TWO GOOD: Princeton Day School field hockey player Val Radvany, left, battles a Stuart Country Day defender last Sunday in the state Prep B championship game. Sophomore star Radvany scored two goals in the game as top-seeded PDS edged seventh-seeded Stuart 2-0. PDS, which went 6-13-1 in 2015, ended the fall at 16-4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Val Radvany was determined to make her mark this fall in her sophomore season for the Princeton Day School field hockey team.

“Last year as a freshman I really wanted to prove myself and this year I wanted to show that I am a strong player,” said Radvany. “On the field I am able to concentrate on the game.”

As top-seeded PDS hosted seventh-seeded Stuart Country Day in the state Prep B title game last Sunday, Radvany didn’t think twice when the ball came her way on a penalty corner 1:30 into the game, knocking it into the cage to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. “I just really wanted to win the game so I just hit it,” said Radvany.

After that opening salvo, neither team scored until Radvany tallied with 4:06 left in regulation.

“I think we had control and possession the whole game. That really boosted our confidence,” said Radvany.

“We were playing so hard and there were so many chances and we couldn’t get the ball in so it was kind of nerve-wracking so it was nice to get the second goal.”

That second goal sealed the deal as PDS posted a 2-0 win to earn its first state title since taking the Prep A crown in 1998. The triumph gave the Panthers a final record of 16-4 and marked a stunning reversal of fortune as they went 6-13-1 in 2015.

“It is really exciting because we worked so hard last year,” said Radvany. “We didn’t get the season that we wanted to get exactly and this year we were able to show how we are a really good team. I think our ball movement is much better and we are able to see each other on the field.”

The Panthers showed resilience bouncing back from a tough 3-0 defeat to Lawrenceville in the Mercer County Tournament championship game a week earlier.

“It is really great especially because we lost in Mercer County finals so it is nice to end this season with a title,” said Radvany.

“We hadn’t won in a very long time so it is nice to win it. This team is very special so I am happy that we were able to do that.”

PDS head coach Heather Farlow was happy to see her team get a shot at another title as it edged fourth-seeded Pennington 2-1 in the Prep B semis on Saturday.

“I think we played one of our strongest games in the county semifinals (a 3-2 overtime win against Allentown) and I know we played tough against Lawrenceville but we didn’t play our best game,” said Farlow.

“You need your best game against them. We were really looking forward to taking care of Pennington and having another chance today.”

Farlow acknowledged that she was getting nervous as the Panthers controlled possession for long stretches of the title game but struggled to get that second tally.

“I actually feel relieved, I felt like we couldn’t buy a goal,” said Farlow. “We controlled possession for most of the game but we couldn’t put it away. A 1-0 game is tough because if a team gets a fast break and a goal, it could change the whole complexion of the game. I was glad that we were able to score that second one.”

In reflecting on the PDS title run, Farlow noted that she saw a big change early this fall which gave her the idea that the team could do big things.

“At the beginning of the season, we saw how we were performing against the teams we really struggled against last year.”

“I was thinking you know what, we can totally do this. Knowing how the other teams in the Prep B were performing, I was pretty confident. I told the girls last year that they had a ton of potential and we were winners and they had to get out of that mindset where you try not to lose. You play to win, that was the difference from the start this year.”

Coming into the title game with familiar foe Stuart, the Panthers knew they would have to play hard to earn the win.

“We have a great deal of respect for Stuart,” said Farlow. “It is a cross street rival and so the girls knew that they haven’t had the most wins this season but it is a school looking to make their season based off of today’s game. We didn’t overlook them at all and the girls knew they had to come in hard.”

Radvany, for her part, believed that PDS is poised to be good for years to come.

“We have a really young team so that is really hopeful,” said Radvany.

“I know that everyone will just get better and better as the years go on so it is really exciting.”