CHASING VICTORY: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Chase Ealy controls the ball in recent action. Senior striker Ealy scored three goals in PHS’s 4-0 win over WW/P-N on October 7. Ealy and the Little Tigers edged Nottingham 2-1 last Thursday to improve to 10-1. In upcoming action, PHS hosts Allentown on October 16 before playing at Hightstown on October 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Chase Ealy covered a lot of territory for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team last Thursday as it hosted Nottingham.

The senior striker raced up and down the field, making dashes toward goal and serving crosses into his teammates.

Ealy’s industry didn’t result in any goals or assists by his name on the scoresheet but he was all smiles as PHS pulled out a 2-1 win over Nottingham.

“I was running all over the place and we were really building plays and that is what I am looking for,” said Ealy. “I did get some shots off but at the end of the day if the team gets goals, it doesn’t matter to me if I don’t get any.”

It did matter a lot to Ealy that PHS outlasted Nottingham via a Jake Caddeau goal late in regulation which decided the tight contest that saw the Little Tigers jump out to a 1-0 first half lead only to see the Northstars knot the game at 1-1 with 10:53 remaining in the second half.

“That is something we are going to have to get used to in the playoffs,” said Ealy. “The fact that we came back and got that goal showed a lot of character. I was proud of the guys for keeping their heads up. The guys that were coming off the bench came in with the right attitude. We decided we were going to win this one.”

As a battle-tested senior and team co-captain, Ealy looks to instill the right mentality.

“I think my role on the field is to be a leader foremost,” said Ealy. “I want to help the guys along, I want to make sure that the attitude is where it is. I have played under great captains, like Kevin Halliday and Zach Halliday. I want to do everything I can to really be those guys on the field for these guys for this team.”

Ealy knows that he also has to produce offensively. “I want to be the best striker I can be,” said Ealy, who scored three goals in PHS’s 4-0 win over WW-P-N on October 7. “My job is to put balls away, but at the same time, if it helps to pass it to other people and create opportunities, then that is what I will do.”

With PHS improving to 10-1 with the win over Nottingham, Ealy believes the team is headed in the right direction.

“We are getting everybody back and we are starting to get back in the groove,” said Ealy.

“We are starting to pass the ball around like we were doing early in the season. We are building up, getting ready for the counties. We are very excited.”

PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe was excited to see his team come through late in the victory over the Northstars.

“They tie the game and you are thinking how can we adjust and what can we do,” said Sutcliffe.

“One of our goals is to be at our best when the pressure is greatest,  maybe this is indicative of a little of that. Going into the tournaments, there will be that little added pressure where you are level 1-1 late in a game. It is about finding a way.”

Junior defender Caddeau found a way to get the win with his clutch tally. “Jake is doing great,” said Sutcliffe.

“He is a wide outside back and he’s having a great season. I can’t say enough about his work rate. His decision-making is great, he can win balls out of the air, his distribution is good. He has a good mentality which he showed there, scoring the game winner.”

Ealy has also been providing some good work for PHS. “Chase gives us another dimension to our attack; he has been fantastic,” asserted Sutcliffe.

“He’s got to keep getting better, just like the rest of them. He had a good day the other day against North, it was good to see him get on the scoresheet.”

Some of the team’s younger players have been getting better and better as the season goes on.

“The three sophomores, Andrew Goldsmith, Sam Serxner, and Alex Ratsen have been fantastic,” added Sutcliffe. “Alex scored the opening goal today.”

The Little Tigers have some big challenges looming before they start play in the  county tournament as they finish the regular season by playing at Notre Dame on October 14, hosting Allentown on October 16, and then playing at Hightstown on October 21.

“We are just looking forward to the next week, it is the most important week of the regular season,” said Sutcliffe.

Ealy, for his part, believes that PHS is ready for a big week. “I would definitely say that we have been improving as the season goes on,” said Ealy.

“We are already a great squad and I think we are going to continue to get better. We have three very tough teams coming up. Allentown is a great team, Notre Dame is a great team, and Hightstown is there, too, so we just have to be ready.”