HIGH FIVE: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Becca Kuzmicz goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior defender and co-captain Kuzmicz helped second-seeded PDS hold the fort as it tied top-seeded Montclair Kimberley 0-0 through regulation and two overtimes in the state Prep B championship game. The win marked the fifth straight Prep B title for the Panthers, who finished the fall with a 12-6-1 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It has become clear that the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team is evenly matched with Montclair Kimberley Academy.

In 2015, the foes met in the state Prep B title game and PDS pulled out a 1-0 win in overtime.

Last year, the teams had a rematch in the Prep B championship contest and they played to a scoreless tie in a game shortened by thunderstorms.

This past Wednesday, the rivals faced off in round three of their Prep B title trilogy and this time they deadlocked in a scoreless stalemate through regulation and two overtime periods.

PDS head coach Pat Trombetta sensed that the title clash was going to be a tense affair.

“It was a repeat of last year,” said Trombetta, who has now guided the Panthers to five straight Prep B crowns.

“We had some good opportunities. I knew it was a game that was going to be decided by one goal. Every time we play them it is a tough game.”

In earning a share of the title, PDS rode its defense, which was spearheaded by senior star defenders and co-captains Maddie Coyne and Becca Kuzmicz along with sophomore goalie Riley Felsher.

“They played extremely well; I took a look at some of the stats of this season and over the 19 games, we only gave up 16 goals,” noted Trombetta, whose team ended the fall at 12-6-1.

“We gave up less than one goal a game. That is probably the third best defense over my 11 years at PDS so that says a lot about the defense.”

It says a lot about the Panthers that they were able to win a fifth straight Prep B crown.

“For girls soccer, it is the first time ever in the program,” said Trombetta, reflecting on the five-peat.

“That was a goal we were shooting for and we accomplished it. We were happy with that.”

While PDS would have preferred to win the championship outright, Trombetta had no regrets.

“This year, it was a little bit different as far as the championship game because we were the second seed and we had to go up there and play,” said Trombetta.

“They won the Essex County championship; they are a very solid team. I was happy overall with the efforts and proud of their success that we had this season.”

The efforts of senior leaders Coyne and Kuzmicz set the tone for a young Panther squad that included 11 freshmen and six sophomores.

“They are two different personalities but together they were perfect for this team as far as leadership goes,” said Trombetta.

“They took a lot of the younger players under their wings. The younger kids all looked up to them as role models. The kids are going to miss them.”

Those younger kids learned some valuable lessons this season.

“Out of our six losses, five were by one goal,” said Trombetta. “We were in every game. I think the deciding factor is that it was a young team. As they have a little more experience under their belts, those one-goal losses will turn into one-goal wins  down the road.”

Goalie Felsher emerged as a key factor for the Panthers in her first season as a starter.

“Riley grew as a goalie too, she came on strong at the end of the season,” said Trombetta.

“Even though we lost to Pennington (3-0 on October 12), she had some big saves in that game. In the Steinert game (a 1-0 loss in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals on October 21). She had a couple of big saves in the championship game; she had one big save that kept us in it.”

With so much talent returning, Trombetta believes the program can remain in the championship mix.

“We are excited for next year; obviously we are going to have a big hole in the back trying to replace two solid center backs,” said Trombetta.

“That is a void we have to fill but other than that, we are looking forward to next year and the girls are looking forward to next year. The freshman class is a strong class; they will be good for the program down the road.”