FULL THROTTLE: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Keegan Fullman chases down the ball in a game last year. Senior star Fullman is primed for a big final campaign for PDS. The Panthers were slated to get their 2026 season underway by hosting Lawrence High on September 1 and then playing at Lenape High on September 3. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team heads into the fall, it is showing growth literally and figuratively.

“All of the mighty mites that played last year are a couple of inches taller and 12-15 pounds heavier,” said PDS head coach Gary Roberts, who guided the Panthers to a 9-13 record last fall and a run to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B final. “We are better. We had a solid preseason, we improved every day.”

PDS is looking for another solid season from senior star midfielder Keegan Fullman, who tallied 11 goals and four assists last fall.

“I would think that Keegan should be one of the leading goal scorers in the CVC (Colonial Valley Conference),” said Roberts, whose squad was slated to get its 2026 season underway by hosting Lawrence High on September 1 and then playing at Lenape High on September 3. “He has been great, he looks great.”

A pair of juniors, Nicky Cardona and Mathias Ramos (1 goal, 1 assist in 2025), will play up top to combine with Fullman.

“Nicky is going to be an asset up there, he is extremely technical and extremely tactically aware,” said Roberts, noting that sophomore Nate Mogaka (1 goal, 3 assists) is considering whether to join a club program that would preclude him from playing for the Panthers this fall. “He isn’t the biggest kid but he has very good movements off the ball. Ramos is a natural baller, he is born to play soccer. His defensive want has improved. Nicky, Keegan and Ramos are great together. We play Nicky as a striker that comes to the ball. He doesn’t stretch the defense by running behind, that is what Keegan does, playing wide. Nate will be a major factor if he is there.”

In the midfield, two other juniors, Chase Weisel and Arnav Sharma (1 goal), will be leading the way.

“Chase is the engine at center mid, if he plays well, we will play well,” said Roberts. “He always tries hard. He is putting in a 10 out of 10 shift no matter what. There is no way anybody works harder than he does. There are people who work as hard but there is not a chance that somebody grinds more than him. Arnav is going to play with him. Arnav, Chase and Keegan are captains too, it is a triumvirate. It is those three in the midfield.”

The back line will feature sophomore Jace Patel, junior Grant Burns (1 goal, 1 assist), junior Beckett Dickler, junior Robert Wei (1 assist), and sophomore Dylan Ritter (1 assist).

“Jace has been impressive in preseason, he has definitely earned one of the center back spots,” said Roberts, noting that Burns is currently sidelined by injury. “It looks like the other center back is Beckett. On the left is Robert, who has improved every year. Dylan, who started last year, is
out there.”

The arrival of junior transfer Conor Burden will solidify the goalkeeper spot for the Panthers.

“He is about 6’2 and is
a legitimate goalkeeper,” said Roberts.

“He plays on Trenton FC. He has excellent feet. He can ping it to the midway line. He is a full-time, always working goalkeeper.”

In the view of Roberts, PDS has the potential to produce an excellent season.

“We are pretty good going forward,” said Roberts. “We can play. We can play one touch. We can build it. We can go forward. Our keys are taking our chances in front of goal and Conor coming up huge in the cage.”