BALLHAWK: Adriana Salzano, left, controls the ball in a game last fall during her senior season for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team. Salzano, who helped PDS win the first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A title in program history in 2023, is currently in preseason training with the Monmouth University women’s soccer team. She is looking to make an immediate impact when the Hawks play at Temple on August 15 in their season opener. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Adriana Salzano emerged as a star right away during freshmen season for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team in 2020, scoring a team-high nine goals as the Panthers went 10-1 in a season curtailed by COVID-19 concerns.

This fall, Salzano is aiming to be a major contributor from the outset as she starts her career with the Monmouth University women’s soccer team.

“I definitely want to come in there and make an impact as early as possible just like I did in my freshman year in high school,” said Salzano, who started preseason training earlier this month as the Hawks prepare for their season opener at Temple on August 15. “I went into PDS, I had a goal to start and help the team in any way that I could. That is my same goal for Monmouth. Another big one is that I want to be the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) Rookie of the Year. I know it is a big one to reach for but if I work hard, there is no limit to that.”

Salzano helped PDS make history this past fall as it won the first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A title in program history, topping Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the final.

In Salzano’s view, a 2-1 regular season loss to Notre Dame in early October proved to be a turning point for the squad which featured a number of freshmen and sophomores.

“That loss told us either you are going to go down from here or you are going to fight back, bounce back and go up,” said Salzano. “We chose to go up. I told the team the amount of potential that this group has this season is like nothing I have seen before. It is just a confidence thing. It is Chris [head coach Chris Pettit] putting his trust in them and saying I know you have got this and those younger players getting the approval from the seniors and the upperclassmen. The chemistry was in the group, that is what really boosted their confidence and that is what made them so comfortable on the field. It made them able to perform and do what they did.”

After tough losses in Mercer County Tournament and Prep state tourney, PDS saved its best for last in the Non-Public tourney, topping Donovan Catholic, Mount St, Mary, St. John Vianney, and Trinity Hall on the way to the title game.

“Going into that final game I just remember as I got off the bus I was reading a note on my phone from my grandfather who passed away a couple of years ago,” recalled Salzano. “He said, ‘I am never going to be able to get to see you at that age’ and whatever. Reading that was like I want to go out there and I want to do this for him. I want to make this such a memorable night.”

For Salzano, it was a perfect memory to culminate her time with the PDS program.

“I would definitely say it all fell into place in my high school soccer career, I don’t think I would ask for it to be any different,” said Salzano, who tallied 17 goals and four assists last fall as PDS went 17-2-3. “My soccer career at PDS has definitely been an unforgettable one with all of the memories I have made with the girls, winning games and winning championships. That is something that I will never, ever forget.”

While Salzano gave her all to PDS, she had been eyeing a college career since she was a grade schooler.

“Ever since I found out that playing sports in college was a thing, I want to say I was 6, 7 years old,” said Salzano, “I knew I wanted to play at the Division I level at such a young age. I have relatives who have played in college, I have had pro athletes in my family. I wanted to carry on that legacy of being a Division I athlete, the first one in my immediate family but another one coming from Salzanos.”

As her recruiting process began before her junior year, Salzano suddenly had lot of options at the next level.

“When June 15 hit, a lot of schools reached out to me, from the north, from the south, from the East Coast and the West Coast,” said Salzano. “It is a great feeling but then you just got into junior year and you are like, ‘Oh my God, I am about to choose a college.’ There is a lot that goes into it, the program, the location, the campus, the coach, the team, the history behind the program.”

While Salzano considered such schools as Michigan, Alabama, and Richmond, she ended up deciding that going to Monmouth and remaining in the Garden State was the best fit for her.

“In the end of my process, I said to myself, ‘I want to stay close to home,’” said Salzano. “For me, I just see a pull with Monmouth with the campus, the coaches, and the history of the program. Kylee Flynn became the head coach last season and she is making it a powerhouse program. She is a wonderful coach.”

As Salzano started preparing for college, she took up a new sport this spring, joining the PDS lacrosse team.

“I learned new skills,” said Salzano, who had starred for the Panther softball team before the program was discontinued this spring. “There were literally no subs, there were games where I didn’t come out. We ran fitness every day and what I loved about it was that some of the fitness tests that Lucia [Marcozzi] had us do were the exact same that Monmouth does in their preseason.”

In addition, Salzano played club soccer for PDS South into the middle of May and then did a conditioning program run by the club’s director of coaching.

As Salzano went through the summer, she honed in on Monmouth’s fitness program.

“We have an app that we all downloaded in May, we are on day 70 of the packet,” said Salzano. “We have been training with conditioning, ball work, and lifts. We lift twice a week. I don’t think I have taken an off day although I have rested.”

When Salzano isn’t training, she has been bonding with her new teammates.

“We all stay in touch,” said Salzano. “We do have a group chat and individually we all snap each other. As for the class that I am going in with, we are all definitely close already. We all met at soccer games at Monmouth in the fall.”

As for her individual role this fall, Salzano is ready to play wherever the team needs her.

“They are thinking in the midfield area so center attacking midfielder or center defensive midfielder,” said Salzano. “I am probably one of the tallest on the team, I am 5’10. Kylee said your height can definitely be used at times when we are in a game and we are trying to hold a lead at center back. She said that would be another spot for you too. I have played back there before. I am familiar with any one of those three spots.”

While Salzano is heading into an unfamiliar situation as she adjusts to college on and off the field, she sees herself in a good spot.

“I am just really excited to get there, start playing, and improve at things,” said Salzano. “This is the first time I will be away from home for a while, that is something I am thinking about in the back of my mind. It is going to be good that I am surrounded by people all the time.”