By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
There was no quit in the Princeton High School field hockey team.
The Little Tigers could have wilted after three-time defending champion Lawrenceville scored twice within a minute for a 2-0 lead in Saturday’s Mercer County Tournament final. But instead, Princeton responded with a goal its own and made the Big Red work hard for the 3-1 win and a fourth straight MCT title.
”This is the first time the team has made it here in a long time, so we are definitely proud of that,” said Princeton coach Heather Serverson, whose 17-3 team has lost twice to Lawrenceville this season. “Now we can go on to the state tournament. Getting here is something I am glad they have under their belts at this point so the pressure won’t have the same effect on them in the state games.”
After Lawrenceville took a 2-0 lead, the Little Tigers responded with a goal from Lucy Herring off an assist from Trish Reilly. Up to that point, the Princeton defense had played well in keeping the Big Red off the board. Margaret Welch made 13 saves in goal for Little Tigers.
”They played really well,” Serverson said. “But I think some of their offensive breakaways flustered us and that is how they got some of their goals.”
The game was tied early in the second half before the Big Red broke through finally.
”I think we started playing more reactive,” Serverson said. “We didn’t continue to play our aggressive game and set the tone.”
