READY TO FIGHT: Princeton Day School boys soccer player William Vasquez, right, battles a WW/P-South player for the ball last Friday. Senior forward Vasquez had a goal and an assist to help PDS win 4-1. The Panthers, who lost 3-2 to WW/P-North last Monday to fall to 3-4, will host Peddie School on September 29, Blair Academy on October 2 and Pingry School on October 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
William Vasquez ran to the sidelines with a bloody nose last Friday as the Princeton Day School boys soccer team hosted WW/P-South.
But the senior PDS star smiled as he was treated, having just scored a goal to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
“I had a bloody nose while I was partying there,” Vasquez said.
After edging the Pirates, PDS never looked back to a 4-1 victory.
The Panthers controlled the second half, scoring goals from Theo Capeilleries and Joaquin Rodriguez as they closed the deal.
“We had them in our half and once we scored that third goal, we kept going,” Vasquez said.
“We have learned from past experiences that we cannot give up, even if it is 3-1 or 4-1. We have to play like it’s 0-0 every time.
It took PDS a while to get going as they fell behind 1-0 three minutes into the contest.
“When we were down to zero, we just had to keep our heads up and keep going,” Vasquez said. “Once we scored that first goal, we started playing well.”
Vasquez helped the Panthers score that first goal, sending a ball into the box that Todd Devin headed into the back of the net with 19:11 left in the half.
“I thought Milan (Shah) made a great play on that,” Vasquez said. “He gave it to me and I saw Todd at the far post. I had to give it to him.
With just under four minutes left in the half, Vasquez dribbled past WW/P-Sud defenders and fired a low volley past the Pirates goalkeeper.
“I beat him, then I beat him again,” Vasquez said of the Pirate defender.
“I knew I had to put it on my right foot because it’s my strong foot and I just put it on the bottom left to finish it. It was a great moment.
That total gave Vasquez his second straight big game as he also had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Lawrenceville on September 22.
“I think it’s just about changing positions,” Vasquez said, reflecting on his recent surge.
“At first I was on the left side then he put me as a striker. I think just changing myself is what’s working for me right now.
First-year PDS head coach Brian Thomsen likes what he sees from Vasquez.
“He’s having a good week, he hit a goal in the first two minutes against Lawrenceville,” Thomsen said.
“Then he was fouled in the box, took a penalty and you could see his energy change. A confident player is a confident player.
The team’s confident play against the Pirates was the result of hard work.
“We talked about it all week, just to change the mentality a little bit,” Thomsen said.
“If we don’t have a good mentality and we don’t want to work hard and we don’t want to win 50/50 balls and we don’t know what to do all the little things that win games, then we’re I won’t be successful.”
PDS showed this mentality by achieving victory. “We talked about it at halftime, that we had to play with confidence,” Thomsen said. “We need to score the third goal to open the game a little.”
In addition to Vasquez, junior goalkeeper John Mazzarisi, senior defender Connor Topping and junior midfielder Rodriguez also had big games in the win.
“John played amazing in front of goal, Connor played fantastic,” Thomsen said.
“I thought with Joaquin, once we moved him back to central defensive midfield, he really controlled the pace of the game, which is incredible.”
Thomsen likes the spirit he sees in his players during his first year at the helm of the program.
“The boys are enjoying the season, so it’s going to be good,” said Thomsen, whose team lost 3-2 to WW/P-North last Monday to fall to 3-4 and will host Peddie School on September 29 at Blair Academy. on October 2 and the Pingry school on October 5.
Vasquez, for his part, enjoys playing for Thomsen. “I love coach BT, he talks to us and tells us what we’re supposed to do and he’s smart with his decisions, what side we should be on and everything,” Vasquez said.
“I feel like we communicate better, there’s better chemistry by far. I’m excited.”
