(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) IN CONTROL: Princeton Day School field hockey star Katie Briody controls the ball in action last fall. The versatile Briody is a dominant performer in the middle of the field for PDS with her offensive production and defensive skill. Last year, Briody helped PDS go 15-6-1 as it advanced to the semifinals in both the Mercer County Tournament and the state Prep tourney. The Panthers open their 2006 season with a game against Ewing on September 9 at the Antheil School field.

Sparked by Summer Trip Down Under, PDS Field Hockey Reaching for the Stars

By Bill Alden

For many high school field hockey teams in the area, a group trip to a summer camp somewhere on the east coast is a tried and true way to sharpen skills in advance of the fall.

But for 14 members of the Princeton Day School field hockey team, such a trip was not nearly enough to satisfy their ambition for success.

Instead, the group of Panthers traveled halfway around the world to Australia to participate in the 2006 Hockey Fest in Sydney, an annual field hockey event.

Playing 10 games on their trek, PDS hopes that the trip down under will push it over the top in the 2006 season.

"They are 10 years ahead of us down there," said PDS head coach Jill Thomas, noting that Australia has won Olympic gold medals this century in both men's and women's field hockey. "They play the game year round. We learned a lot about the little things in the game."

Thomas' players also learned a lot off the field, staying in a hostel with other teams and traveling to the Great Barrier Reef and climbing the Sydney Bridge.

"The trip will make the girls better players and better people," asserted Thomas, who is in her 19th year at the helm of the Panther program.

The Panthers certainly were good players last fall as they went 15-6-1 and advanced to the semifinals in both the Mercer County Tournament and the state Prep tourney.

In Thomas' view, PDS just needs to fine-tune things a little bit to go to the next level. "They need to get into position to put the ball in the net and fire it in," said Thomas, whose club opens 2006 play with a game at Ewing on September 9 before a September 12 showdown against visiting Stuart, the 2005 MCT champion and state Prep runner-up.

"They can't be satisfied by winning by a goal or two. We also need to keep ourselves in the best shape possible so we can be sharp in the last 10 minutes of games."

PDS is sure to get sharp play up front from the dazzling Crouse twins, Nina and Allie. "They can play, they can absolutely play," said Thomas with a laugh, referring to the pair of seniors who shredded the opposing defenses last fall. "They aren't even close to where they are going to end up. The Crouses are great and they're probably our most unselfish players."

The Panthers should also get some offensive production from juniors Emily Cook, Marlyse Jost-Mazzeo, and Lindsey Mischner.

Another key senior performer for PDS will be the versatile Katie Briody. "Katie can play center mid or center back depending on who we are playing," explained Thomas. "She is a leader. When the ball is on her stick, good things happen."

Others who should make things happen in the midfield for PDS include junior Katherine Levinton and a pair of sophomores, the speedy Mariel Jenkins and Charlotte Lescroart.

The Panther defense will be anchored by another senior, Melanie Phillipou, who transferred into the program in 2005 from Hopewell Valley.

"Melanie is back for a second year," said Thomas. "We hope Melanie continues where she left off last year; she really fit in."

In Thomas' view, her field hockey team could continue where the PDS lacrosse team left off last spring when it advanced to the Prep A title game.

"So many kids play both sports and when you're on a team and part of something bigger that makes an impact," said Thomas, who is also the head coach of the lax team.

"We played on the third Sunday in May and we want to play on the first Sunday in November. They have left mediocrity behind. They expect a lot from each other and they are grabbing for the stars."

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