SWEEPING UP: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Stef Soltesz controls the ball in her role as sweeper. Last week, senior standout and Gettysburg College-bound Soltesz helped key a solid defensive effort as PDS battled the George School (Pa.) to a scoreless draw through two overtimes. The Panthers, who improved to 1-1-1 with a 1-0 win over Abington Friends (Pa.) last Friday, play at the Hun School on September 18 and at the Peddie School on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

A stingy defense was the calling card for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team last fall as it won the Mercer County Tournament.

With star defenders Lilly Razzaghi and Brit Murray having been lost to graduation from a unit that only yielded six goals last season, senior sweeper Stef Soltesz is looking to hold the fort on the backline this fall.

“I think I need to be loud, positive, and support my team,” said Soltesz. “I need to make sure that I am doing everything I can to help myself improve.”

After PDS battled the George School (Pa.) to a scoreless draw through two overtimes last week, Soltesz believes the team’s defensive unit is showing improvement this fall.

“I think Isabel Meyercord and Erin Hogan are really great in the back, they have both stepped up big time,” asserted Soltesz. “Grace [Barbara], our goalie, is amazing.”

In the tie with George, the Panthers stepped up in the latter stages of the contest, putting intense pressure on the Cougars, just missing goals as a free kick hit a post late in regulation and a chance in the box went just wide in the first overtime.

“I was really impressed,” said Soltesz. “In the beginning of the game we were a little slow. In the second half and the overtime we really picked it up. We were really aggressive; we definitely need to carry that out there throughout the whole game.”

Soltesz and her twin sister, star striker Alexa, give PDS an impressive one-two punch at opposite ends of the field.

“I definitely try to get it to her as much as I can because I know she is really hungry to score,” said Soltesz. “I usually know where she is.”

That connection is continuing on the next level as the twins have committed to attend Gettysburg College and play for its women’s soccer program.

“We had a couple of options actually,” said Soltesz, reflecting on the college choice.

“We ended up going to their summer camp and we really liked the school. The team was great, it reminded me a lot of PDS. I thought it would be a good fit academically and athletically. We definitely want to stay together.”

PDS head coach Pat Trombetta likes the way Soltesz is holding the defense together.

“Stef is solid back there,” said Trombetta. “With her quickness and speed, we push more players upfield, knowing that we have her in the back. That is what is helping us maintain possession and create the opportunities by our backs getting forward.”

“I thought we had the better of play throughout and more possession, we were looking for each other,” said Trombetta, whose team broke through with a 1-0 win over Abington Friends (Pa.) last Friday on a goal by freshman Madison Coyne and will look to build on that when it plays at the Hun School on September 18 and at the Peddie School on September 23.

“It is just misfortune right now, we can’t find the net. I am not frustrated because we are having the opportunities. If we weren’t getting the opportunities on the offensive end, I would have more concern.”

In Trombetta’s view, his squad should get better and better as the fall unfolds.

“It is a good group, they will get it together,” said Trombetta. “It is just going to take a little bit more time than we had hoped for.”

Soltesz, for her part, believes the Panthers are coming together. “I think we are starting to jell as a team and we can tell in practice,” said Soltesz. “We are improving. Everyone is really supportive of each other in school and outside of school. I think we are a good team and we have a good bond.”