HARD CHALLENGE: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Chris Harla thwarts a foe in a recent preseason scrimmage. Senior defender and tri-captain Harla figures to be a key performer this fall for the Little Tigers who are coming off a 2014 season that saw the squad win the county title and advance to the state Group 3 title game. The Little Tigers open their regular season play by hosting Westfield on September 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Even though the Princeton High boys’ soccer team is stocked with seniors and is coming off a season that saw the squad win the county title and advance to the state Group 3 championship game, Wayne Sutcliffe knows those factors don’t guarantee success this fall.

“It is finding a chemistry and a rhythm,” said longtime head coach Sutcliffe, whose team posted an 18-3-2 record in 2014.

“We are a deep, strong team and are still working through finding our starting 11 and our top guys coming on throughout the match. Beyond that, it is finding the personality for this team. Every year is different; you can’t reheat a soufflé as Paul McCartney says.”

With the loss of productive strikers Chase Ealy and Nick Kapp to graduation, PHS is working on finding a rhythm at forward. Seniors Alex Ratzan, Cole Snyder, Luis Lazo, and Marc Waldec are in the mix up top.

“Alex is a good player; we have different combinations,” said Sutcliffe, whose team opens regular season play by hosting Westfield on September 5.

“Cole can play striker. We bring in Luis off the bench. We have a new player we just got back from the academy, Marc Waldec. He is a senior, he is a very good player, a lot of calmness and comfortability on the ball. He has a good soccer IQ.”

Seniors Pete Luther, Nick Halliday, and Snyder, along with junior Andrew Goldsmith should give PHS a comfort level in the middle of the field.

“Pete Luther, Andrew Goldsmith, Nick Halliday, and Cole are in the midfield,” said Sutcliffe, whose roster includes 14 seniors.

“I think the amount of experience all of these guys have, it is their third year with this, coupled with the success of last year’s run, they should be finding a way to do it and get it right.”

On defense, PHS will be looking to senior star Chris Harla to show the way for a veteran back line group.

“Chris is a center back, a central defender and a third year starter,” said Sutcliffe, whose defensive unit will also feature senior Dwight Donis, junior Edgar Morales, senior Jake Caddeau, senior Axel Galeano, and sophomore Drew Beamer. “Beyond that, he is very savvy and a captain of the team along with Pete Luther and Cole Snyder. He has done great, he is extraordinary.”

Sutcliffe plans to have versatile junior Sam Serxner swing between the midfield and defense. “Sam is a strong player, he plays wide for us sometimes at outside back or outside mid,” noted Sutcliffe.

The Little Tigers boast a strong option at goalie in senior Owen Lindenfelder, who started last year in the state semis and title game.

“Owen is doing fine, he is continuing to progress and do the things he does well,” said Sutcliffe.

“He played in the state semifinal and the state final, you can’t replicate … that in training or at club level. That is a pressure cooker. He has worked hard, Owen is terrific. He is really strong on one-versus-one breakaways. He is good at finding the corners, getting down low and stopping the ball. He is great on penalty kicks.”

While PHS has the pieces in place for another great season, Sutcliffe is looking for his players to exhibit the winning mentality needed to be a title contender.

“I think in order for us to challenge for a title, they have to take individual responsibility and keep soccer first,” asserted Sutcliffe.

“Chris, Peter, and Cole are the captains; they have been great team players. They have played at every level in the game in high school and club, nothing is new to them. The question is can they find a way to help drive it.”