Champs on kicks by Cook

PDS wins Prep B soccer

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
 In the end, Erin Cook’s concussion worked out for the best for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team.
   Without Cook in the lineup in the early portion of the season, the Panthers struggled out to a 4-3 record that prompted a team meeting in which they agreed to raise the intensity level in practices. It started the Panthers’ big turnaround.
   The concussion also forced the Panthers to move Cook from being inside the box on free kicks and corners to being the one to take them. Cook connected on a pair of 30-yard free kicks, the second with no time remaining in the first overtime to give PDS a 2-1 win over Montclair Kimberley Academy for the Prep B championship Sunday at Smoyer Field.
   ”It’s amazing,” Cook said. “It’s such a great way to win. It shows how everybody ran out, even the fans, and had such great support, it’s just so exciting for everybody. Even though I scored it, we worked so hard to get here. It’s a great way to end it.”
   Cook and Cammie Linville are the only two seniors on the Panthers, who figure to be contenders again next year with a roster of nine sophomores who have contributed. PDS closed the season with wins in 11 of 13 games, including their first state title since 2002.
   ”A lot of it goes to the leadership of Erin and Cammie,” said PDS head coach Patrick Trombetta after his team closed the season 15-5. “They took them under their wings and did a tremendous job this year. Team chemistry was great. All the girls contributed. I’m so proud of them.
   ”It was a game they could easily roll over after losing that momentum. In overtime, we came back and they did a fantastic job.”
   Cook’s first free kick, from the left sideline, gave PDS the lead with less than six minutes left in a first half that the Panthers dominated. MKA had the better of play in the second half and capitalized on a determined run in the final five minutes to send the game into overtime. But their scoring was way down from their four goals per game average.
   ”We knew No. 7 was their best player and Katie Gibson totally shut her down,” Trombetta said. “She’s been our player all year that marks the top scorers. She shut down most of the leading scorers in the county. Katie had a fabulous game, shutting down No. 7, Jess Gonzalez, on MKA.”
   MKA still had much of the momentum until they were whistled for a dangerous play on a 50-50 ball with less than 15 seconds left in overtime. Cook tried to set up to take the free kick, but MKA wouldn’t move their wall back to the required 10 yards, and the referee ordered the time to be reset to 4.0 seconds left as he backed the wall up and permitted Cook’s kick, this one closer to the right sideline.
   ”We had a whole practice yesterday of free kicks and corners and we worked pretty much on everything we had to do today,” Cook said Saturday. “I’ve had a few of those shots.”
   Cook’s free kick was the difference in PDS’ first-round Mercer County Tournament win over Princeton High School a week before.
   ”I can’t say enough about Erin, our senior captain, stepping up on those two free kicks,” Trombetta said. “Unbelievable. The first one was beautifully placed. That second one, even though there might be a little controversy behind it, I think it was the right call by the ref, it was a sweet ending.”
   It was proof of how much the Panthers need Cook on the field. They suffered without her in the early going of the season. She returned, though not at full strength due to the concussion to finish strong with PDS.
   ”It’s tough to play with a sweeper that can’t head the ball,” Trombetta said, “but we need her on the field. Today, she stepped up and played an unbelievable game.”