IN SYNC: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Nica Martin slots the ball upfield in recent action. Last Monday, senior forward Martin tallied a goal and an assist to help PDS defeat Lawrenceville 5-2. The Panthers, now 8-0, plays at Princeton High on September 25, hosts Delran High on September 29, and then plays at Hamilton on September 30. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
After joining the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer squad last fall as a junior transfer, Nica Martin is finding herself on the same page with her teammates this season.
“I feel more comfortable, I definitely know everyone’s style of play a little bit better,” said forward Martin. “I have been able to shift into more of a leadership role as a senior.”
Last Monday as PDS hosted Lawrenceville, Martin played very well, tallying a goal and an assist to help PDS defeat the Big Red 5-2 and improve to 8-0.
It was one-way traffic as the Panthers in the first half as they dominated possession and tallied five unanswered goals to build a 5-0 lead by intermission.
“Our goal heading into this was to play off each other’s strengths,” said Martin. “I think in the first half we did a really good job of that. We did a good job building out through the middle and finding our people out wide. It was a very nice team effort, we played well with each other.”
Martin started the first half deluge as she volleyed a corner kick by Mackenzie Brodel into the back of the net 10 minutes into the contest.
“We have been working on that,” said Martin, who was joined on the scoresheet by AJ Szalabofka, Ava Katz, Sophia Vriesendorp, and Evelyn Song. “It is making sure we are in the right spot and knowing where we need to be on those.”
Midway through the first half, Martin sent a through ball to Szalabofka that she blasted into the back of the net.
“AJ is really fast, she is great on that,” said Martin, reflecting on the assist. “She has scored from there before this season too. It is really fun to see her do that again.”
The Panthers are having a lot of fun this fall as they have gotten off to an 8-0 start.
“I think we are playing a lot more cohesively,” said Martin. “We have also done a good job of recognizing where we need to improve, doing that in practice and translating that to the games. That has been really nice to see.”
Martin is determined to up her game. “I have been working on my speed lately which is something I can improve on,” said Martin. “I have also been working on my finishing.”
Having starred as a point guard for the PDS girls’ basketball team last winter has helped Martin excel on the pitch this fall.
“Most of the basketball team does play soccer too, we play together all season there,” said Martin, whose younger sister, freshman Mia, has joined the soccer team this fall and will be playing hoops this winter. “It helps build the chemistry when we are on the field and the court for both sports.”
In the view of PDS head coach Chris Pettit, chemistry has played a major factor in the team’s 8-0 start as it has rebounded from going 8-9-1 last fall.
“We have had a real focus on culture this year and what everybody needs to do what is right for the collective group,” said Pettit. “Whereas last year, it was bit more individual. As a result, they have bought into that. You can see what the power of 27 does as opposed to the power of one.”
The Panthers looked like a powerhouse in the first half against Lawrenceville.
“That is how we want to play,” said Pettit. “It was everything that we wanted it to be. The back line was good, we closed the spaces well. The midfield dominated. We played to feet — a lot of it was 1-2-3 touches. We had defenders overlapping. We scored from set pieces. It was really, really good. It was comprehensive, dominating.”
Pettit acknowledged that PDS wasn’t as good in the second half.
“I felt like the energy dropped off, we started dribbling too much,” said Pettit. “In the first half, it looked like we had three extra players because we were first to everything. The movement was there, there was focus and intensity. In the second half, it looked and felt like we had one less. That is something to learn from.”
Martin has been displaying her intensity as she has tallied four goals and three assists so far this season.
“Nica missed all of the summer stuff because she was injured and she came in a little bit late,” said Pettit. “She started the season a little slow but she is really starting to find her groove at that nine position (striker). Of late, she has been chipping in with goals and assists. The work rate just to unsettle the defenders and bring other people into play has been really good. When we play into those areas, she does her best work inside the box.”
On the outside, seniors Brodel (4 goals, 3 assists this season) and Szalabofka (2 goals, 3 assists) have been giving PDS some good work.
“Mac has had a good start to the season,” said Pettit. “She is a good, little tricky winger who upsets defenders in a different way than AJ does on the far side. Those two interact with each other.”
Junior Ava Katz (6 goals, 4 assists) has been very good in the early going.
“Ava has been on fire all season,” said Pettit. “She plays in the heart of the midfield for us so she is the one that takes a lot of things up. Even if she doesn’t score or get the assist, she is involved in that build up.”
Going forward, Pettit is looking for his squad to play with fire from beginning to end.
“We spoke before that game about doing it for 80 minutes, we haven’t done it for 80 minutes,” said Pettit. “We were poor in the first half against Hun, we were poor in the first half against Lawrence and we were poor in the second half today. So it is about putting it together for 80 minutes and not having any letdown.”
With PDS playing at Princeton High (6-0) in a clash of undefeateds on September 25, Pettit knows the Panthers can’t have any letdown in order to prevail in the crosstown rivalry.
“It is usually pretty close with them, we will see what that looks like on Thursday,” said Pettit, whose team will host Delran High on September 29 and then play at Hamilton on September 30. “In order to win those games, you have to play for the full 80 so that is what we are going to have to put that together.”
Martin is confident that the Panthers will keep things together as they go through the fall.
“It is just continuing to build on what we have been doing well,” said Martin. “It is just making sure that we keep up our level of play consistent and keep our energy up.”