HEARTBREAKER: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Layla Sosner, right, controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, sophomore forward Sosner scored a goal in a losing cause as second-seeded PDS fell 2-1 to third-seeded and eventual state champion Immaculate Heart Academy in the semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Hockey Tournament. The Panthers finished the season with a 12-4 record. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
It is an oft-stated sports adage that it is hard to beat a good team three times in the same season.
Facing Immaculate Heart Academy last Wednesday in the semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Hockey Tournament, the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team learned that it can also be difficult to defeat the same team four times in one season.
After having topped third-seeded IHA in two regular season matchups (4-0 on December 15 and 4-3 on January 30 and in the semis of the Librera Cup tourney (3-2 on February 10), second-seeded PDS fell 2-1 to the Blue Eagles in the state semi at the Mennen Arena to end the winter with a 12-4 record.
“It was a one-goal game against IHA, it really could have went either way but they played well,” said PDS co-head coach Jamie Davis, whose team defeated IHA 7-0 in the NJSIAA state championship game last season. “We battled with them. You play a team four times and the stats show that we are probably going to take a loss somewhere. It is kind of what happened. They put a good game together and beat us.”
The Panthers found themselves in an uphill battle as they fell behind 1-0 in the first period to the Blue Eagles, who went on to defeat Morristown-Beard 3-1 in the state final on Monday.
“Someone’s going to score first, it is a hockey game,” said Davis, noting that some of his players came into the game banged up and others played through illness. “Obviously you want to get the first one. They had a nice goal but even in that period we outshot them. They buried the puck, that is how it goes. We had a lot of chances in that game. There were a lot of shots, a lot of rebounds but their goalie (Madison Graves) played great.”
The PDS goalie, Kelly Stevens, played very well against IHA, recording 21 saves.
“Kelly really kept us in the game, they had a lot of scoring chances as well,” said Davis. “Kelly was locked in, ready to give us a chance there.”
The Panthers gave themselves a chance to force overtime as they got a goal from Layla Sosner with 3:47 left in the third period to make it a 2-1 game.
“That last three minutes, we were pushing and had a lot of chances,” said Davis. “There was a 2-on-0 down low where we didn’t bury it. That is just how it goes. Their goalie really did play great. There was a lot of rebounds and they took care of what they had to.”
Going with a roster of just 10 skaters in addition to goalie Stevens, PDS showed grit as they produced another stellar campaign.
“We had a good run, it was a tough year with what we had,” said Davis. “We did good, no complaints. I am happy about the season. I think toward the end, we kind of got worn down a little bit. It is a lot of work for the girls even if they are physically capable.”
Senior netminder Stevens gave the Panthers some very good work this year between the pipes, making 349 saves with a .938 save percentage.
“That is a big loss, we are not going to replace her,” said Davis. “I wish we could have made it to the Prudential Center for her. She had a fantastic season again. She kept us in every single game. We had such a great record because of her. We had games where we have gotten outshot. We had had games where we got outplayed and still won by two goals. We had a great season but it would not have been like that without her.”
Two other senior stalwarts, Brynn Dandy (4 goals, 13 assists in 2025-26) and Mariana Lee (2 goals, 4 assists), also played well this year.
“Brynn was a great captain, she stepped up,” said Davis. “She was very good in the locker room which was great. Mariana, especially in the second half, really started picking it up. She played really well. She was working super hard, she didn’t play club this year so it was hard to get it going again.”
A senior newcomer, Beatrix Hoekzema (5 assists), made an impact.
“Beatrix played when she was young but she picked it up again this year,” said Davis. “It is hard to do. You can obviously pick up a sport where you have sneakers on and you are running around. It is hard to just say I am going to ice skate. She did the best she could and she was contributing. She got a lot of ice time.”
With the quintet of junior Sammy Dandy (14 goals, 16 assists), junior Della Gilligan (21 goals, 19 assists), freshman Layla Klapak (18 goals, 9 assists), sophomore Sosner (10 goals, 11 assists), and sophomore Alexis Moslin (10 goals, 13 assists) slated to return, the Panthers should remain a force going forward.
“Della and Sammy are juniors and are top players, they did really well,” said Davis. “The freshmen and sophomores, the two Laylas and Alexis, also played really well. Sosner really progressed this year, especially in the second half. She was really contributing offensively and working hard. All of those players were great. They had unlimited opportunities this year and they are going to get unlimited opportunities next year.”