TURNING THE CORNER: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Aaron Thyrum goes after the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, junior midfielderThyrum lofted a corner kick that Chase Hamerschlag converted into the winning goal as second-seeded PHS edged fourth-seeded Notre Dame 1-0 in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament final. The Tigers, now 14-2-3, will next be in action when they start play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 tournament where they will be looking for a second straight state title. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Aaron Thyrum had the game at his feet for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team late in the second half as it was locked in a scoreless tie with Notre Dame in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament final last Saturday afternoon.

With 10 minutes left in regulation and a stiff crosswind howling across Ackerson Field at Hopewell Valley High, junior midfielder Thyrum lined up a corner kick and had a target in mind.

“We have already scored a bunch of set pieces where Chase [Hamerschlag] has really got up there; I was obviously looking for him,” said Thyrum. “I just wanted to out the ball in a good spot, especially since the wind was going against the ball. It is put it in a good spot and hope for the best. I trust my guys to put it in the back of the net.”

Thyrum lofted a curling volley into the box and sure enough Hamerschlag soared up and headed the ball into the back of the net.

In reflecting on Hamerschlag’s brilliant strike, one thought crossed Thyrum’s mind. “Thank God for Chase, what a great header,” said Thyrum.

That goal held up as second-seeded PHS prevailed 1-0 over the fourth-seeded Irish in the inaugural CVC tourney, improving to 14-2-3. (The Mercer County Tournament Association announced last spring that it was discontinuing county tournaments in favor of a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, which bars local private schools who are not members of the CVC.)

Having lost 2-1 to powerhouse Pennington last fall in the final boys’ soccer Mercer County Tournament, the Tigers were thrilled to be the first CVC tourney champion.

“It is definitely a milestone that shows these young guys coming into the program that we need to come into every game and every tournament as if it is our last,” said Thyrum. “We definitely did that today. The first CVC tournament, the first winners, it is without a doubt a great feeling.”

Throughout most of the contest, Thyrum and his teammates were feeling edgy as the rivals engaged in a tense battle that has characterized their matchups over the years.

“I feel in the first half it was definitely even,” said Thyrum, noting that PHS nipped Notre Dame 3-2 in a regular season meeting on October 1. “I thought we had a little bit better of the chances. We were talking through halftime, we knew that we were going to get one, whether it was going to be early in the half or later in the half.”

Thyrum has taken on a more important role this year for the Tigers after serving as a reserve on the 2023 squad that won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state title.

“Last year, I didn’t get much playing time, but at the same time it was a blessing because I was able to be surrounded by and train with guys that were absolutely phenomenal,” said Thyrum, who battled through a midseason groin injury this fall and had tape jobs on both of his arms Saturday due to turf burns. “They not only set a standard for how you should play on the field, but also how you should be off the field. Becoming an upperclassmen as a junior now, I need to embody what those guys ahead of me did. I think we are doing that to the best of our ability.”

One of those older guys, senior defender Connor Hewitt, has raised his standard this fall, taking more of an offensive role while stepping up as a leader of the Tiger back line.

“It is not only in the games but practice too; it is talking to my boys, controlling the back line, and helping everyone out,” said Hewitt, describing his leadership approach. “It all comes to our connection together, it comes first from getting to know them in the locker room.”

That connection paid dividends as the PHS back four was under the gun in the latter stages of the contest.

“The last 20 minutes of the game there, we had like 20 crosses,” said Hewitt. “It is just composure really, all of us were talking. We have good chemistry back there; me, Thomsen [Lord], Chase, and Matt [Chao] have been playing together.”

In overcoming the Irish, PHS needed things to come together across the board.

“Props to everybody on the field, the subs coming in too,” said Hewitt. “Everyone played really, really well. Everyone played their heart out. Everyone on this team is really good. Last year we had a great team, but this year I think our depth is almost better.”

Winning the first CVC tourney was a really special accomplishment for the squad. “It is beautiful, it is the last thing we had to put under our belt,” said Hewitt. “We won the conference and states last year. I really wanted this one and I am sure a bunch of the other boys did too.”

PHS head coach Ryan Walsh knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the win against the Irish.

“Notre Dame is well coached, there is a lot of raw talent on that squad,” said Walsh. “The game last year ended with a goal in the last second and this year it was the last 40 seconds. I think these were the two best teams in the CVC and I am glad we both made it here. It was back and forth, the wind played a factor for sure. Whichever team had it going on one side on set pieces, it was a little more to them.”

On Thyrum’s decisive set piece, PHS handled the wind. “Aaron hit that ball into the wind back post,” said Walsh. “It was a tough ball to rise up and not foul the kid and put it on frame, it was great to see from Chase. He has come a long way this year, it was hammer time baby.”

Walsh credited Thyrum with coming a long way this fall. “This is his first year starting for us,” said Walsh of Thyrum, who now has three goals and five assists this season. “In the middle of the year, he got a little bit of an injury that kept him out a couple of weeks but now that he is back and at full strength, he has really grown into his role over there at left wing.”

The Tiger back line has grown into a stingy unit and it came through in the clutch against the Irish.

“Those last six minutes were unnerving, we were composed,” said Walsh. “They had a lot of set pieces and we handled them really well. They are tricky. We were able to get Azariah [Breitman] free at the end to kill a little time. It was a good job.

Hewitt has done a very good job in taking the lead on defense.

“He is a senior leader here, he is a workhorse, he is a thoroughbred on the outside,” said Walsh of Hewitt, who has tallied three goals and three assists to go along with his stellar defensive play. “He is the only returner from that back line so he is the leader of that back line. He has turned those guys into a cohesive unit, credit to him for doing that.”

Seeing his guys earn the CVC title was heartening for Walsh.

“We are really happy to bring this trophy back to PHS,” said Walsh. “Pennington has won it a lot recently; it is different without them but we are still excited to win.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming state tournament, Walsh believes that the CVC run will benefit the Tigers as they go after the title repeat.

“Playing these tough games, with Steinert on Thursday (a 2-0 win in the CVC semis) and this today really prepares you for tournament time where every game is a one goal game there,” said Walsh.

Thyrum, for his part, hopes that grinding out the win over the Irish is a harbinger of things to come in states.

“It is just one step in the way, this is such a good confidence booster,” said Thyrum. “When we played Notre Dame the first time, it was all about resilience. Us going down and then coming back and us going down again and coming back to end up winning. Something like this is not necessarily where we go down but where we are this close to scoring a goal so to be resilient and put it away is great for guys physically and mentally to go into states.”