caption: CLEAN SWEEP: Princeton Day School star sweeper Erin Cook clears the ball in action last fall. Senior co-captain Cook will be quarterbacking the PDS defense this fall as the Panthers look to improve on the 10-8-1 mark they posted last fall. PDS gets its 2008 season underway by hosting Hill on September 10.

After Undergoing Youth Movement Last Fall, Battle-Tested PDS Girls’ Soccer Aiming High

Bill Alden

Last fall, the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team had no choice but to undergo a youth movement.

With only one senior, Alexa Maher, on the team and the roster featuring six freshmen and five sophomores, the Panthers predictably went through some growing pains.

PDS roared out of the gate with a 4-0 record but then hit some bumps in the road as it ended up with a 10-8-1 mark.

As second-year head coach Pat Trombetta looks ahead to the 2008 season, he believes the program will reap the benefits from last fall’s learning experience.

“I’m hoping that they will be more mature,” said Trombetta, whose team opens regular season play on September 10 with a home game against the Hill School. “We have 13 players back who played a lot last year.”

There is an additional comfort level since the players won’t be getting used to a new coach this fall.

“It’s good for me,” said Trombetta, noting that he had coached some of the PDS players in middle school and on the club level. “They know me and I know them. They know what I expect of them.”

Trombetta, for his part, is expecting some leadership and stellar play from his two seniors, defender Erin Cook and forward Cammie Linville.

“They are the two captains,” said Trombetta. “Erin is the quarterback of the defense. As the sweeper, she will run things back there. Linville was our leading scorer last year. She had a transition last year moving up top from the midfield. I think she will pick up things a notch with a year under her belt.”

In assessing his team, Trombetta believes its defense will pick things up a notch with a back-line unit featuring Cook, juniors Marissa Davila and Courtland Lackey together with sophomore Carly O’Brien.

“We have a defense with all returning players; we have a strong back four,” added Trombetta. “They are all very athletic. Lackey will be our stopper; she came into camp in really good shape and should be good.”

PDS should get some very good work at goalie from sophomore standout goalie Jess Frieder.

“I don’t know any player who works harder than Jess does; she trains all year round,” said Trombetta.

“She plays in the ODP program; she is just getting better. She’s already really mature.”

Trombetta is relying on another mature sophomore, Allison Reilly, to lead the way in the midfield for the Panthers.

“Ally Reilly is a very good player,” said Trombetta, who will also be deploying Carly Kliment, Raquel Phillips, Jacqui Stevens, and Allison Frieder in the midfield.

“She will control the middle of the field for us; she can distribute the ball. She sees the field well and is a good ball handler.”

PDS needs its young forwards, juniors Tara Glancey and Caitlin Shannon together with promising freshman Janie Smukler, to be productive with the ball.

“We need to get Cammie help in the scoring column,” said Trombetta.

“She had the most goals and there was a big drop off after that. We need the other girls up top to help her out and find the back of the net.”

If PDS can achieve offensive balance, it should be more consistent this fall.

“Last year we won 10 games, nine in the regular season and one in playoffs,” asserted Trombetta.

“This year we would like to be in double figures in the regular season. We also want to go further in the tournaments. Last year we lost to Robbinsville in Mercer County Tournament in overtime and lost to WW/P-N in the consolation game on penalty kicks on PKS. We went to the semis in the state prep tournament, this year we want to go to the finals.”

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