(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: ROCK SOLID: Princeton Day School midfielder Raquel Phillips dribbles up the field in a game last season. Last Thursday, Phillips chipped in a goal as PDS opened its season with a 6-0 win over Academy of New Church. The Panthers, the defending state Prep B champions, went on to blank the Solebury School 3-0 last Monday to improve to 2-0 on the season. PDS will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at Hill on September 16 and at Hun on September 22.

PDS Girls’ Soccer Seizing Opportunity as It Begins Defense of Prep B Crown

Bill Alden

Pat Trombetta has dubbed this fall as the “season of opportunity” for his Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team.

After an inspiring run last fall to the state Prep B championship spearheaded by senior stars Erin Cook and Cammie Linville, PDS head coach Trombetta is looking for some of the program’s supporting players to take a leading role.

“The experience we bring back is good; we have talent,” said Trombetta, whose team posted a 15-5 mark in 2008.

“The role players last year will be getting big minutes. We need some of them to step up.”

In its 2009 season opener last Thursday against Academy of New Church, a lot of those players got into the act as PDS cruised to a 6-0 victory.

The goals came from six different players with Marissa Davila, Caitlin Shannon, Ali Frieder, Raquel Phillips, Laila Razzaghi, and Emily Jaeckel all finding the back of the net.

While Trombetta is looking for balance, he sees sophomore Janie Smukler as the team’s go-to player up front. 

“With Linville gone, there is a lot of weight on Janie’s shoulders,” said Trombetta, whose team topped the Solebury School 3-0 last Monday to improve to 2-0.

“Teams keyed on Cammie last year and that opened some things up for Janie. Teams will be keying on Janie this year. She’s just a great athlete. She is a great basketball player as well as a great soccer player.”

Trombetta will mix things up tactically in an effort to get Smukler some space up front.

“We are looking at different formations; we may use a 4-4-2 or we may use a 3-4-3,” said Trombetta, whose team will look to keep on the winning track when they play at Hill on September 16 and at Hun on September 22.

“We are evaluating players at the position; it may depend on the opponents. Shannon is in the mix; she brings speed and strength.”

In the midfield, Trombetta believes juniors Carly Kliment and Ali Frieder can provide strength.

“Kliment will see a lot of time in center midfield,” said Trombetta, who will also utilize senior Phillips together with junior Jacqui Stevens and Jaeckel in the middle of the field. “Ali Frieder can play defensive midfield.”

The defense will feature three seniors who have proven they can play in Davila, Tara Glancey, and Courtland Lackey. “ít is good to have three seniors in the back,” said Trombetta.

It is very good for PDS to have battle-tested junior goalie Jess Frieder as its last line of defense. 

“Jess is great,” said Trombetta of the keeper who has started every game since day one freshman year. She is very experienced; she can keep the score down on her own.”

In Trombetta’s view, the experience of winning the Prep B title has given his 13 returning players confidence as they face the battles ahead this fall. 

“I think we are going to be OK; we will need to make some adjustments,” said Trombetta.

“They are going into the season real loose. I told them that they have targets on their backs and they won’t sneak up on anybody. They don’t seem to be worried about that.”

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