PHS Boys’ Hockey Loses in MCT Semifinal, Hoping to End Winter on High Note in States
Having lost twice to Notre Dame in the regular season, getting outscored by a combined 13-1 margin, the Princeton High boys’ hockey team was looking to fine-tune things as the foes met for round three in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals last Wednesday.
“We felt good about ourselves, we switched up a couple of little things,” said PHS head coach Terence Miller.
For the first 13 minutes of the contest, sixth-seeded PHS battled the top-seeded Irish on even terms, trailing just 1-0.
“We were happy with our start,” said Miller. “We played well. We had a tough turnover to give them their first goal. I thought an early goal for us would have helped, just to settle the group down. We didn’t get it.”
Notre Dame scored a late first period goal to make it 2-0 and then took control of the game in the second, scoring three unanswered goals.
“When they score, they seem to get goals in bunches,” said Miller. “We just couldn’t seem to stop them. They ran that cherry picking, hanging system. It worked because it took our minds off the offensive end. We are worried about getting back and defending that. You should be able to punish them. If they want to hang a guy, they are creating a power play for you. It gets your defensemen back, they start icing and now we are running for our lives.”
PHS cut the deficit to 5-1 early in the third period on a goal by senior Connor McCormick but Notre Dame shifted into a higher gear, scoring five unanswered goals. The Little Tigers did get a tally from sophomore defenseman Tooker Callaway in the waning seconds to make the final 10-2.
“The wheels came off in the third,” said Miller.” You could see that they were ready to pounce on mistakes. We got a little something going but when we made mistakes, they made us pay. That is the sign of a good team. We know they are deep, they had their legs going a little bit, they have speed.”
Miller was proud of how his team stuck to its game even as Notre Dame pulled away.
“We fought to the end but we didn’t get chippy,” said Miller, reflecting on the loss which dropped the Little Tigers to 10-9-2. “That is not our game, that is not what Princeton is about. I was happy that they kept their heads up and played to the end.”
With PHS starting action in the state Public B tournament this week, where they are seeded 25th and slated to play at No. 8 Middletown South on February 24 in an opening round contest, Miller is hoping the team can build on its MCT run.
“We got back to the semifinals, we are happy about that,” said Miller. “We would have liked to have had a better performance tonight. I am proud of my guys. We hung in.”