BRINGING IT TO A GAME: Princeton High girls soccer player Alysse Kiesewetter dribbles the ball during the game earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior defender/midfielder Kiesewetter scored two goals to help PHS rally to a 3-1 victory over Steinert. The Tigers, who topped WW/P-South 5-0 last Monday to improve to 7-6-1, will host WW/P-North on Oct. 12 before beginning action in the Mercer County Tournament on Oct. 16 . (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Over the past two years, Alysse Kiesewetter has established herself as a star guard on the Princeton High girls soccer team.
But after PHS star midfielder Casey Serxner was sidelined earlier this fall with a leg injury, Kiesewetter saw her role change, becoming a more offensive player.
“I usually play left back, but we needed to score more goals,” Kiesewetter said. “I also like to play in midfield, I like to go up.”
Showing off his versatility last Thursday, Kiesewetter scored two goals on penalties as PHS recovered from a 1-0 halftime deficit against visiting Steinert to earn a dramatic 3-1 victory.
“We know it’s Steinert and they’re very competitive every year,” Kiesewetter said. “Last year we lost to them twice. This year we had a better state of mind. The first half was a bit difficult, they scored quite early. Halftime came and we said, ‘We have to be aggressive,’ and that’s what we did.
This aggression paid off as the Tigres finally broke down a stingy Tartan defense which had conceded only two goals in the season preceding the competition.
“Their defense was very strong, we knew we had to get around it,” Kiesewetter said. “We focused a lot in training on possession of the ball, going back and forth. I think we did it very well today.
Kiesewetter got things going for PHS, burying a penalty with 27:39 left in the second half. Six minutes later, Tiger sophomore star Quinn Gallagher ran down the right flank and slotted the ball into the back of the net to give PHS a 2-1 lead. As the Tigers clung to that lead, Kiesewetter struck again, taking another penalty with 2:53 left in regulation.
Even though Kiesewetter felt a little nervous taking the PKs, she kept a cool head and coolly focused on where she threw the ball.
“I usually go to the bottom right, but today I decided to change it up a little and go to the top right,” Kiesewetter said. “I hadn’t taken a PK class this year, it was like ‘oh no’. Once the second one arrived, I thought I was going to the opposite side.
Standing out against Steinert boosted the Tigers’ confidence.
“We’ve been rivals for years,” Kiesewetter said. “It will definitely give us a little boost.” It’s definitely been a little tougher this year as we’ve had some very close games, losing by one. It’s just about being confident, we’ve really worked on it and worked as a team. I think we did it very well today.
As a three-year starter and co-captain of the team, Kiesewetter sought to instill confidence in her teammates.
“I just try to look out for all the younger guys and help them and help them gain confidence,” Kiesewetter said. “With Casey out, it was tough for us. All the captains came together and just brought the team together. It’s been really fun.
PHS head coach Dave Kosa admitted his team struggled early against Steinert.
“In the first half, I think we were on our heels a little bit,” Kosa said. “They were the most aggressive team. We made a mistake and they took advantage of it. It’s a really good team, it’s a great program.
Things got really tough for PHS early in the second half when freshman star goalie Julia Zaldarriaga left the game after suffering an injury. With last year’s goalie Olivia DeLuca joining the bench, the Tigers continued to fight.
“The fact that we fought back is a testament to the girls’ hard work,” Kosa said. “Steinert had conceded two goals all season and we scored three today. We’ve been so close, and this is the moment we finally got over the hump. It was great to see. I am very proud of them.
The team’s courage bodes well for the home stretch of the season.
“Every match will be a battle, we are preparing for the tournament,” Kosa said. “It’s just about letting everything go. The fact that Julia came out – she was our pillar on the back line – our defense stepped up. It was very physical, especially in the second half. We did their best and we kept fighting against them, so it was great.
Bringing Kiesewetter into the offense gave PHS a shot in the arm.
“We struggled to score goals early, especially when we lost Casey a few games ago, so we brought him up,” Kosa said of Kiesewetter, who had two goals and three assists decisive so far this fall. “She gave us a great offensive punch. She just gives a threat with her corners and knocks it down on the left side. It gives us that speed on the perimeter. She made some superb crosses. On penalties, she went into the top corner the first time, then she went to the other side the second time. It was great composure on his part.
Gallagher has also shown composure this season, coming up with clutch plays.
“Quinn scored some big goals for us, she tied the game against Robbinsville (1-1 on Oct. 3),” Kosa said. “She has a big foot but again, when she turns it on, she’s big and stands out from people. She’s deceptive like that and it really helps us.
Getting rid of Steinert gave the Tigers a glimpse of their potential.
“It shows them that we can compete with the best teams,” said Kosa, whose team topped WW/P-South 5-0 last Monday to improve to 7-6-1 and will host WW/P-North on Oct. 12 before action begins in the Mercer County tournament on Oct. 16.
“We have been close; Allentown was a 1-0 loss, Notre Dame was 2-1, PDS was 1-0. So with all the best teams, we’ve been there. We just needed that extra push and today we got it.
According to Kiesewetter, PHS has what it takes to be a top team.
“It’s just about working together and as a team,” Kiesewetter said. “We didn’t really do that at first,
and other victories here have inspired us.
