The Princeton High School field hockey team is enjoying a successful fall season.
Coaches and players are crediting their winning season on the team’s relentlessness and ability to come together.
“Our motto is ‘With each other, for each other.’ You cannot rely on one or two players. This team has done a great job playing as a unit,” Princeton coach Heather Serverson said about her team that has rung up a 10-2-1 record this autumn.
The coach continued.
“I think we have been doing a great job fixing the things that need to be fixed in practice. Playing teams like Lawrence High School definitely helps point out where we need some adjusting,” she said. “We hope to keep improving as a team and playing great team defense.”
Serverson said the team offensively will need to make the most out of their scoring opportunities as the season continues.
“I don’t think we have done a great job with that, so far,” Serverson said. “Defensively it is team defense. Moving up as a team and moving back as a team will be key as we continue our season. We sometimes get a little fragmented.”
To finish out the regular season the team was set to take on Notre Dame High School on Oct. 10. The Mercer County Tournament arrives next on the schedule following the matchup with Notre Dame.
“We have a lot of potential going into the Mercer County Tournament (MCT). Moving into the MCT we are mostly healthy,” Serverson said. “We are really taking care of all the loose ends, so we can make an impact into part two of our season.”
Serverson said she would like to see a lot of the scoring being spread around.
“We try not to rely on one player and we really look for players to step up at the right times. This is a full team effort,” she said.
Senior Morgan Swanke leads the Little Tigers team with 15 goals scored this season.
“I do not think the scoring has been done by the offense alone. I think all the positions on the field have helped us get the goals in,” she said. “We really have a good team dynamic and are one big cohesive unit. Everyone has a part on the team and it is not just one person’s job.”
Swanke said going forward the keys for this team offensively will be having the right intensity and relentless mindset in the offensive and defensive zones.
“Everyone is working as a team and I think that is going to help us go far in the MCT and states,” she said.
Senior goalie Grace Cooke anchors this Princeton defense in the net. As of Oct. 8, she had amassed 42 saves this season.
“Our defense has been great at this point in the season. We have been really working on team defense, not just with the back three. Everyone up to the forwards plays defense and if everyone is playing defense it is harder for teams to score goals,” Cooke said.
She said the team needs to continue doing what it is doing and play with the intensity.
“We are playing for each other and everyone wants to play hard for this team,” Cooke said.