(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SLIDE SHOW: Antoine Hoppenot slides into a kick during his stellar career with the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team. Last week, Hoopenot brought his skills to the Princeton University men’s soccer program as he started preseason practice with the Tigers.

Hoppenot Grew Into a Standout for PDS, Now Bringing Skills to PU Men’s Soccer

Bill Alden

As a freshman on the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team, Antoine Hoppenot barely came up to the shoulders of most of the players on the field.

Utilizing his intensity, speed and ball skills, the fiery Hoppenot was able to hold his own as he moved up to the high school level.

The dazzling Hoppenot eventually grew into a star forward for PDS, earning All-Prep honors in his last two seasons with the Panthers.

Now, Hoppenot is taking another step in his growth process as a soccer player, beginning preseason training this past week with the Princeton University men’s soccer team.

While Hoppenot took his lumps in those early days with PDS, he believes that helped him on the path to college soccer.

“My freshman and sophomore years were a good experience,” said Hoppenot.

“I was not the top player; there were people bigger, better, stronger, and faster than me. I knew I had to learn and grow as a player.”

By his senior year at PDS, Hoppenot was dispensing the lessons as the team’s leading scorer and unquestioned leader.

“I learned that I had to be a role model; I had to be at the top of my game all the time,” said Hoppenot.

“Most of the players up top were young. I enjoyed helping them get better; it helped me be a better leader.”

Although PDS suffered through a losing season last fall, Hoppenot still enjoyed his final high school campaign.

“It was frustrating but I went into the season thinking it was the last time I would get to play with those guys; a lot of them were my best friends,” said Hoppenot.

“We wanted to win but we also wanted to have fun playing together. We enjoyed hanging out with each other; everyone wanted to win but we saw how tough it was going to be.”

Hoppenot faced a tough choice as he decided where to play his college soccer.

“It came down to Princeton and Brown,” said Hoppenot, whose older sister, Claire, is a recent Princeton grad.

“I chose Princeton for several different reasons. Princeton has a new soccer stadium; it looks really good. I got to know some of the players and I liked them. I talked to [Princeton coach Jim] Barlow all during the recruiting process; he was nice to talk to and made me feel very comfortable. He coached my older brother’s Princeton Soccer Association team so he knew our family.”

In fact, Hoppenot’s older brother, Pierre, is playing a major role in getting him ready for the jump to Princeton.

“I have been doing a lot of running and lifting,” said Hoppenot, who also played for a Super Y team and in the Mercer County men’s league this summer to sharpen his skills.

“I am working with my brother Pierre; he’s a senior soccer player at Washington University. He’s definitely helped me; he has an idea of what I need to do for college. We run together and then go on the turf and kick the ball around.”

As he looks forward to starting his college career, Hoppenot has mixed emotions.

“I’m both nervous and excited; I’m excited to get started but I’m nervous to be playing with a new group of players and learning different systems,” said Hoppenot. “It’s kind of like starting over.”

Like he did at PDS, Hoppenot plans to put his nose to the grindstone and work his way up the ranks.

“I want to get as much playing time and help the team as much as possible,” added Hoppenot.

“I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know if I am good enough to play with these guys right away. I need to be well positioned; I think I’ll be playing up top. That is where I am most comfortable.”

Once Hoppenot develops a comfort level in the college game, he should grow into a force for the Tigers.

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