TAKING CONTROL: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer star Hannah Bunce controls the ball in recent action. Last Monday, junior midfielder Bunce chipped in an assist as PDS defeated Lawrence High 2-0 to improve to 9-0-1 and record its eighth straight shutout. The Panthers will look to keep on the winning track when they play at Hill School (Pa.) on October 7 and at Morristown on October 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team having gone undefeated in its first eight games coming into its clash against visiting Lawrenceville last Saturday, the squad’s calling card has been an even distribution of talent.

“We are starting to receive a lot of balance across the field,” said PDS head coach Pat Trombetta.

“We have a top notch keeper (Grace Barbara), our back four has been solid. We are getting some good play out of our midfield now. Hannah Bunce is having a breakout year.”

Against rival Lawrenceville, PDS was determined to break out of the gate quickly.

“We came out wanting to get on the scoreboard first,” said Trombetta. “It was very windy. We had the wind at our backs in the first half and we wanted to take advantage of that. Last year was a great game at their place, it was high tempo and very exciting. It ended in a double overtime draw so we said this year we have to come out first and be the aggressor.”

Emerging junior star Bunce executed that plan as the Panthers tallied two unanswered goals in the first half and never looked back on the way to a 2-0 win. “Hannah had the first goal and she set up the second goal,” said Trombetta.

Sophomore transfer Damali Simon-Ponte was on the receiving end of Bunce’s feed for the second goal.

“Damali has been a great addition,” asserted
Trombetta. “She has got excellent footwork and she is our playmaker out there. She is becoming more comfortable in our system of play. We expect big things from her down the road.”

Having some big players on defense has helped PDS thwart its foes. “If you look at our back four, we have great size back there with Becca Kuzmicz, Madison Coyne, and Izzy Meyercord,” said Trombetta, whose team blanked Lawrence High 2-0 last Monday to improve to 9-0-1 and record its eighth straight shutout.

“Emily Simons is the smallest player back there but probably the most tenacious. They have come along very well as a unit. Madison is only a sophomore but she is probably the quarterback of our defense. She is gifted and she is a very confident player back there. It has been a great addition to our back line.”

Sophomore goalie Barbara displayed her gifts in the win over Lawrenceville, recording 10 saves, including a number of key stops.

“Grace wasn’t really battle tested technically until Saturday, that is how good a job the back four has been doing,” noted Trombetta.

“She hasn’t been making a lot of big saves but we needed her against Lawrenceville; she had four or five quality saves and a couple of big ones.”

PDS has been getting some quality play from freshman midfielders Madison McCaw and Kelsey Lane.

“They have become more confident with more minutes,” said Trombetta. “They are two people that we weren’t really counting on for a lot in the central midfield coming in and, with some injuries, we moved them there. They are doing  a great job, they are getting comfortable.”

The Panthers are getting some great leadership from co-captains Meyercord and Abby Atkeson.

“Izzy missed the last two years due to injury and she is the only senior so she had the pressure of being a leader on the team but also trying to stay healthy and stay on the field,” said Trombetta.

“I think she is doing a tremendous job. Abby Atkeson is the other captain and she leads by example. She is the most versatile player out there. Her tenacity and work rate is unmatched. We need a lot more players like her out there.”

The triumph over Lawrenceville made it a special day on the job for Trombetta as it marked the 100th victory of his PDS tenure.

“To me it is a sign that we are doing something right,” said Trombetta, reflecting on hitting the century mark. “I am really proud of what we have done over these eight and a half years to get 100 wins. I have been fortunate to have a lot of good players.”

With the postseason around the corner, Trombetta is looking to add many more wins to that total over the next several weeks.

“I think what we are seeing is more confidence and the momentum is building up each week,” said Trombetta, whose team will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at Hill School (Pa.) on October 7 and at Morristown on October 13.

“It is a young team but a number of these girls have played in prep championships and the county championship so I think that experience is going to be a plus during the stretch run.”