MAKING HIS MARK: Chris Harla controls the ball and thwarts a foe in action last fall during his senior season for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team. Earlier this summer, star defender Harla helped the Princeton Football Club (PFC) U-19 United travel team win the New Jersey State Cup. This week, Harla is heading to Carnegie Mellon University to start preseason training for his freshman season with the men’s soccer program. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As Chris Harla and his teammates on the Princeton Football Club (PFC) U-19 United travel soccer team went though the 2015-16 season, they savored their time together.

“About half the team is going to be playing in college next year so it was the last year for a lot of us; it was a fun thing to play around,” said Harla, a star defender for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team who graduated in June.

“It wasn’t as much about winning, it was more about having fun and enjoying our last year.”

The United squad was created last season, combining players from club’s Metros and Chelsea squads, many of whom had been playing together since grade school. Harla, a co-captain of the United, was joined on the team by a number of his PHS teammates including Cole Snyder, Chase Ealy, Owen Lindenfeldar, Dwight Donis, Jake Caddeau, Mark Petrovic, and Sam Serxner.

Benefitting from that low-key approach, the United proved it could rise to the occasion as it ended up winning the New Jersey State Cup, topping the NLSA Raiders 3-0 in the title game.

The United had lost 5-2 to the Raiders in regular season play and were primed to turn the tables in the championship game.

“We all realized it was a state final and we wanted to play the best that we could,” said Harla.

“I think honestly we just wanted it more than they did. Those guys all love soccer but I remember hearing them saying even if they had won the game they probably would not have gone to regionals. A lot of those guys were leaving and doing other things.”

The team’s defense benefited from the familiarity between Harla and his PHS teammates.

“We had Owen Lindenfeldar playing goal, Dwight Donis is back there, and Jake Caddeau is there,” said Harla.

“Dwight and I usually play the middle, depending on what formation we are playing. I have been playing with them my whole high school career; we know each other pretty well and how we play.”

Harla was thrilled to culminate his PFC career with the New Jersey title. “It is something that the club has never achieved before, it is the first State Cup win for PFC,” added Harla.

“It meant more than just winning for us, it meant winning for the whole club. There are obviously some big academies around like Match Fit and PDA (Players Development Academy) so putting our name on the map and winning a State Cup meant a lot, not only for us as a team but more so for Stoyan (head coach and PFC founder Stoyan Pumpalov) and the entire club. Then it was going to the regionals and representing our small town.”

At the regional competition, which was held last month in Barboursville, West Va., the United went 1-2, falling 5-2 to Empire United Soccer Academy (N.Y.), topping Loudoun (Va.) 96 Red 3-1, and then falling 4-0 to ABGC Annandale (Va.).

“We were all really excited; we knew that the competition was going to be tough,” said Harla.

“We had practices three time a week for two or three weeks before regionals just to get prepared. We didn’t end up doing that well but I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was a very nice experience.”

It was good for the United to experience a victory in West Virginia. “That win against Loudoun really gave us a shot at making it into the semifinals,” said Harla. “Unfortunately it didn’t work out. As a team, we just didn’t play that well in the last game.”

For Harla, who is heading to Carnegie Mellon University where he will be playing for the men’s soccer team, playing against the high level competition at the regionals was an eye-opener.

“It showed me what college will be like, it will be a lot more intense,” said Harla.

“In that first game, they had four or five guys that had just finished seasons in college. There were some bigger players out there so I saw the strength and physicality of the college game.”

Harla, who was also considering Johns Hopkins and Connecticut College in the recruiting process, believes that Carnegie Mellon will be a good fit for him.

“When I was at Carnegie Mellon, I liked the feel I got from the school,” said Harla.

“The coach (Brandon Bowman) was really nice and the players were all really nice when I was doing my visit. I really liked Pittsburgh. Those things led me to choose Carnegie Mellon.”

With Harla going to Pittsburgh this week for the start of preseason practice, he is looking to impress his coach and new teammates.

“I am nervous and excited,” said Harla. “One of their top two center backs graduated last year. I am not going to assume that I am going to play but I am hoping that with preparation and everything that I will at least get on the field and hopefully make some starts. We’ll have to see.”