BE SEEN: Princeton Day School boys soccer player Yaseen Mousa, right, dribbles the ball during recent action. Last Wednesday, senior star Mousa scored two goals as PDS tied Moorestown Friends 2-2. The Panthers, who lost 2-0 to Steinert last Monday to improve to 0-8-1, will host Trenton on Oct. 6, play at Hopewell Valley on Oct. 7 and host WW/P-South on Oct. 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Despite a frustrating start to the fall that saw them lose their first seven games and score just one goal in the process, the Princeton Day School boys soccer team brought plenty of energy to the field as they hosted the Moorestown Friends last Wednesday.
“It was tough, so we tried to get the boys to come out and get the win,” PDS senior star Yaseen Mousa said.
“That was our first goal in mind. Winning is the most important thing, that’s what we were trying to do.
After the teams battled to a goalless draw in the first half, Mousa scored the first goal of the competition with 33:47 left in regulation.
“My coach (Brian Thomsen) was telling me to get the ball behind,” said Mousa, who scored the team’s other goal this season in a 4-1 loss to Life Center Academy on Sept. 26. that long ball from Todd (Devin) and then I saw it and it was bouncing, so I just hit it once and it went in the goal.
A minute later, Mousa struck again, finding the back of the net on another run up the field as PDS led 2-0.
“After that first goal, it was fun to celebrate with the team,” Mousa said. “I had to take the other one, it was great.”
But it was Moorestown Friends who were able to celebrate down the stretch, scoring two unanswered goals in the final 9:14 of the second half as they forced overtime.
“It was very annoying, it’s our fault,” said Mousa, who became angry after the Foxes’ second goal scored in the final seconds of regulation, drawing a red card. “This whole regular season is a learning experience for us so once we get into the state tournament, if this scenario happens again, we won’t give up the lead.”
Playing a man down, PDS held off Morristown Friends to earn a 2-2 draw, showing progress despite lacking that first victory.
“Yesterday was the first time we scored a goal this season, now we scored two today,” Mousa said. “We will build on this foundation and hopefully we will be successful in the future.”
In order to help PDS succeed, Mousa is ready to use his versatility.
“I can play anywhere, last year I was playing at the top and in my club team I’m playing at the top,” Mousa said. “Wherever I’m needed, I’ll play.”
PDS assistant coach Bonniwell “BG” Graham felt the team was poised to win as they took on Moorestown Friends.
“I feel like we played our best three games of the entire season today,” Graham said. “We had a little problem yesterday (the 4-1 loss to Life Center Academy), but Saturday was a good game (a 1-0 loss to undefeated Princeton High). Last week the guys had a great week of practice and I felt like they were turning a corner. The fact that we could score one goal yesterday and we could score two goals today, that’s more goals than we’ve scored all year.
With the teams tied in a goalless draw at halftime, Graham thought the Panthers had the momentum.
“Today, at the start of the game, we went into a completely different formation and put some guys in different positions,” Graham said. “We put Yaseen in the lead. We did it yesterday because we realized that we cannot continue to defend without scoring.
Mousa’s play up front made the difference. “He’s sitting on a double and I was surprised he didn’t get that hat trick,” Graham said. “As a senior, he gives us all his effort and all his heart. He can play anywhere. He’s a player. I don’t know where we would be without him.
Junior goalkeeper Oren Yakoby kept PDS in the game with some dazzling saves.
“Oren is hands down one of the best goalies in the league,” Graham said. “We’ll be able to get it back next year.” We could have lost this game without the saves he made. There was a wide open breakaway that he was able to stop.
Junior midfielder Todd Devin also showed his game against the Foxes, battling hard in the midfield throughout the contest.
“Todd is always solid, there’s never a game where he’s not the solid warrior we need,” Graham said.
Graham is confident the Panthers can produce a solid game collectively as they move down the stretch.
“It’s a building block, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were we,” Graham said of the team that lost 2-0 to Steinert last Monday to move to 0 -8-1 and will host Trenton on October 6. , play Hopewell Valley on October 7 and host WW/P-South on October 9.
“Guys are starting to step into the roles we need. As long as we move forward and progress instead of regressing, I think everything will be the limit. »
Mousa, for his part, believes that the PDS is going in the right direction.
“We have to stay focused and in every match we have to give 110 percent,” Mousa said. “We just have to stay locked in, no matter who we face. »
