SAVING GRACE: Princeton High girls’ hockey goalie Juliana Funiciello gathers in the puck during a game earlier this season. Last Friday, freshman Funiciello made 36 saves in a losing cause as PHS fell 4-0 to Randolph High. The Tigers, now 4-7, were slated to host Morristown on February 3 at Hobey Baker Rink before competing in the Annis Cup tournament. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Juliana Funiciello thrives under the pressure that comes with being an ice hockey goalie.
“I started playing goalie in sixth grade,” said Funiciello. “I just like being able to be the last line of defense. I liked it right away, it was so much fun.”
This winter, freshman Funiciello has emerged as the rock of the defense for the Princeton High girls’ hockey team, producing a number of amazing efforts between the pipes. Funiciello made 86 saves in her second game for the Tigers and 54 stops in her third game.
Last Friday, Funiciello stood on her head again, recording 36 saves in a losing cause as PHS fell 4-0 to Randolph High at Hobey Baker Rink in moving to 4-7.
In the early going, Funiciello was under the gun as Randolph tallied four goals in the first 8:30 of the contest.
“It was stressful in the first period, just being able to hold on,” said Funiciello, noting that the Tigers were missing two-way junior standout Taylor Davidson. “I got support from my teammates. Even when a goal was let in, my defense was there.”
After that shaky start, the PHS defense tightened up, helping Funiciello shut out Randolph over the final two periods of the contest.
“We were definitely able to focus more and get our act together and start settling down,” said Funiciello. “Definitely after the first period me and the entire team dialed in. Considering that Taylor is not here, everybody stepped up in their role and did really good.”
As she has adjusted to high school hockey, Funiciello has been doing her best.
“It is new, it is different,” said Funiciello, who has now recorded 407 saves this season. “I am still getting used to it, it is a different level of play. It is a lot of fun.”
Making so many saves has helped Funiciello raise the level of her play.
“It has helped me when I play travel,” said Funiciello, who competes for the Princeton Tiger Lilies 16U AA club program. “I think it has helped with repetition. Seeing the same things a lot then you can focus more and realize that certain plays are happening.”
PHS head coach Christian Herzog acknowledged that the Tigers were fighting an uphill battle in the absence of Davidson.
“It is always a tough day without Taylor,” said Herzog. “She is one of our major scoring threats. She is our strong player and any time she is out, it handicaps us five-fold.”
Herzog credited Funiciello with holding the fort in the first period.
“She was getting a lot of shots, she made some good initial first saves,” said Herzog. “They had one or two good top corner shots. They had some people around the post knocking in the rebounds. She can make a good save but if it is not covered, it is what it is.”
The Tigers did cover things better around the crease as the game unfolded.
“The defense figured it out a bit in the last two periods,” said Herzog, whose team was slated to host Morristown on February 3 at Hobey Baker Rink before competing in the Annis Cup tournament. “That is something to be positive about.”
Herzog is very positive about what Funiciello has brought to the squad this winter.
“Juliana is what every coach wants to back a team,” said Herzog. “You want a strong goalie and then build from there once you know you have that. We haven’t had a great season in terms of wins and all of that but the girls have had a lot of fun. She plays for the Tiger Lilies so that is more of a competitive team. Here she is focused on doing what she can to give us the best chance to get some wins and also having a good time with the girls. These are the classmates you are sitting next to and the experiences you will remember.”
Funiciello, for her part, is making plenty of good memories in her first campaign for the Tigers.
“I think is just having a lot of fun with the people,” said Funiciello. “Everybody is super nice. It is just enjoying our time together.”