MAC ATTACK: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Mackenzie Brodel (No. 7) controls the ball last Thursday against Robbinsville. Junior forward Brodel scored a goal in the game but it was not enough as PDS fell 2-1 to the Ravens. The Panthers, who moved to 0-2-1 with the setback, play at Lawrence High on September 19 before hosting Steinert High on September 21 and Princeton High on September 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Things looked bleak for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team as it trailed Robbinsville 2-0 late in the second half last Thursday but Mackenzie Brodel was not throwing in the towel.

With just over five minutes left in regulation, PDS junior forward Brodel got free on a breakaway and slotted the ball into the back of the net.

“I looked at the clock and there was time for one more so we were pushing,” said Brodel. “I am just happy that we got something on the board.”

The Panthers, though, were unable to get anything else on the board as they fell 2-1 in dropping to 0-2-1.

Brodel acknowledged that it has been a rocky start for PDS as it is coming off winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A state championship last fall.

“This wasn’t our best outcome, coming into the game we thought we had a little bit of an upper hand,” said Brodel. “We are off to a rough start in our season so far, we were hoping to come out a little bit stronger then we did.”

In the first half, PDS generated some chances but couldn’t cash them in as the foes were knotted in a scoreless tie at halftime. Midway through the second half, the Panthers fell behind 2-0 as Robbinsville scored a pair of goals in a seven-minute span.

“We just came off a state championship, we didn’t want to lose,” said Brodel. “They are telling us not to feel pressure but that is always going to be on my shoulders, I feel, coming off of that.”

Having risen through the ranks of the Panther program, Brodel is ready to shoulder more responsibility this fall.

“I have definitely gotten some more minutes, I feel like I have been able to get the ball up the field more now,” said Brodel, who has scored both of PDS’ goals this fall. “I have made some goals so it has been quite an improvement for me.”

Brodel has improved her mental toughness on the pitch. “I just keep going, I used to be like, ‘ow that hurt me,’” said Brodel, who also plays for the Next Level Soccer Academy (NLSA) club program. “Now I am gotta go, I gained some confidence from last year.”

With PDS playing at Lawrence High on September 19 before hosting Steinert High on September 21 and Princeton High on September 24, Brodel is confident that the Panthers can get on the winning track.

“We need to communicate more,” said Brodel. “We have a lot of girls injured so we just need to get a little more healthy. We just have to get over our rough start and have a 0-0 mentality. We have the potential, we just need to get into it.”