(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) STERN CHALLENGE: Princeton High star goalkeeper Stephen Hellstern guards the net in a game last season. Hellstern, who is entering his third season as a starter, will be the focal point of the PHS defense this fall as the program looks to maintain its winning tradition. The Little Tigers, who went 17-4 last season and won their second straight Mercer County Tournament title, open the 2009 season on September 11 when they host Lawrence High.

Despite Another Round of Graduation Losses, PHS Boys’ Soccer Aims to Reload, not Rebuild

Bill Alden

Wayne Sutcliffe has a distinct sense of deja vu as he gets his Princeton High boys’ soccer team ready for another campaign.

For yet another year, PHS is dealing with heavy graduation losses after a superb season.

“Every year, it seems we lose a lot of good players to graduation,” said Sutcliffe, who guided the Little Tigers to a 17-4 record last fall.

“In 2006, we were the Central Jersey champs. In 2007 we had an undefeated regular season and the county tournament and lost a lot of good guys. Last year, we were the MCT champs and we have lost six seniors from that team.”

While Sutcliffe acknowledges that the exit of such stars as record-breaking scorer Sam Kotowski, Corey Marsh, Nick Hughes, Anastacio Perez, Will Slade, and Chris Bechler will leave a void, he believes the program can continue its pattern of reloading rather than rebuilding.

“We bring back 13 lettermen; we have guys with a lot of experience and success in club soccer,” said Sutcliffe, whose team opens its 2009 season by hosting Lawrence high on September 11.

“I think we can pick up where we left off. The level of excitement and camaraderie has been great.”

Sutcliffe is expecting some great things from junior star Paul Ehrenworth, who made a big difference last fall for the Little Tigers when he gained eligibility in October after transferring from Hun.

“Paul had a great summer; he played on Red Bull N.Y. Club team and he was out at the Home Depot Center for the academy championships,” said Sutcliffe.

“He is at a different level than he was last year. He is going to switch on and off between attack and midfield. He can finish and he sees the field so well.”

PHS has some other players who should be able to find the back of the net in seniors Thatcher Foster and Evan Gershkovich together with juniors Andrei Spirin and Gustavo Vega.

“Thatcher has been sliding in there up front; he is a good target and can hold the ball,” asserted Sutcliffe.

“He has really improved a lot. Spirin is playing at club level and can score. Gustavo and Evan can also finish.”

In the midfield, PHS also has some good options in senior Michael Brennan, junior Lido Guzman, freshman Zach Halliday, and sophomore Kyle Ehrenworth, Paul’s younger brother.

“Lido Guzman has been doing well and Halladay has been really good,” added Sutcliffe, who will also use Vega and Gershkovich in the midfield.

“Kyle Ehrenworth played on our freshman team last year. He is a year older and has been playing well with the guys. He fits in.”

Senior goalkeeper Stephen Hellstern has been playing well for PHS since 2007 and is getting better and better.

“Stephen is looking really strong; he is playing for the PDA (Players Development Academy) program,” said Sutcliffe.

“We are looking for him to step into a leadership role. He is so cool on the field; he never gets too high or too low. He has so much experience and confidence; we want him to share that with the older players as well as the younger players.”

In Sutcliffe’s view, the PHS defense is quickly developing into a confident unit even as it deals with losing three of four starters from 2008.

“We have some really strong defenders,” maintained Sutcliffe. “We have fast guys like Max Reid, Allen Bryant, Scott Schwarz, Wilson Urias, and Spencer Tank. John Marsh is playing well.”

The key to PHS’s success this fall, though, will likely hinge on filling the scoring void left by Kotowski, who scored 31 goals last fall including 14 game-winners and is now playing for the Rider University men’s soccer team.

“Any time you lose a guy with 31 goals, that is tough,” acknowledged Sutcliffe.

“We are hoping to get four guys who can score eight apiece with four or five goals that are important.”

With the program’s track record of success, Sutcliffe is confident that his veterans will once again rise to the challenge.

“Many of them have been through a lot and have had a lot of success,” said Sutcliffe. “Guys like Paul, Stephen, Gustavo, Thatcher, Evan Scott, and Andrei.”

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