HOPEWELL TWP. – Coaching field hockey is a labor of love for Heather Serverson.
The veteran Princeton High coach has a great love of the game, she loves to teach the game, and most of all, Serverson receives her greatest joy in seeing the girls develop and have fun playing the game.
There were a lot of smiles on Monday night when Serverson recorded her 200th coaching victory as the Tigers blanked Hopewell Valley, 2-0, in a Colonial Valley Conference game played at Ackerson Field.
“It’s exciting and I’m glad it’s with this great group of girls,’’ said Serverson. “I’m glad the milestone has past because I think the girls were feeling some pressure to get it for me. For me the real milestone is to have been fortunate to still be here, it’s hard in this coaching climate to stay in one place and have families allow to coach their kids. The community has helped me get here, I’ve had great families come from here.’’
Serverson, who is in her 18th season and the dean of CVC coaches, extends her remarkable record to 200-85-10.
Princeton improved to 1-1 on the season and Hopewell Valley fell to 0-3.
One of the things that made the moment a little extra special is that this is group of young ladies who Serverson loves coaching.
“I’m glad that this came with a great group of girls,’’ said Serverson. “They have been a pleasure to coach and to be around and that has made it more meaningful. This group makes coaching easy, they have fun and they like being here and they work really hard in practice and they make it worth it.’’
Nikki Lee and Lila Casto made sure it happened with a pair of first-half goals. Sarah Cate Walker and Heidi Johnson each had assists.
Walker, a senior, has been a program player since she was a freshman.
“We are so happy for her and she works us hard, but it always pays off,’’ said Walker. “It’s a great win. This is something that is for all of us, especially the older girls. We have been anticipating this the entire off season and to finally get it. It was always just more of a goal then something looming and it’s great to have this win and milestone.’’
There’s was a milestone achieved on the Hopewell Valley side of the field, as well.
Senior goalie Theodora Milchanoski notched her 200th career save in the cage for the Bulldogs. She has been in the goal since freshman season and in the three years leading to this season the ‘Dawgs have had winning seasons; a lot of the credit goes to Milchanoski in the cage.
Jane Hunter had her third defensive save of the season, Kennedy Rotondo, who has one DS, also is a standout on the defense, along with Myla Sullivan-Schuyler, Sammy Rice and Peyton Tracy-Enderle.
It’s a young group that first-year coach Alicia Fellows has and it’ll improve.
While 200 was the number of the night, congratulations to Serverson and Milchanoski.
Princeton (1-1) 1 1 0 0 — 2
Hopewell Valley (0-3) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Goals: P: Lee, Casto. Assists: P: Walker, Johnson
Shots: P: 8, HV: 4. Saves: P: Suttmeier 4, HV: Milchanoski 6.
