By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Zoe Tesone has a new role with the Princeton High girls soccer team this season and so far it suits her just fine.
After spending her first three years with the Little Tigers as a center midfielder, Tesone has moved back and is now the last line of defense for a team that has surrendered just three goals in getting off to a 3-0 start.
“I am coming from being a central midfielder, so I am new in the sweeper spot,” Tesone said after the Little Tigers topped West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 3-1, on Monday to improve to 3-0. “Abaigeal (Ryan) and Jackie (Girouard) have been there for a while. Gracia (DiBianco) and Kelli (Swedish) are new to their spots. Maya (Sarafin) is experienced there. So far I think we have been working well together. We have good communication.
“All my life I had been playing central defender and when I came to Princeton I started as a defensive mid. So it is a little bit tough to go back because I know I can’t play with the ball as much. But I feel comfortable in that spot now.”
Princeton has generated 12 goals in three games on the offensive end of the field. In the win over the Pirates, Serena DiBianco, Julia Ryan and Gabrielle Deitch each scored goals. The Little Tigers led, 2-0, at halftime before a goal by Gabriella Saade early in the second half cut the lead to a goal.
“In the second half they came out a lot stronger,” Tesone said. “I don’t think we were as prepared as we were in the first half. Towards the middle and the end we got our rhythm back and started moving the ball.
“(Saade) is a very good player. I told my outside defenders not to let her turn with the ball and keep right on her. I thought Jackie did a great job and Abi did a great job as well.”
As each player gets used to their role, the Princeton defense will continue to evolve. And Tesone has become more comfortable in her role with each game.
“I have never played as a sweeper in a 3-5-2 so this is my first time,” she said. “It’s tough because I know I am the last person back. But I know the other defenders are there and that helps.
“We have good chemistry. We have a lot of seniors and we’re all friends and know each other well. I think we know how to move the ball well. I have played with a lot of these girls on club since I was little.”
The 3-0 start has Princeton optimistic this could be a special season. The Little Tigers have plenty of senior experience, which certainly helps.
“I am thrilled with this team,” Princeton coach Val Rodriguez said. “We have 11 seniors and we have come together and played really well. We have 18 girls on the team and everybody is contributing. That is kind of my goal this year, to make sure that everybody is contributing in some capacity. We have two different formations we are looking at to try and spice things up a little bit.”
And Princeton has a solid defense, with Tesone fitting nicely into her new role.
“I love Zoe back there,” Rodriguez said. “I think it was a huge help for her and her confidence. I think it is where she belongs. She was in the center mid last year. To me, she is a true stopper type center mid and wasn’t always getting involved in the attack as much. So I think being the sweeper and having that leadership back there is great for her.”
WW-P South fell to 1-3 with the loss, but the Pirates are playing a much improved brand of soccer. After opening the season with a 5-2 win over Nottingham, the Pirates have played well in losses to Hopewell Valley, Northern Burlington and Princeton.
“Our girls are working really hard and each game they are getting better and better,“ South coach Allysa Teeter said. “After talking at half we were able to regroup and move the ball a little bit faster and transition out of the back faster.
“I feel like we are dominating certain parts of the game and playing really well. We just can’t seem to get it to go in our favor. I think we’re playing better than we were last year at this point in the season. We’re working together and moving together as a team. We just need to figure out a way to turn that into goals.”
While the record is just 1-3, the Pirates have played three very good teams in their losses and Teeter hopes the players have noticed their own improved play.
“I hope they are seeing it,” she said. “We’re playing some of the most challenging teams in our division and we have moments where we are dominating in every game. I keep reminding them of that. I hope they are seeing it. I think they are starting to.”
