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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Undeterred by Void Left Through Graduation, PDS Girls' Soccer Expects Another Big Season
By Bill Alden
It would be understandable if Princeton Day School girls' soccer coach Ted Harrington looked at the upcoming season as a time of transition for his program.
After all, he comes into the fall having lost a core of five players to graduation who ended their careers in style by sparking the Panthers to a gaudy 15-4 mark last fall.
While acknowledging the void left by the departure of stalwarts Lauren Hinkel, Kristina Costa, Meg Kerwin, Kristin Modzelewski, and Cat Tomasulo, the fifth-year coach believes it will be business as usual for his powerful program.
"My expectations are pretty high," said Harrington. "I don't expect us to take a step backward. We'll be competitive with anyone. I think we will be one of the top teams in the area again."
Harrington's confidence is bolstered by how his 11 returners have performed so far in preseason camp. "Everybody came back better than they were at the end of last year," asserted Harrington. "They all worked hard on their games. They are excited to get the season started."
Harrington is excited to see how his pair of productive juniors, Keely Langdon and Ashley Chappo, fare up front this season. "Keely will play striker," said Harrington. "She's a workhorse, she's all over the field. Chappo is looking good."
In the midfield, PDS boasts such solid performers as senior Ellen Cook, junior Alexis Maher, and sophomore Alicia Siani.
The Panthers have two battle-hardened seniors at the center of their back line in Mary Peters and Jessica Cellars. "Mary is a four-year starter," said Harrington, who noted that freshman Erin Cook has played her way into a spot on the PDS defense. "She knows what we want to do in the back. Jessica and Mary played well together, they are a solid pair."
PDS also boasts a solid goalie in junior Maddie Ferguson, who has benefitted from the experience she gained last year in her first season starting in the net. "Maddie is a year older and a year better," maintained Harrington. "Last year she was finding her way, she was not sure of her position. She is much more confident this year."
Playing in the formidable Prep A, Harrington knows that his club will need to develop some resolve to go with its reservoir of talent.
"The key is how the team responds to adversity," said Harrington, whose club kicks off its 2005 campaign by playing Ewing at Moody Park on September 10 and then hosting Timothy Christian on September 12.
"When we're down 1-0, we'll have to see who steps up. We're going to be in a lot of one-goal games. It's a tough division. We showed last year that we're capable of winning against any team we play."
