COLE POWER: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Cole Snyder, right, fights for the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior forward and tri-captain Snyder scored a goal and added two assists to help PHS top Ewing 4-1. Two days later, Snyder chipped in a goal as the Little Tigers defeated the Lawrenceville School 2-0. PHS, which improved to 6-0-1 with the win over the Big Red, hosts Lawrence High on October 1 before playing at Steinert on October 6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As a senior and a battle-tested veteran on the Princeton High boys’ soccer, Cole Snyder is taking charge on the field this season for the squad.

“I have been with the team for four years now, so I know what they expect of me and I know what they expect of the team,” said forward Snyder, a team tri-captain along with classmates Chris Harla and Pete Luther. “I am just here to tell them what the coaches want.”

With PHS locked in a scoreless tie at Ewing midway through the first half Thursday, Snyder’s leadership took the form of banging in a free kick to give the Little Tigers a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, he picked up an assist on a set piece as Sam Edwards slotted home a rebound of a Snyder free kick to give PHS a 2-0 advantage.

“This is my first year taking free kicks; I had never really practiced free kicks until this year,” said Snyder, noting that he has now scored three goals on free kicks this season.

“I have got to be captain out there, I am taking free kicks this year no matter what. I have been working on that and leadership. I try to be part of every goal. Free kicks are big for our team this year; we also have Pete (Luther) on the other side who can get some cracks in so that is nice.”

In the second half, PHS kept up the pressure, pulling away to a 4-1 win over the Blue Devils.

“I would say one of the strong suits on this team is fitness and I attribute that to coach (Carlos) Salazar, who is also a trainer,” said Snyder, who assisted on a late goal by Luis Lazo.

“Our fitness is great; we say we own overtime. I can tell you that I am not the only one, none of us are winded on the field. We want to keep that pressure up and the quality on the ball.”

Snyder and his teammates are determined to show their foes that PHS is a high quality squad.

“We wanted to come in and make a statement that we are still a CVC powerhouse,” said Snyder.

“Ewing is a good team. They are an athletic team and they are tough defensively. We just chipped away at them with possession. We have been working on that all season, trying to hold it and break down the defense and then go.”

PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe likes what he has been getting from Snyder all season.

“Cole is fantastic with his industriousness, his ambition, and his confidence around the box,” said Sutcliffe of Snyder, who chipped in a goal last Saturday as PHS defeated the Lawrenceville School 2-0 to improve to 6-0-1.

“I think that is the third set piece he has hit in this year. His leadership has been great. He is giving a lot of energy and I think other players can take note of that. We need more guys like Cole.”

In the win over Ewing, PHS got the defensive effort it needed. “We didn’t have many problems; it is a tight, narrow field,” said Sutcliffe. “I thought that our back four did a great job, just trying to figure out the little problems as the match went on. Jake (Caddeau), Edgar (Morales), Andrew (Beamer), and Dwight (Donis), they were sharp, that has to be said. It is all good things, I think our best soccer is in front of us.”

In order for PHS to play its best soccer, the defense needs to tighten up a little bit.

“We only have three clean sheets after six games and that is not good enough so our goal is finding a way to get through games without conceding,” asserted Sutcliffe.

At the attacking end, the Little Tigers are working on finding a rhythm.

“We have a nice balance between Cole, (Alex) Ratzan, and Luis (Lazo); all of whom have similarities but bring something special,” said Sutcliffe.

“After six games you are still not even set on your lineup and once we have that, we will have some consistency there. Then we will really be able to build and get better. It is a slow process.”

Snyder, for his part, believes that PHS is building the foundation for something special this fall.

“If we can hold the ball, we are going to be good all season because we don’t have trouble scoring and we don’t have trouble keeping them out of the net,” said Snyder. “If we can control the game and play our game, good things will come.”