(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: BIG ASSIST: Princeton Day School sophomore field hockey star Sydney Jenkins whacks the ball up the field in recent action. Last Monday, Jenkins chipped in two assists as PDS topped Ranney School 3-0 to improve to 2-3 on the season. In upcoming action, the Panthers play at George School (Pa.) on September 26 and at Blair Academy on September 27.

PDS Field Hockey Plagued by Uneven Play, Needs Battle-Tested Seniors to Take Charge

Bill Alden

In 2007, the Princeton Day School field hockey team stumbled out of the gate to a 0-5 start.

The Panthers, though, righted the ship, going 9-4-1 the rest of the way and advancing to the state Prep and Mercer County semifinals.

Featuring a core of seven battle-tested seniors, PDS figured to build on its late surge and be formidable right from the start this fall.

Instead, the Panthers have been having a discouraging case of déjà vu as they are struggling again in the early going.

Last Saturday, PDS built a 1-0 lead over visiting Ewing on a Courtney Klein goal only to lose 2-1 and fall to 1-3 on the season.

In reflecting on the disappointing loss, longtime PDS head coach Jill Thomas acknowledged that her team isn’t closing the deal.

“We just didn’t finish,” said Thomas softly. “I said it after the Peddie game (a 3-2 loss), we have moments of brilliance. I think you have to learn how to finish, you’ve got to learn how to win.”

After the game, the Panthers held an extended post-game meeting on the hill above Smoyer Field as they thrashed out some issues.

“We had a lot of experienced players talking after the game and saying some good things,” said Thomas, whose team did some good things last Monday when it topped the Ranney School 3-0 as Mariel Jenkins scored twice and Georgia Travers added another. “Now they’ve got to put it on the field.”

The main thing that Thomas is looking at in the short term is a total team effort from the opening whistle to the final horn.

“You have to bring your ‘A’-game everyday; you have to play 60 minutes,” asserted Thomas.

“We were up 1-0 but the game is not over; we played in their offensive end the majority of the game. They wanted it a little bit more; it’s heart and intensity. Kudos to them, they didn’t quit. We just assumed things when we got up; goals are too precious in this game. You can’t get up by one and sit back on your laurels.”

Thomas is cautiously optimistic that this year’s team can emulate the 2007 team’s strong finish.

“We started 0-5 last year, we are 1-3 right now, you have to look at that,” said Thomas, whose team plays at George School (Pa.) on September 26 and at Blair Academy on September 27.

“We’ll see where we go next week. It’s up to them, they have to do it. When you have that many seniors, they have to do some of it. When we all get on the same page, we’ll be alright.”

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Calendar