By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High boys’ soccer team trailing WW/P-North 1-0 heading into the second half last Friday, defender James Novak got new marching orders.

“They wanted me to push higher and go forward up the flank,” said PHS junior Novak, recalling the halftime message from the Tiger coaching staff.

Novak executed those instructions with aplomb early in the second half, heading into the box, taking a feed from Ian Pompliano, and slotting it into the back of the net to knot the contest at 1-1.

“I just saw a bunch of space,” said Novak. “I was hoping that the ball would pop out, it did, and I got a goal.”

In the wake of Novak’s tally, PHS got the better of play. “Once we got the goal, all of the momentum shifted towards us,” said Novak. “I think that changed the entire game.”

With 3:47 left in regulation, Nick Petruso outran a WW/P-N defender and slotted the ball into the back of the net to give PHS a 2-1 lead. From there, the Tiger defense held the fort, winning by that 2-1 margin and improving to 5-2.

“I thought we did well against everything they tried to throw forward at us, especially at the end of the game,” said Novak. “We are able to shut down the game in the last couple of minutes.”

It was important for the Tigers to do well, coming off a 2-1 defeat to Trenton High two days earlier.

“We worked hard in training yesterday and overall we put a lot of work into this game,” said Novak.

“It was a tough loss to Trenton and we really needed to  win this game today.”

Stepping into a starting role this fall, Novak is raising the level of his game.

“I am getting more minutes, last year I was like probably the second or third sub,” said Novak.  “Now I have more responsibility and I am working harder in practice.”

PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe liked the work rate his squad displayed from the opening whistle.

“We were getting in, we were possessing; their goal was against the run of play,” said Sutcliffe.

“The message at halftime was keep our nerve and keep our shape. It was enter into 10-minute increments of good soccer and a clean sheet and we will get a goal. That is what happened.”

Sutcliffe was happy to see Novak notch that first goal. “One of our points of focus has been to release him as a wing back,” said Sutcliffe.  “Getting him into the attack has been a priority so it is nice to see him come through.”

Junior standout Petruso has been coming through all fall for the Tigers. “Nick has had a great season; he is very dangerous and his speed separates him from most players,” said Sutcliffe. “He has to just keep getting better. We are so proud of his performances and his effort.”

Seeing his squad bounce back from the loss to Trenton was a source of pride for Sutcliffe.

“We had gone 150 minutes without conceding a goal,” said Sutcliffe, whose team hosts Ewing on September 26 before playing at Westfield on September 28 and at Hamilton West on October 1.

“It wasn’t until the last seven minutes of that Trenton game that we gave up goals. It was a big test for a young team; you drop one late in the game at Trenton and you are never sure how you are going to react. These guys came through.”

Novak, for his part, believes that PHS can keep passing tests. “We need to just to keep growing on the momentum from this game,” said Novak.

“We need to keep staying positive and just work on our games plans for each specific game to just keep it going.”