By: centraljersey.com
Katie Reilly’s mother played field hockey, her older sister, Meg, played field hockey for Princeton High School and her younger sister plays field hockey.
"I’m the odd man out," Reilly said.
But Reilly’s choice to stick with her first fall sport is the Little Tigers soccer team’s gain. The junior back is in her first year starting for the PHS girls squad that improved to 3-2 with a 2-1 win over Hightstown on Thursday.
"She gets a lot of enjoyment from playing the game hard," said PHS head coach Greg Hand. "She’s particularly proud of her ability to mark players 1v1, really not to let somebody get behind her. She has an understanding that her job is not to steal the ball, but to not let a kid beat her in a 1v1 confrontation. She’s a kid that always brings it."
Reilly has been so good in the back that Hand has had a hard time ever taking her out of games. That’s fine with Reilly, who is adjusting to the increased playing time after playing about half of each game last season.
"I feel more confident," Reilly said. "I feel like I can be more of a leader. It’s nice. The more you’re on the field, the more you get to gel with your teammates. I definitely talk a lot more, and I get used to playing with my teammates more so I can offer more to them verbally and with my play."
Reilly is critical as one of the few returning Little Tigers with experience. PHS graduated most all of its center, and most of its playmakers. PHS is doing all right to find replacements there. Logan O’Meara and Ciara Celestin scored goals to top Hightstown.
The majority of the Little Tigers’ returning experience is in the back, where Reilly and Mia Haughton are juniors on the sides, and senior Allisan Salazar is back for her fourth year on varsity. Ann Sarnak and Mason O’Brien help bolster the middle of the field on defense in front of new goalkeeper Lauren Ullman.
"I’ve always been a defensive minded player," Reilly said. "I used to play wide midfield, but I was always more of a defensive minded midfielder. I was definitely ready for defense. I love the position."
Said Hand: "There’s no doubt that’s where it seems to fit best for us and that’s where we need her to be. I don’t think she gives a hoot if she’s ever involved in scoring a goal. She’s just concerned with preventing goals."

