BEING SEEN: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Yaseen Mousa, right, dribbles the ball in recent action. Last Wednesday, senior star Mousa scored two goals as PDS tied Moorestown Friends 2-2. The Panthers, who fell 2-0 to Steinert last Monday to move to 0-8-1, host Trenton on October 6, play at Hopewell Valley on October 7, and host WW/P-South on October 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Despite getting off to a frustrating start this fall that saw it lose its first seven games and score only one goal in the process, the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team brought plenty of energy to the pitch as it hosted Moorestown Friends last Wednesday.

“It has been tough so we tried hyping up the boys to come out and get a win,” said PDS senior star Yaseen Mousa.

“That was our first goal in mind. Getting the win is the most important thing, that is what we were trying to do.”

After the teams battled to a scoreless draw in the first half, Mousa got the first goal of the contest with 33:47 left in regulation.

“My coach (Brian Thomsen) was telling me to call for the ball in behind,” said Mousa, who has scored the team’s other goal this season in a 4-1 loss to Life Center Academy on September 26. “I was waiting for that long ball from Todd [Devin] and then I saw that and it was bouncing, so I just hit it one time and it got into the goal.”

A minute later, Mousa struck again, finding the back of the net on another run down the field as PDS went up 2-0.

“After that first goal, it was fun celebrating with the team,” said Mousa. “I had to get the other one, that was great.”

But it was Moorestown Friends who got to celebrate down the stretch, scoring two unanswered goals in the last 9:14 of the second half as they forced overtime.

“It was very annoying, that is on us,” said Mousa, who got annoyed after the second Foxes goal that came in the waning seconds of regulation, drawing a red card. “This whole regular season is a learning experience for us so once we get into the state tournament, if this scenario happens again, we won’t give up the lead.”

Playing a man down, PDS held off Morristown Friends to earn a 2-2 draw, showing progress despite not getting that first win.

“Yesterday was the first time we had scored a goal this season, now that we had two today,” said Mousa. “We are going to build on it and hopefully we will be successful in the future.”

In order to help PDS be successful, Mousa is ready to use his versatility.

“I can play anywhere, last year I was playing up top and on my club team I play up top,” said Mousa. “Wherever I am needed, I go and play.”

PDS assistant coach Bonniwell “BG” Graham felt that the squad was on the verge of a win as it took on Moorestown Friends.

“I feel like we have played our best three games all season coming into today,” said Graham. “We hit a little blip yesterday (the 4-1 loss to Life Center Academy), but Saturday was a good game (a 1-0 loss to undefeated Princeton High). Last week, the guys had a great week of practice and I felt like they were turning the corner. Us being able to get a goal yesterday and us being able to get two goals today, that is more goals than we scored the whole year.”

While the teams were knotted in a scoreless draw at halftime, Graham believed that the Panthers had the momentum.

“Today in the beginning of the game we came out with a completely different formation and put some guys in different positions,” said Graham. “We put Yaseen up front. We did that yesterday because we realized that we can’t continue to defend without scoring.”

Mousa’s play up front made a difference. “He is sitting on a brace and I was surprised that he didn’t get that hat trick,” said Graham. “As a senior, he is giving us all effort and all heart. He can play everywhere. He is a gamer. I am not sure where we would be without him.”

Junior goalie Oren Yakoby kept PDS in the game with some dazzling saves.

“Oren is one of the best keepers in the league hands down,” said Graham. “We are going to be able to get him back next year. We could have lost that game without the saves he made. There was one wide-open breakaway which he was able to stop.”

Junior midfielder Todd Devin showed his game as well against the Foxes, battling hard in the midfield throughout the contest.

“Todd is always solid, there is never a game where he is not the solid warrior that we need,” said Graham.

Graham is confident the Panthers can produce some solid play collectively as they head down the stretch.

“This is a building block, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are we,” said Graham of the squad that fell 2-0 to Steinert last Monday to move to 0-8-1 and will host Trenton on October 6, play at Hopewell Valley on October 7, and host WW/P-South on October 9.

“Guys are starting to step up into the roles that we need them to. As long as we are going forward and making progress as opposed to regressing, I think the sky is going to be the limit.”

Mousa, for his part, believes PDS is going in the right direction.

“We have to stay focused and in every game we have to give it 110 percent,” said Mousa. “We just have to stay locked in, no matter who we are facing.”