HEAD START: C.J. Uche, right, heads the ball during a game last fall in his senior season for the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team. Star midfielder Uche, who helped PDS win the state Prep B title in 2016, is now in preseason practice for the Bucknell University men’s soccer team as he gets ready to start his college career. Bucknell opens regular season action when it plays at Mount St. Mary’s on August 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When C.J. Uche joined the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team in 2014 as a freshman, he didn’t see himself playing at the next level.

“I came in thinking that I wasn’t the D-I soccer type; that wasn’t my goal at that time,” said Uche.

But after emerging as a star midfielder early in his PDS career, Uche realized that he might have a future in college soccer.

“I played Match Fit Academy for four years and the summer after sophomore year, we won the national tournament against some of the highest competition,” said Uche.

“It was from there that things started coming together. As we started prepping for junior year that was when I started hearing from my coaches that I was more than capable of playing soccer in college. I started focusing my efforts toward that.”

Those efforts paid off as Uche ultimately committed to attend Bucknell University and play for its Division I men’s soccer program. Last week, he hit the pitch for the Bisons as they started preseason training in preparation for their 2018 season opener at Mount St. Mary’s on August 24.

For Uche, soaking up lessons from some of the veterans around the PDS program helped put him on the path to college soccer.

“As an underclassman, the guys that were there before me, like Marco Pinheiro when I was a freshman, were role models,” said Uche.

“To see them play, watching the way they led a team, and watching the way they carried themselves throughout, even in the offseason, I was able to carry that for three years going on.”

As Uche matured during his time with the Panthers, he looked to be a role model himself.

“Because I was a captain junior and senior year, that helped me going forward to help other kids raise their game,” added Uche.

The game that stands out as Uche looks back on his PDS career is the team’s 1-0 win over Newark Academy in the 2016 state Prep B final.

“The most memorable thing was winning states junior year,” said Uche, who totaled 16 goals and 13 assists over his four seasons with the program. “That was a big accomplishment because it hadn’t been done by us since 2010; it was huge to be on a team that finally captured one.”

As Uche went through the college recruiting process, he decided that the Bucknell team provided the best fit for him.

“I was very comfortable with the Bucknell coaching staff and the players when I went on the overnight visit,” said Uche.

“Bucknell is in the Patriot League and there were other schools in the league that were looking at me as well. I was interested in D-1 and D-III schools. For me, it was mainly going to the best school.”

Having started preseason practices with the Bison last week, Uche is looking to do his best this fall to help the squad be successful.

“Personally I am looking to make as much of an impact as I can freshman year,” said Uche.

“I think I might play center defensive mid; the guy that played defensive mid just graduated so that position is open right now. I am really hoping to compete for that spot and be able to help us. We are looking to win the Patriot League this year.”