Senior pushes PHS girls to 2-0
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Mie Graham has plenty to come, but it is this year on which she is happily focusing.
She signed at the end of the summer to continue her lacrosse playing career at Duke University. As excited as she is to join a Blue Devils team that reached the NCAA tournament semifinals in 2008, she sees a big year ahead for Princeton High School.
”Everyone is hungry to show how good we are and end our season well,” Graham said. “I think it’s going to be one of the best teams to come out of Princeton High School. Everyone is excited. We want to win because we know we can.”
The Little Tigers didn’t take long to show their potential. In the season opener, they avenged back-to-back losses to Stuart Country Day from last season with a 10-8 win. It was the start to a season with big goals for Graham, an attacking midfielder for PHS.
”The Stuart win made me happy,” she said. “Coming out and beating the teams we know we can play with, I think that’s proving ourselves. Our team isn’t that much different from last year in terms of who’s playing, but everyone’s grown so much. We pose a huge threat in the CVC and the Mercer County Tournament as well. It would be exciting to get farther than we did last year. I know our team is better than it was.”
One year ago, Stuart was a 15-4 winner in the first matchup of the season. It was only a little better at 14-6 by the end of the season. PHS finished the year 8-7 overall. As good as beating the Tartans was, Graham was just as happy to see her team dominate play in a 16-4 win over Allentown on Wednesday.
”What I was really happy about was what we had trouble with last year was playing teams we should beat,” said Graham, who had three goals and four assists in the win. “We played down to their level. Against Stuart, we played the best that I’ve seen us play. Today, I was proud of seeing us play the game we should have.”
The Little Tigers spread the wealth in the decisive win. Instead of relying on Graham and Lizzy Price, the two seniors were able to give way to less experienced PHS players at the offensive end.
”It was great,” said PHS head coach Christie Cooper. “Naturally, our leaders were running the scoring. But they started to set up other girls. They set up the younger girls. We had at least five different players score goals.”
Cooper has been impressed with the way the Little Tigers have reacted to her in her first season as their head coach.
”Really the coachability of the girls, especially in the Stuart game,” Cooper said. “They listen, they respond, and they act out on the field. As a coach, that’s what you want them to do. It’s been amazing to watch.”
It’s all part of a team approach that has the Little Tigers confident in their abilities. Coming into the season, Graham expected a lot, and still does though PHS lost one of their top attack threats, sophomore Taylor Blair, to a season-ending knee injury before the season even began.
”We had a young team last year and there was a really good freshman class,” Graham said. “We only expected to go up from last season with the experience everyone’s gained.”
Still, it took a nice win over Stuart to start the season to reassure the Little Tigers that they were on track.
”We lost to them twice last year and revenge was definitely on everyone’s mind,” Graham said. “We’re both different teams than we were last year. I think it was more of a personal game. Everyone was on the same page with how determined we were to beat Stuart. We knew it would be challenging, especially without Taylor on attack. We just played a really good game.
”One of the biggest parts was our transition game. We were re-defending really well and causing turnovers all over the field. Everyone was hustling and it really showed by the amount of turnovers we caused.”
Graham has helped on both ends of the field out of her midfield spot. She has always done that for the Little Tigers. This year, she is also bringing out her leadership qualities along with the Penn-bound Price.
”They’re our natural leaders on the field,” Cooper said. “For example, every time the ball got down on attack, they got everyone where they needed to be to run the play. They have the ability to run the show without much coaching from the sideline.”
Their leadership is a strong starting point for a Little Tigers team that has talented youth and veterans. Graham is helping to make it mesh.
”Our chemistry is really great,” she said. “Last year, we had to deal with bringing the freshmen out of their shell. It’s a great sophomore class. Everyone is more comfortable with each other. The leadership is stronger than it’s been. Just everyone is excited from every level and it’s showing itself on the field. Everyone is stepping up and playing well together as a team.”
While PHS has a week off between games, no one wants the momentum to end after a strong start. The Little Tigers will return to host Hamilton on Wednesday.
”We just have to continue to not go down, but continue to rise,” Cooper said. “Just because you won your first two, doesn’t mean you’ll win your rest.”
Mie Graham is going to give it a try. It’s why she is solely focused on making this Little Tigers team the best ever before she tries to make Duke the best in the college game.
”Now that I know where I’m going,” Graham said, “it’s a lot easier to have fun and focus on the team.”

