HEADS UP: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Sam Serxner heads the ball up the field last Thursday as PHS edged Hopewell Valley 2-1 in the season opener for both teams. Senior defender Serxner assisted on the winning goal midway through the second half, sending a free kick into the box that Quentin Pompliano headed into the back of the net. The Little Tigers host Notre Dame on September 15 and WW/P-S on September 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton High boys’ soccer team opened its season by hosting Hopewell Valley last Thursday, Sam Serxner was just one of three returning starters in the lineup for the Little Tigers.

While facing formidable HoVal was a stern test for the new PHS side, senior defender Serxner believed that the squad was up for the challenge.

“You would think with 16 new guys, we would have trouble with team chemistry but everyone on this team is fully committed to doing everything that we can do to win the game,” said Serxner.

“From day one we have had absolutely no problems, we play well together, we get along, and we all want to win.”

PHS showed a will to win against the Bulldogs, rallying from an early 1-0 deficit to pull out a 2-1 triumph. HoVal tallied with 33:45 left in the first half but the Little Tigers answered with a goal by senior midfielder Andrew Goldsmith less than three minutes later. The contest remained knotted at 1-1 until midway through the second half when Serxner sent a free kick into the box that junior Quentin Pompliano headed into the back of the net for the game winner.

“We hadn’t given up a goal all preseason and getting scored on in the first five minutes was a little shocking for us as a team,” said Serxner. “It says a lot about us as a team that we answered within five
minutes.”

In Serxner’s view, the Little Tigers found a rhythm in the second half. “We had some trouble fouling in the first half so we cut down on the fouls and we stopped giving them set pieces,” said Serxner.

“We started to attack down the flanks and when we did that we started getting crosses in, free kicks, and corners. That is where we were dangerous.”

Serxner proved to be dangerous himself in setting up the game winner, lofting a free kick that Pompliano converted into the decisive tally.

“We work really hard on this in practice; Quentin works really hard on getting in there for those headers and he has come close so much,” said Serxner.

“It felt like four or five times we were this close to scoring. We just timed it perfectly. I always try to hit it about 10 yards out from the penalty spot and the timing was just perfect. He ran onto it and headed it in.”

PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe was not surprised that Serxner came through in the clutch.

“Sam has been great; he is fantastic,” said Sutcliffe. “He is a multi-dimensional player. He is a three-year starter and has played in every big level in high school soccer and it shows. He is so valuable to us, getting up and down the flank. He is a defender and then the set pieces are just great.”

In Sutcliffe’s view, it was big for his team to overcome the early deficit against a foe as skilled as HoVal.

“Our resilience was great; it was the first goal we let in all the preseason so I am very proud of the way they responded to that,” said Sutcliffe.

“Andrew’s goal was very clinical and then Quentin’s game winner was clinical as well. I am very happy.”

After the early lapse, the PHS defense tightened up as the afternoon went on.

“We found our form as it went along and then in the second half, we kept it OK but we can be so much better,” added Sutcliffe. “It is early in the season.”

Junior goalie Patrick Jacobs showed some good form as he thwarted HoVal with some big stops down the stretch.

“The man of the match in the second half was Patrick Jacobs with the two saves,” said Sutcliffe.

“The guys did all the work in front of him but, for me, he preserved the game for us.”

Coming through in the opening match figures to set a positive tone for the Little Tigers.

“You want a good test early on and if you are successful, that sets the standard and you are constantly trying to meet that standard,” said Sutcliffe, whose team hosts Notre Dame on September 15 and WW/P-S on September 19.

“If you win the opening game 5-0, it really doesn’t do much for you and I thought both teams took a lot from the game.”

Serxner, for his part, hopes that passing that test will lead to further success for PHS down the road.

“To open up with a win against a team like this is fantastic,” said Serxner. “We have got a really tough start to the schedule. We have teams like Steinert, Notre Dame, Westfield, and WW/P-S so it is really important for us to get off to a good start.”