FAST START: Princeton Day School field hockey star Andrea Jenkins races up the field in recent action. Senior midfielder/forward Jenkins came up big last week, scoring two goals in a 6-1 win over Stuart Country Day on September 11 before chipping in a goal in a 2-0 triumph over Prep A power Peddie on Thursday and then scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 overtime victory at Hopewell Valley last Saturday. PDS, now 3-0-1, hosts Academy of New Church (Pa.) on September 21 before playing at South Hunterdon on September 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After the Princeton Day School field hockey team generated a total of one goal in three preseason scrimmages and tied Germantown Academy (Pa.) 2-2 in its season opener, Andrea Jenkins sensed that the Panthers were about to break out offensively.

“In practice, we have been working on our movement and cutting,” said senior star Jenkins.

“We have new positioning and tactics so I think us playing with each other the last few days has really helped.”

That work paid dividends last week as the Panthers rolled to a 6-1 win over Stuart Country Day School to earn their first win of the season and the first victory in the PDS tenure of new head coach Tracey Arndt.

“It is a great feeling getting the first win for the new coach,” said Jenkins, who scored two goals in the win on September 11 with junior Emma Quigley chipping in two and Mary Travers and Bian Maloney scoring one apiece. “I think it worked out really well.”

Jenkins’ first tally in the win came on a rush up the side of the field finished off with a blast that rattled off the back of the cage. She displayed her savvy and coolness under fire on her second score which came on a penalty stroke 10 minutes into the second half.

“All my coaches tell me to look to one part of the net and show the goalie you may be going that way and then fake it and go to the other side,” said Jenkins, who kept up her clutch play, scoring a goal in a 2-0 win over Prep A power Peddie on Thursday and then knocking home the game-winner in overtime in a 2-1 victory at Hopewell Valley last Saturday.

“At first it is kind of nerve-wracking but I have gotten used to it from practicing.”

Jenkins has certainly gotten used to playing with junior standout Quigley, who also scored in the victory over HoVal.

“Emma has definitely gotten better from playing club this year,” said Jenkins. “Our passing has gotten smoother than it has been.”

Learning from older sisters Mariel and Sydney, who starred at PDS and are currently playing lacrosse and field hockey, respectively, at Harvard, has helped Jenkins be a better leader.

“I try to follow their lead and give constructive criticism and support,” said Jenkins, who is a tri-captain of the Panthers along with classmates Corinne Urisko and Cami McNeely.

“I feel like there is a lot of responsibility. This is a great group of girls. They are always willing to give their best effort. It is a really great position to be in this year.”

In one respect, though, Jenkins is taking a different path than her sisters, having committed to join the Princeton University field hockey program.

“I decided to go the other way,” said Jenkins, reflecting on her college choice. “It is relieving to be done with the whole process. I am really excited to work with the coach [Kristen Holmes-Winn] there.”

PDS head coach Arndt was excited to get her first triumph of her Panther tenure.

“To win anywhere is great, let alone your first time on your home turf with a great crowd,” said Arndt, a former Penn State All-American and U.S. National Team player, who coached Pennsbury High to a league title and the state tournament during her tenure there from 2006-09. “We won in a strong fashion. They played well, they did what we asked.”

Arndt is pleased with the strong play she is getting from her attacking trio of Jenkins, Quigley, and junior Emily Goldman.

“Between A.J., Emily and Emma, I think they can be lethal because they are very fast and they have stick skills,” said Arndt.

“If we counter attack, the three of them can almost be like a power play in hockey with odd man rushes. Emma and A.J. are doing really great things together. They have been trying to dribble it a little too much. They have really great skill and now they use that skill together.”

PDS has been getting a great effort from its battle-tested back line that features senior defenders Urisko, McNeely, and Zeeza Cole together with senior Sarah Trigg in goal.

“They have been doing really well,” said Arndt. “One thing that has been our focus is team defense as well as marking in the circle. I think if you can be a solid marker, the forwards are going to start getting frustrated. Corinne, Cami, and Zeeza have really stepped up. Their leadership as well as Sarah Trigg’s in the goal is going to be huge for our success. We are going to rely on them.”

While Arndt saw the 6-goal outburst against Stuart as a confidence builder, she was more impressed by the execution than the final numbers.

“Getting six is great but how they are doing it is even better for me,” asserted Arndt, whose team hosts Academy of New Church (Pa.) on September 21 before playing at South Hunterdon on September 24.

“They are listening to what I am saying and they are making the proper changes.”

Jenkins, for her part, believes that PDS has changed for the better under Arndt.

“We have definitely improved since last year,” said Jenkins. “I think if we keep doing the stuff we are doing now, we are going to move up every game. We are going to give it our all and give it our best effort.”