Greenwich hands teams losses
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Greenwich, Conn., proved too tough an opponent for the Princeton High School and Princeton Day School girls’ ice hockey teams at the PDS Invitational, but both area teams found something to build on after Sunday’s conclusion.
The Panthers reached the final with a 1-0 win over Lansdale (Pa.), Catholic on Saturday. Stephanie Sydlo scored the lone goal, her first of the season, and Bryanna Mayes recorded her first shutout of the season before Greenwich captured the PDS championship game, 5-0, Sunday.
”I was really proud of our girls,” said Panthers co-coach Kat Smithson, whose team is 2-2. “The effort they put out was unbelievable. The first team we played was a really tough battle against Lansdale Catholic. We came away with the win. We played Greenwich High School. They’re an unbelievable team. They have a good team. All their girls are powerful girls and good skaters. We outshot them, 37-34, which was unreal. Watching them the night before, we thought it was going to be tough game and were wondering, are we even going to get in the offensive zone? We played man-to-man and that was the first time we played that way. We held them to 1-0 in the first period.”
Greenwich, however, was able to pull away over the final two periods. PDS looks to build on its latest challenge when it plays host to the Lady Patriots 6:15 p.m. Friday. They hope to return Noni Ammidon to the lineup soon after she was taken off the ice Sunday with a head and neck injury.
Princeton High lost to Greenwich in the invitational opener, 5-0, Saturday but bounced back with a 1-0 win over Lansdale Catholic on Sunday morning on a goal by Blair Thompson off assists from Olivia Ray and Ibby O’Grady. Chelsea Corell made 22 saves for the shutout. The consolation game began at 7:30 a.m.
”Saturday, it was Greenwich’s first game of the year,” said PHS head coach Jeff Schneider, whose team improved to 2-2 going into Monday’s scheduled game against Morristown-Beard. “They came out gangbusters. We did a good job sticking with them the first half or so. They just kept putting them in.
”It was good to see the girls rebound (Sunday). It was a tough loss Saturday. We were going in hoping to win the whole tournament as defending champions. To get beat that badly, and have to come in that early the next day, a lot of teams might come out flat, but they came out ready with a lot of energy.”
Princeton High has needed its energy in the early going. The Little Tigers have already faced Morristown-Beard twice and played at the Hill School. The challenges have come quickly on the year.
”In my opinion, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is,” Schneider said. “If we play to our maximum potential, we’ll be in the game with any team we’ve played so far. If we play our game, we have a chance. I’m not so concerned about how tough the schedule is. We want the girls to play to their potential, to play the best they can.”
The Little Tigers return plenty from last year’s team, but have struggled to put the puck in the net to support their defensive efforts.
”We need to score more goals,” Schneider said. “Evidence shows, if Chelsea doesn’t give up any goals, we win. Our two wins are 1-0. But we can’t rely on that.”
PHS did get one big goal from Thompson just before the second period ended Sunday. It was enough as the Little Tigers did not surrender a goal to Lansdale Catholic.
”It was a big goal right before the period ended,” Schneider said. “I told the girls we needed that. It was something we wanted to give it a go at. I felt if we could get a goal going into the ice cut, it would give them something to think about. I put together a group that we felt had the best opportunity to get the puck in the net. Fortunately, it worked.”
The win helps PHS as it goes forward. The Little Tigers continue to look for goal scoring and has pulled together over the first two weeks against some top competition.
”The improvement is the way the girls come together and pull for each other,” Schneider said. “The team concept is instrumental in how we do. The girls support each other all the way through, whether they’re on the ice or not. All 30 are part of the team. The closer they become, the better our team will be.”
PHS will play Portledge on Monday before a two-week break between games. PDS continues its schedule next week with a rematch against Lansdale Catholic before going into its holiday break after a game against Pingry on Dec. 20. The Panthers have been encouraged by their start, even with a loss to Greenwich.
”To be honest, I was a little surprised we generated that much offense,” Smithson said. “That comes from all their hard work and effort. Skill-wise, we might not have been matched up, but our effort was maybe a little better than theirs. That kept us in the game.
”Their goalie was really good. We had a hard time finishing.”
Once the Panthers get that ironed out, they should be an even tougher opponent. PDS closed its own invitational feeling good about the way it was able to compete against a powerful Greenwich team.
”I told the girls in between the first and second period, I couldn’t be more proud,” Smithson said. “We told them what system to play, and they played strong. I don’t think the score was indicative of how the game went. I think gave them a tough battle.
”I think they learned a lot from this weekend,” she added. “They learned to play more physical. Overall, it was a great effort.”