FORWARD PROGRESS: Princeton Day School field hockey player Madison Mundenar goes after the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, sophomore forward Mundenar chipped in a goal and an assist in a losing cause as PDS fell 7-2 to Germantown Academy (Pa.). The Panthers, who lost 1-0 to Hun last Monday to move to 1-4, play at Peddie on September 24 and at Blair on September 26 before hosting Morrisville High (Pa.) on September 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into its game against visiting Germantown Academy last Thursday, the Princeton Day School field hockey team had one main point of emphasis.

“Our theme for the game was to keep up the intensity,” said PDS sophomore forward Madison Mundenar.

While PDS ended up losing 7-2 to the powerful Patriots, it achieved its pre-game goal. The Panthers tallied on a penalty corner at the end of the first half as Mundenar set up a diving goal by senior Rowan Schomburg. PDS fought to the final whistle as Mundenar tallied with five seconds left in regulation.

In reflecting on the game, Mundenar was happy with the team’s spirited effort.

“I really wanted to score at the end, we really never gave up there, even to the last second,” said Mundenar.

“We knew going into this that Germantown was going to be stronger. We just tried to play really tough, we never stopped.”

In just her second year of playing field hockey, Mundenar has a stronger grasp of the game.

“I am more comfortable with this sport, it was my first time playing last year,” said Mundenar. “I am playing forward again. I played defense the first part of the season. I like playing forward.”

Coming off a superb lacrosse season last spring which saw her score 40 goals as PDS won the state Prep B title, Mundenar acknowledged that finishing is her forte.

“I like attacking; I try to work on my speed,” said Mundenar. “Field hockey definitely works on your speed because it is nonstop. I definitely need some work on my stick skills; they will improve by the end of the season.”

PDS head coach Heather Farlow was pleased with how her squad played to the end in the loss to Germantown Academy.

“One of our goals was to play a full 60 minutes and to not give up,” said Farlow.

“Yesterday we played Academy of New Church and I thought that we played OK in spurts but I don’t think we played a full 60 minutes. I talked to the girls at the end of the game and they felt the same way so that was our goal. I would say I was pretty happy with them overall today; I think it was a great team effort.”

Farlow is happy with Mundenar’s play at forward. “I had her playing in the back at the beginning of the season,” said Farlow. “I have been playing people in  different positions to see where they are comfortable and strongest. I put her up front, she seemed to like it up there.”

Junior Kiely French gave the Panthers some strong work at center back. “Kiely stepped up, that is what we were hoping she would do,” said Farlow. “She plays ice hockey, I was hoping she would take those skills and transfer them here.”

As the season unfolds, Farlow believes that the Panthers need to develop a more confident mentality in order to step up.

“Our focus is just being confident and playing to win; having the attitude that we can win every game,” said Farlow, whose team lost 1-0 to Hun last Monday to move to 1-4 and plays at Peddie on September 24 and at Blair on September 26 before hosting Morrisville High (Pa.) on September 28. “I think we got better during this game.”

Mundenar, for her part, feels that the Panthers are getting better and better.

“We definitely are making progress, we are improving every game,” said Mundenar.

“We just need more practice. I think by the end of the season, we will have made some huge progress. We have a lot of new players and some good freshmen. Everyone is improving; the team is bonding well too.”