LEAP OF FAITH: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer goalie Grace Barbara leaps to make a save against Montclair Kimberly Academy last Sunday in the state Prep B title game. Junior star Barbara made five saves as the teams played to a 0-0 tie in a contest shortened by a thunderstorms that rumbled through the area, leaving the foes as co-champions. PDS, which has now won three straight Prep B titles, ended the fall at 17-1-4.

It was the third straight state Prep B championship game for Princeton Day School girls’ soccer star goalie Grace Barbara and she knew that visiting Montclair Kimberley Academy would put her under fire. 

“I was a little bit under the gun but that has been every prep championship game for me,” said Barbara.

“Since freshman year I have always had to come up big and that is the expectation. The team believes in me and I believe in the team. When it comes down to that, I have to make the saves and they try to minimize them.”

True to form, Barbara made some point-blank stops for top-seeded PDS against sixth-seeded MKA as the teams played to a 0-0 tie in a contest called with six minutes remaining in the second half due to thunderstorms that rumbled through the area last Sunday afternoon, leaving the foes as co-champions.

“We worked harder in the second half,” said Barbara, who made five saves in the title contest. “The first half was not our best soccer for sure, we turned it around 180 degrees.”

Although sharing the title wasn’t ideal, it marked the third straight Prep B title for the Panthers.

“It is bittersweet, I feel like with six minutes to go, there would have been an outcome either way,” lamented Barbara.

“They are a great team. Unfortunately with the weather, we couldn’t finish it.”

The rain-shortened game marked the finish to an action-packed week that saw the Panthers advance to the Mercer County Tournament title game on Thursday where they fell to Hopewell Valley 2-1 in a wind-swept downpour.

“We had a really tough go in the MCTs, we are given a really tough way to get into the final,” said Barbara.

“I am so proud of the group. We worked really, really hard, beating Hun in the first round, and then PHS, and finally marching up with Pennington. We knew that was going to be a physical game, we knew that it was going to be a mentally draining game, and it obviously was. Getting into two overtimes and penalty kicks and finally winning that was unbelievable.”

While Barbara was disappointed by the outcome in the MCT final, she had no qualms with the effort displayed by the Panthers as the players fought through a driving rainstorm.

“We were prepared for that HoVal game just as much as we were prepared for any game but we weren’t prepared for the conditions obviously,” said Barbara.

“Unfortunately, that is what it came down to. I think on a different surface and in different weather, it could have been a different outcome. I am proud of our effort and I am not disappointed. We worked our hardest from the first whistle to the last whistle.”

In reflecting on her progress as a goalie, Barbara believes that developing a deep connection with her teammates has spurred her to new heights.

“I have been with this team for three years now,” said the Princeton University-bound Barbara.

“Working with this team has helped my experience and that has helped me make some better saves and come up big in some situations. I know that this team relies on me and I rely on them so it is a symbiotic relationship.”

PDS head coach Pat Trombetta credited Barbara’s clutch play with securing the Prep B title for the Panthers.

“Grace kept us in the game today, she had a couple of unbelievable saves,” said Trombetta.

“She came up huge for us today on a couple of breakaways. We could be looking at something else right now if it wasn’t for her.”

Trombetta acknowledged that his players were less than thrilled to be looking at a shared championship.

“It is tough, obviously you are going to be on an emotional high winning it outright,” said Trombetta.

“It did sink in. If you look at the girls’ expressions, there is a sense of acceptance and that is probably it.”

In assessing the team’s run to the finals in concurrent tournaments, Trombetta credited his girls with displaying mental toughness.

“Overall we knew it was a tough week, playing five games on eight days with the emotional highs and lows,” said Trombetta.

“The emotional high with the win over Pennington, the tough loss on Thursday night in the county finals, just getting by with enough energy on Friday (a 1-0 win in double overtime against fourth-seeded Newark Academy in the Prep B semis), and then coming into today looking at hopefully getting the championship outright. There is an asterisk next to it as far as co-champs but, all in all, if you look at the season, we finished the regular season undefeated. The girls have a lot to be proud of.”

The title earned Sunday meant that the squad’s senior group of Abby Atkeson, Allison Klei, Alexi Davis, Emily Simons, and Katie Simons earned a championship in each year of their career as PDS won the MCT championship in 2013 to go with its three consecutive Prep B crowns.

“Overall, if I look at the senior corps, they are probably one of the most positive, enthusiastic groups I have ever coached,” said Trombetta.

“They are great mentors for the younger players. It is a selfless group, they always put the team first and that is what you want. It sets a tone. Everyone likes playing with those seniors, they wanted to send them out with another championship this year. We will be knocking on the door down the road.”

In Barbara’s view, the program is poised to build on the legacy of those seniors.

“It was a great season, for sure; we made it to the Mercer County finals, that is something the program has only done twice,” said Barbara.

“We didn’t win it obviously but we have next year. We still have a young team. We are losing five seniors who are really, really important to us. I believe we will be able to come back next year and have a strong season.”