IN CONTROL: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Kelly Christie, right, goes after a ground ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior star Christie tallied four goals and two assists and scooped up 11 draw controls to help fifth-seeded PDS top 12th-seeded Newark Academy 19-7 in the first round of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tournament. The Panthers, now 15-5, will play at fourth-seeded Saddle River Day on May 30 in a quarterfinal contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Kelly Christie beamed with a large chain draped around her neck after the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team defeated Newark Academy 19-7 last Thursday in the first round of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tournament.

Senior attacker/midfielder Christie was awarded the chain in the PDS postgame huddle in recognition of her gritty play in the victory

“It is either you had a really good moment or you played consistently,” said Christie, explaining the honor. “We don’t really say like MVP, it is just like whoever worked really hard basically.”

In the win over Newark Academy, Christie worked hard all over the field, scooping up 11 draw controls to go along with four goals and two assists. The Panthers, now 15-5, will play at fourth-seeded Saddle River Day on May 30 in a quarterfinal contest.

With PDS coming off an 18-9 loss to Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Prep B state final last Wednesday, Christie was determined to be a force in the draw circle against Newark Academy.

“Yesterday’s game was really competitive, the draw determined the game who had possession and who wasn’t able to go to goal,” said Christie. “That put a fire underneath me today. I was very eager to get the draw. It is all about the first step, I felt comfortable setting up today. The draw was more consistent today then yesterday. Tessa [Caputo] did a really good job placing it. When it didn’t, we would switch it around and Ava [Fairbanks] was on the draw for a while. They did a really good job placing it.”

The Panthers did a good job of bouncing back from the loss to MKA they pulled away from Newark Academy.

“We were really excited to have another game to get that feel back for us,” said Christie. “We played hard yesterday. The weather was tough, it was really hot and we felt beat. We did put all of our effort out there yesterday. To be able to do that again today and come out with a win in the state tournament was pretty awesome for our team morale.”

The PDS team morale took a hit in the Newark Academy game when senior star Jesse Hollander went down with a leg injury early in the second quarter and was unable to return to the contest. Rising to the occasion, the Panthers outscored the Minutemen 9-1 in the period to build a 14-3 halftime lead.

“We definitely needed to fill Jesse’s shoes, she plays a big part on the attack,” said Christie. “A game like today is also good because nobody needs to carry the offense. It felt very balanced on attack. It didn’t feel like one person had to keep driving and looking at the goal because we have a lot of talented attackers. Everybody was getting in; Shelby [Ruf], Tessa, Ava, and Lucy [McKee] all had goals.”

Christie got into the act on attack, tallying two goals and one assist in the second quarter.

“I did get a little bit of time around the cage in the second quarter and the second half,” said a smiling Christie. “I got a goal or two, which always makes me happy. Being able to see my teammates do the same is just as rewarding.”

It was particularly rewarding for Christie to help PDS get a win in her last game on Smoyer Field.

“I would say a last win on Smoyer is pretty amazing, I was even emotional when they dug up Smoyer last year and put in a new turf,” said Christie. “The fact that I am leaving this field is emotional, so being able to come out with a win was pretty rewarding. I am going to miss this place a lot. Luckily we have practice next week here so I am not saying goodbye forever yet.”

Over the years, Christie has developed some amazing bonds with her fellow seniors Maddy Flory, Adriana Salzano, Katie Zarish-Yasunas, Caputo, and Hollander.

“We cemented this year; I catch myself relying on the seniors on this team with every minute of every game,” said Christie. “It is Maddy and Dre (Salzano) on the defense, Tessa on the attack or midfield, and having Jesse there as well. I rely on every single one. Katie is the most consistent player on the team. She is always there and someone to rely on.”

The squad’s senior group was there for each other in their final campaign for the program.

“We miss our seniors every year after losing such powerful people last year, like Arden [Bogle], Sophie [Jaffe], and Paige [Gardner]. I think we were a little worried,” said Christie. “But to be able to see us all come together with a new coach this past year has been the most rewarding of all of my time here.”

PDS first-year head coach Lucia Marcozzi liked the way her squad rebounded from its loss in the Prep B final.

“I wanted them to be back-to-back games,” said Marcozzi. “We have a small bench but we didn’t really need the rest, we need the momentum. It was great for us, I think the girls had a lot of fun today.”

With the Panthers getting off to sluggish start as they figured out the Minutemen defense, it was fun for Marcozzi to see her squad produce the 9-1 second quarter outburst.

“It looked like in a backer, we haven’t seen that since the Notre Dame game,” said Marcozzi. “Recognizing that took a bit — we were on our heels and probably a little tired. Once we turned it on, we did a really good job.”

The injury to Hollander served to inspire PDS to turn on the offense.

“Jesse is a tough kid; she is great, she is a captain, she is a leader and she is going to play at the next level,” said Marcozzi of Hollander, who is heading to Wesleyan University where she will be playing for its women’s lacrosse program. “She has so much going for her. Seeing that, the girls felt a little shaken. They kept playing for her which was great. That is all they could do.”

The Panther defense played well, holding Newark Academy to five goals through three periods.

“Maddy has really been stepping up, Cass [Salas] has been stepping up,” said Marcozzi. “Dre Salzano has been doing so well, really putting her all into it. After this she is going to play soccer at Monmouth. For her, this is just fun. It is another way to work hard.”

With starting goalie Grace Ulrich currently sidelined by illness, Marcozzi urged her defensive unit to step up.

“When Grace went out, we got our defense together and said, ‘You are the ones who are going to stop the ball from going into the back of the net,’” said Marcozzi. “Our goalie now is Charlotte Miller. She is a junior and is a defender. She said, ‘I will jump in, I have never done it.’ She is doing a great job, she is positive. She knows how to talk through things. She is a great presence in the goal, she is a having a lot of fun.”

Christie has given the Panthers a positive presence all season.

“Kelly is the hungriest girl,” said Marcozzi of Christie, who has a team-high 73 draw controls and has tallied 46 goals and 22 assists this season. “She is one of the only players I have ever coached that when she is frustrated, she literally channels it into doing the right thing. Usually, it is the opposite. She is so disciplined. She had a great game today. She is going to be a huge asset for us going forward in this tournament.”

The high-scoring Caputo has been a key asset for the PDS attack and led the way against Newark Academy, tallying five goals and four assists in the win.

“Tessa keeps raising the bar for Princeton Day lacrosse,” said Marcozzi of Fairfield commit Caputo, who holds program career records in goals (272) and points (432). “Whoever has to break the record next, I feel bad for because she has shattered it. She is hungry, she wants to keep doing it. She wants to leave her legacy here. That is super important to her. They are a big PDS family, her brothers went here. She wants to leave her name here and I think she has done it. I hope she gets all of the awards that she deserves at the end of the year.”

The team’s senior group is leaving a special legacy collectively.

“They are special, there are six of them,” said Marcozzi. “They lead every side of our field. Our attack is senior heavy, our midfield is senior heavy and our defense is senior heavy. We are going to have some holes when they are gone. I hope they really enjoy this tournament and have fun.”

Marcozzi believes that PDS can make a deep run in the Non-Public tournament.

“Coming off a loss like yesterday, it is easy to be like do I want to keep doing this but I think in a game like today they had fun and hopefully we can channel that into next week,” said Marcozzi. “Saddle River Day will be a really even matched game — they are very similar to how we play. I think it will be a really good game. We can get past them if we keep this focus.”
Christie, for her part, is confident that the Panthers will maintain that focus.

“I think the way we support each other is very special,” said Christie, who is headed to Pitt where she is planning to play club sports. “We have the skill, we have the players, and we definitely have the grit. Being able to keep our heads straight and keep the right mindset will get us there.”