Akrong shutout backs Annis goals
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The Princeton High School field hockey team got just what it needed at both ends of the field Thursday.
The Little Tigers’ defense was anchored by goalie Moriah Akrong while the offense found its stride led by Liz Annis. They combined for a 3-0 win over Lawrence on Thursday, their first win of the season, and first under new head coach Heather Serverson.
”I think they just needed the confidence,” said Serverson whose 1-2 team plays at Steinert today. “I think the team is finally starting to work together as a team. It’s hard when you have a lot of people coming right off the freshman squad right on to varsity. I think they’re all finally starting to click. They’re complementing each other.”
For PHS, getting its first win was nice Thursday. That the win came by shutout helped Akrong enjoy it even more.
”I’m so happy,” said the senior goalie. “This is my first shutout in a full game. I’m so excited. I think that for myself that was a boost. I’m so excited.”
Akrong preserved the shutout when she made a diving stop for her seventh and final save of the game. Three saves early in the first half kept Lawrence off the board as the visiting Cardinals controlled play in the first 10 minutes. Then Annis took a long transition pass and scored for a 1-0 lead and everything changed. It was the offense’s second goal of the season.
”Once we scored early in the game, it was something to uplift them,” Akrong said. “They got everyone excited to go out there and win.”
After the goal midway through the first half, it was the Little Tigers who had the better of play. Sydney Krueger added an insurance goal early in the second half off a scramble in front of the goal and Annis added her second goal of the game midway through the second half.
”She has the stickwork if she gets the ball up there,” Serverson said of Annis. “It felt like in the past she wasn’t supported by the rest of the team. They moved up as a unit now, and I think if we have support behind her, she can really be a threat on offense.”
The Little Tigers feel good about their chances with an improved offense. If they can get a little scoring, Akrong and the defense have shown they can be depended on against anyone. It’s just took them three games to put it all together.
”I think this year, our team, we understand the idea of what it is to be a team,” Akrong said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are. If you don’t understand the idea of being a team, then I don’t know how you’re going to work together out there on the field. I think this year we’re understanding that.”
It was a different PHS team after the first score. The Little Tigers played more confidently after hitting their stride at both ends of the field.
”I think we put on a lot of pressure,” Akrong said. “Defense really stepped it up as well as offense. Offense played a little differently today. I think that was a big difference.”
Serverson liked to see that the Little Tigers took what they had been working on in practice and brought it to Thursday’s game. It’s what made the offense successful against Lawrence.
”Mainly it was their placement of the ball,” Serverson said. “In the past, they were going straight up the field. We’ve really been emphasizing cutting back, putting the ball on angles, bumping it back to players behind. They started doing it.”
That took some of the pressure off the defense, though they have a veteran in the back in Akrong. She is an improved player in her second year starting in goal.
”She holds it down back there,” Serverson said. “She makes sure they’re organized and makes sure the marking is there, which was kind of iffy the past couple games. The marking came together and that allowed her to do her job.
”Her skill level is better (this year),” she added. “It’s definitely improved. She understands the game a little more. She can anticipate what’s going to happen one play ahead rather than in the moment and then react to it.”
Akrong is establishing a strong connection with her fellow defensive players in front of her. It’s why the Little Tigers are a stronger unit in the back.
”This year, we have a new sophomore, Taylor Blair, she’s really good with the stick,” Akrong said. “She’s been the key player in our defense along with Anna Shea and Corey Henderson.”
The Little Tigers are hoping they can duplicate the efforts at both ends of the field as they look to even their record today at Steinert.
”I think we should take this and carry it,” Akrong said. “Hopefully we’ll take this and practice the way we played today and keep using it the rest of the season.”

