and put Stuart on its heels early.
   "Stuart has improved a lot. There players have developed a lot. Their goalie made some great saves. We were fortunate to get those two early. Otherwise, it would have been a lot closer game. By jumping up, we got momentum and put them on their heels."
   PHS outshot Stuart, 37-20, in dropping the Tartans to 0-2. PHS goalie Emily Schulte made 20 saves for the shutout while Nathalie Verhaegen stopped 33 shots to keep the Tartans in the game. PHS’ other goals were scored by Cami Mahon and Katie Burke in the second period.
   "I expect our schedule to ramp up in the next couple games," said Becan whose team plays Pingry on Jan. 5 and Princeton Day School Jan. 6 in its first two Women’s Interscholastic League of the Mid Atlantic season. "It’s going to be tougher competition. The league games put more pressure on our team and the teams we’re playing. Mistakes can cost us. We have to focus on making few mistakes. The good thing is we have good momentum. Our offense has sparked. It’s good to see a lot of different girls scoring. They’re going to have more confidence going into next weekend."
   It’s all new to Moseley, who last year had just one assist. She didn’t have even one goal. She has a total of four in her last two games.
   "It is nice," she said. "Before games, I never think I want to score a lot of goals. I’m pretty sure I didn’t score any goals last year. So I knew that I can only improve on that this year."
   With her offensive output in the Little Tigers’ first three games, Moseley might just be inviting some higher expectations. She’s one of the players that has stepped up after the graduation of PHS’ four-year leading scorer Vicki Chen, who now is suiting up for the Princeton University’s women’s team.
   She’s happy in any role for the team. In seasons past, she did not have an established line. This year, she’s begun as right wing with center Dee Dee Mahon and left wing Burke.
   "We’re learning to read each other well," Moseley said. "Dee Dee is very agile and quick. She sets a good pace on the ice. The worse thing that can happen is to become sluggish or play down a level. Dee Dee makes sure we don’t."
   Moseley has flourished while partnered with those two juniors, though it’s early so the lines could change. Regardless, Becan is sure that she’ll contribute plenty to the Little Tigers, whether it’s on or off the ice.
   "Carley has been a good role model for the newer players," Becan said. "She lets the players know if they work hard, anyone can become a leader on the team and be a leader in scoring goals and playing defense. She was able to show it (Wednesday). She’s a player who only started being able to contribute so much to a team.
   "Carley has been very strong this year. She’s worked hard. She’s skating hard on the ice. She’s a gritty player. It’s not like she has the skills of playing for 10 years. She plays smart on the ice. She knows where to go on the ice. She knows when to take shots, and they’re going in. It’s really nice to see. She can build off her start to this year."
   That’s all that Moseley is looking for as she finishes off a solid four years with the Little Tigers. She’s hoping to help the team sustain its quick start as it enters league play.
   "As far as personal goals, I’d like to improve on my skills," Moseley said. "I’d like to get faster, build more endurance, take more accurate shots, get the basics and go from there. From starting freshman year, I can relate to the girls just starting this year. I’d like to see them, and I have seen them, how far they can come."
   And if any of them doubt for a second their contribution to the Little Tigers, Moseley can help keep them focused on the long road. She went years without scoring a goal for PHS. But she has always contributed.
   " She serves as a role model," Becan said. "Sometimes girls wonder, what kind of contribution are they making. She shows, if you work hard, you can do it."