(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) Z-FACTOR: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer star Paul Zetterberg controls the ball in action last fall as the Panthers won both the Mercer County Tournament and state Prep B titles. Senior defender and tri-captain Zetterberg will be a pivotal player as the Panthers look to defend their crowns. PDS opens its 2011 season by hosting Hillsborough on September 10.

PDS Boys’ Soccer Boasts Skilled Players, But Needs to Recapture Winning Mentality

Bill Alden

While the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team displayed plenty of skill in winning both the Mercer County Tournament and state Prep B titles last fall, it was desire that made the difference in the banner season.

“From the beginning of the year, that group had so many leaders,” said PDS head coach Malcolm Murphy, whose team featured nine seniors as it went 17-2-2 in 2010.

“It was the fact that in their senior year, they wanted to be winners. Psychologically, that overcame everything for them.”

As Murphy looks ahead to the 2011 season, he believes his team has the skill to do well but knows that it has to develop the winning mentality.

“They are a good technical squad, they are a good tactical squad,” said Murphy, whose team opens the season by hosting Hillsborough on September 10.

“The problem that we are going to have is the physical and emotional side of the game and seeing if they are prepared to keep striving to get a result even if they are one or two goals down. Some of the players are small and they have never tested the waters to play against more physically tough players.”

One of PDS’s toughest players, senior tri-captain Rui Pinheiro, figures to anchor the PDS midfield.

“Rui is a very talented player and his brother Marco is a freshman coming in who looks very good,” said Murphy, whose midfield unit will also include senior Brendan Clune.

“We also have Will Cara who has got some good talent but wants to express himself a little too much. We want him to express himself but there are times where tactics suit the group rather than the individual.”

The Panthers should have a good group along the backline, which will be led by senior star and tri-captain Paul Zetterberg and also include senior tri-captain Connor Gibson, freshman Zack Golden, and junior Taran Auslander.

“I think we have a pretty good unit, they are good, aggressive players,” added Murphy.

“They are technically good and they are good in the air. This year, we can play out of the back. Paul really adds to it as one of the central defenders. He has a lot of talent; he is a strong, competent player.”

Newcomer Andrew Mitchell brings a lot of talent to the PDS attack. “Mitchell is a tremendous player; he has a lot of speed and stamina,” said Murphy, who will also be using junior Absnel Esteban at forward.

“Now we have to get the other kids to play at his speed in combinations. He thinks very well so it is how the other guys fit in with him, not how he fits in with them.”

Senior goalie and three-year starter Jacob Eisenberg has proven to be a good fit in the crease area for the Panthers.

“Jacob has shown very well in the preseason so far,” said Murphy who will be using senior Eric Powers as his back-up keeper.

“We had some difficulty last year on crosses and balls coming high into the box. We have recognized that and we are working on that.”

Although his young squad is clearly a work in progress, Murphy believes the team’s passion for the game will fuel improvement as the fall unfolds.

“They will get better and better,” said Murphy. “We are playing just as good a group of opponents this year as we did last year so they are not going to get much of a break from game to game to reflect on things they got wrong. They will be right back into it under pressure. It is probably one of our better soccer-playing groups. They really enjoy playing and knocking the ball around.”

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