GOOD RUN: Princeton High field hockey players Cassie Farran, left, and Sarah Cate Walker run up the field to celebrate a goal last Wednesday as third-seeded PHS defeated second-seeded Princeton Day School 4-1 in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) semis. Sophomore Farran scored two goals in the win while senior Walker chipped in one goal and one assist. The Tigers went on to lose 5-1 to Allentown last Saturday in the CVC final to move to 10-5. PHS will be hosting the Hun School on October 29 as it tunes up for the upcoming New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
As Cassie Farran and her teammates on the Princeton High field hockey team faced crosstown rival Princeton Day School in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) semis last Wednesday at Ewing High, they were determined to get off to a quick start.
“We came out here really excited; we were all very hyped for the game and we were ready to win,” said sophomore Farran. “We are doing our very best to be first. That was our goal for every game – to be first to every ball.”
After Sarah Cate Walker scored a goal to give third-seeded PHS a 1-0 lead over the second-seeded Panthers, Farran got on the ball as she found the back of the cage less than two minutes later.
“It was an amazing assist by Skate (Walker),” said Farran. “It was Heidi [Johnson] first and then to Skate and then to me. It was a team effort. I just played the final part in it.”
PDS narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the second quarter on a goal by Sammy Dandy and then dominated possession in the third quarter.
“We were a little concerned but we were really hyped and we were ready,” said Farran. “We needed to run and get the ball.”
Farran got another run going, scooting a goal early in the fourth quarter as PHS went up 3-1 to regain momentum. Charlie Flangan added another tally with 4:49 left in regulation to seal the deal for the Tigers as they prevailed 4-1 and booked a spot in the final.
“I am so glad I was ready and I ran right in when I saw the ball being popped,” said Farran. “I was prepared for this game, I was very hyped and I was energetic.”
It was the first two-goal game for Farran, who now has six goals and three assists this season after tallying one goal and two assists last fall.
“It is a big jump, last year as a freshman, I was just trying to do my best,” said Farran. “This year I am trying to improve my skill and my ability to play with my team.”
PHS head coach Heather Serverson liked the competitive fire displayed by her team from beginning to end against PDS.
“In the beginning of the season we had a really hard time of setting the tone,” said Serverson. “Early on, we kind of waited until the second half of the game to really turn it on. We have had it as a goal every single game. I think today is the first time they actually demonstrated full intensity the entire time.”
Farran picked up her intensity in the win over the Panthers.
“I pulled her out because she wasn’t getting post balls in the beginning,” said Serverson. “I think that lit a fire under her for sure. She made sure that she got the job done when she went back in. She is finding a way to connect what we do in practice into the games. For a while, there was a disconnect there. She has been doing a great job in practice really trying to hone in and make sure she is with the pace of the game.”
As the game got a little dicey for PHS in the third quarter, Serverson credited her players with keeping their heads when PDS pressed forward.
“We were nervous, a one-goal lead wasn’t enough,” said Serverson. “It is PDS-PHS, it is not over until it is over. They came off the field and kept each other fired up and positive. There was lots of communication and they found a way to get it done.”
Making the CVC final against powerhouse Allentown was a big step forward for the Tigers.
“We haven’t made the finals for a long time, it is exciting to be back in that game for sure,” said Serverson. “For me, it is getting back to normal. We had that 6-10 season last year so these girls don’t remember the Princeton of the past. So we have to teach them what that looks like on the field and what does that look like in the way you carry yourself. I think this is a good game to show them all of that.”
Falling behind top-seeded Allentown 4-0 in the final last Saturday afternoon, PHS got a third quarter goal from Lila Casto and fought to the final whistle but ended up losing 5-1.
“The message was we have nothing to lose here, you have made it this far,” said Serverson. “We made it to the final so let’s make sure that we go out doing everything that we possibly can. That really got them motivated to really lay it all out there. It is what I am most proud of, the fact that they fought that hard. That has been our focus all year.”
Serverson was not surprised to see Casto step up. “Lila is the kind of player that when she is increasing her intensity, people follow,” said Serverson, noting that senior goalie Emily Suttmeier played well as she hit the 200-save mark in her career. “She has a magic on the field that way.”
In Serverson’s view, the squad’s CVC run will be good prep for the upcoming New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament.
“I think it seasons them for that level of play,” said Serverson, whose team is now 10-5 and will be hosting the Hun School on October 29 as they tune up for state tournament. “It is tough to maintain your ability to take on a quality team when you don’t have games or you don’t advance in tournaments. The fact also that we were able to play all of those games helped.”
Farran, for her part, is proud of how PHS raised its level of play this fall.
“Last year, we didn’t make it that far,” said Farran. “This year we are so excited and so happy to be able to play in the final.”