RUF AND TOUGH: Kirsten Ruf, a Princeton Day School girls soccer player, left, battles a hun player for the ball in action last season. Senior defender Ruf emerges as a pillar of the PDS defense this fall. The Panthers kick off their 2022 season by hosting Peddie on September 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
As Chris Pettit begins his second season at the helm of the Princeton Day School girls soccer team, he believes greater familiarity will breed success.
“I think personality-wise there’s a better understanding on both sides and game-wise as well,” said Pettit, who guided PDS to an 8-8-1 record last fall in of his first campaign. “There is a better awareness and understanding of how we are going to play this year. This has made things easier because it’s more integrated, allowing them to appreciate and understand what we do. I hope this year we can pick up more or less where we left off.
Pettit will count on his returning players to help him integrate a large group of newcomers into the program.
“We have 12 freshmen, so none of these players have been through this before; that’s probably 50 percent of our team,” said Pettit, whose team kicks off its 2022 season by hosting Peddie on Sept. 8. “We’re quite young and inexperienced, so it’s definitely been one of the usual learning curves. They’ve simply never done anything this intensive before. The club takes place every other day where this pre-season takes place every day.
Senior star forward Grace Romano brings experience and skills to the team, having led the PDS in scoring last season with 15 goals and four assists.
“Grace is good, she’s become a senior leader,” Pettit said, noting that junior Abby Weed (3 goals, 2 assists in 2021) will also see time at forward. “She scored quite a few goals last year and will hopefully be a real weapon for us in terms of goals. I would like to see her improve her assists. Going north with those two numbers would obviously be good for her and for the leadership.
Another player expected to put up some numbers this fall is junior Adriana Salzano (13 goals, 2 assists).
“Hopefully Adriana will be in and around the goals and assists; our intention is to put her in these dangerous positions and get the best out of her,” Pettit said. “She has certainly progressed technically. The most important thing about Adriana is that she has matured a lot compared to last year. I hope she has a better mental understanding of how to play the game, controlling herself and her teammates throughout the game rather than letting other factors influence how she plays. If she does this, she will do much better numbers-wise and, more importantly, everyone around her will be much better off. That’s how good she is.
Two freshmen, Mackenzie Brodel and Ella McLaren, should help the Panthers improve this fall.
“Mackenzie is more of a central forward who likes to keep the ball and pairs well with the attackers underneath,” Pettit said. “I hope big things from Ella. She already has the physical size and athleticism to handle high school, something not all freshmen have. She also has the technical ability as well as the understanding of the game. I hope she will really be someone who will provide us with defensive protection and allow us to control matches. I expect her to contribute with some goals and assists as well.
In midfield, sophomore Sophia Zhou (1 assist) and freshman Julia Hartman should contribute with good play.
“Sophia was a little surprise last year, she played a lot and she did very well,” Pettit said. “We are looking for it to develop a little more. She is very easy with the ball. She passes people with the ball at her feet to create space rather than moving to get it. I like the fact that there is a little difference compared to our other players. Jules will be in midfield and play a few key minutes. She will have to evolve into the pace and physicality of the high school game. Technically, she has it figured out and she certainly understands the game.”
Two talented veterans, junior Tochi Owunna and senior Kirsten Ruf, will spearhead the Panthers’ back line.
“Tochi looks good, she was able to have a full preseason,” Pettit said. “She was phenomenal last year, we’ll probably use her in the center although there may be times where we move her outside. Between her and Ruf in central defense they’re a pretty good platform- defensive shape. They are both very good with the ball. I give them the freedom to go and get involved in the play, not both at the same time. That means they are the extra man, they are not not recovered. Provided they do it at the right time and in a controlled manner, it’s good for the team and dangerous for the opposition. They will be the mainstays there.
On the wings, sophomore Reese Overman and junior Jenn Lightman will cover Owunna and Ruf.
“Reese played a lot last year, she was relatively unknown and she did well,” Pettit said. “I hope that now that she has another year under her belt, she will be able to maintain the level from last year and move forward a little bit. Jenn, who has played extensively at left back, is a returning junior. The bottom four are reasonably intact from last year.
Another newcomer, freshman Emma Burns, will add class to the final four.
“Emma is technically very, very good, she has some of the best technical skills on the team,” Pettit said. “Her understanding and awareness is very good and she is excellent with the ball. The question is: can it handle physical nature? I expect with her being so good with the other two, she’ll get over this.
Sophomore Shelby Ruf plays the starting goalie position after playing primarily defense last fall.
“Shelby is tall, athletic and physical; she’s an outstanding lacrosse player,” Pettit said, noting that last year’s starter, Jess Hollander, will compete for the PDS cross country team this fall. “His hand-eye coordination is very good from the lacrosse work. Obviously, the learning curve will be steep for her. She actually finished the season for us in goal because Jess broke her foot. We played a few state tournament games with Shelby in goal and she did well without any training. One of the big advantages for us with Shelby is that she was a field player. She played in central defense and midfield last year, so we use her as an outfield player. She can be that 11th player; This is a big bonus for us, especially since we are going to be a possession-oriented team.
In order to have a big season, the Panthers must take advantage of this possession.
“It has to click in front of goal; Last year we had a few games where we scored a lot of goals, but then we had a lot of games where we didn’t create as many chances as we should and then we missed the chances we planes created,” Pettit said.
“Hopefully this year we will have a better understanding and composure in and around the final third. Now that the players will know a little more about the schemes, the formation and everything else, I hope we can create more opportunities. If we can do this, we will be in much better shape.
Either way, PDS seems like a team that can become something special.
“We’re a very young and inexperienced team, so we’re going to have to get lucky with injuries,” Pettit said. “Last year, at the crucial time of the season, Ali Surace broke his foot and Jess broke her foot. If everyone stays fit and healthy and the freshmen do really well, hopefully we can be stronger than last year. Hopefully we’ll get off to a quick start and good things can start happening. Growth becomes much easier than if you had lost five or six to begin with.
