(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: TEXAS TWO-STEP: Princeton High boys’ soccer star Will Slade launches the ball in a game last fall. This weekend, Slade and his teammates on the Princeton Elite Union Under-17 boys’ soccer team will be starting play in the Dallas Cup XXIX youth soccer tournament. The prestigious competition not only draws teams from all over the country but includes sides from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America.

Princeton Elite Union U-17s Head to Dallas, Primed for International Soccer Competition

Bill Alden

Over the past year, the Princeton Elite Union Under-17 boys’ soccer team has proven itself against some of the best competition on the East Coast.

Last May, the team, then known as Union 90, won the Jersey Cup for the first time in club history. Months later, the team competed in the Region I tournament in Portland, Maine where it advanced to the semifinals of its age group.

This weekend, though, the squad will be testing itself as never before when it competes in the Dallas Cup XXIX youth soccer tournament.

The prestigious competition not only draws teams from all over the country but includes sides from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America.

Princeton Elite union head coach Stoyan Pumpalov, a native of Bulgaria, has been shooting for the Dallas competition for some time.

“Around three or four years ago, I realized that this is the best youth competition in North America, “said Pumpalov, whose team had to make a written application to the tournament in an effort to secure an invitation.

“I have been talking to the boys about it. We knew that we had to be among the best teams in the state to have a chance to get an invitation. We were so happy when we received the invitation.”

In preparing for the high-level competition, the team has not been slowed by the winter weather. “We are outside every weekend at the Princeton High turf field, we are so happy to get to use that field,” added Pumpalov. “We went outside in any weather, regardless of the rain, snow, or cold. The boys are very committed.”

The team, which includes such local high school stars as Antoine Hoppenot of Princeton Day School, James Mooney of the Lawrenceville School, together with Will Slade, Corey Marsh, Chris Bechler, Ari Silver, and Steven Hellstern of Princeton High, honed its skills on March 2 by tying the Baltimore Bays 1-1 and beating the VE Blast 2-1 in Region I Premier League action.

Pumpalov said his players are ready to have a blast as they get exposed to some of the top youth players in the world. “We are leaving March 15 and the boys are very excited,” said Pumpalov, whose team is currently ranked No. 48 nationally in its age group.

“I’ve been telling them that they will be playing against guys who are going to be future stars of the game. Harry Kewell, a star with Leeds and now Liverpool [of the English Premier League] played in the tournament in 1997.”

There are 32 teams in the U-17 bracket with four teams to a group. The winner of each group will advance to the quarterfinals. Princeton Elite is in a group with Brujas Escazu FC from Costa Rica, FC Barcelona from Pasadena, Calif, and Lonestars Red from Austin, Texas.

While Pumpalov knows his team will face some stiff challenges in Dallas, he is confident in his players’ competitive mentality. “We have never played against these teams; I see that FC Barcelona and Lonestars have played in the tournament before,” said Pumpalov. “The boys have always responded to good competition.”

And now they will get a chance to see how they stack up against an international field.

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