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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction)
caption:
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Callahan Setting Tone With Work Ethic To Help PHS Boys' Soccer Start 2-0-1
By Bill Alden
Pete Callahan was not happy with the effort shown by the Princeton High boys' soccer team in its season-opening 1-1- tie with Hamilton.
The senior midfielder and his teammates hit the field for their second game of the season against Trenton determined to raise the intensity level.
After a sluggish start against the Tornadoes, PHS kicked things into high gear as freshman Sam Kotowski scored a goal and Callahan added another on a nice header to give the Little Tigers a 2-0 cushion at the break. In the second half, PHS put the game away with goals by Kyle DeBlois and Ross MacDonald as it cruised to a 4-0 win.
In assessing the win, Callahan asserted that PHS accomplished its goal to show more fire on the pitch. "We came out a lot more competitive today," said Callahan. "We got possession today. We did a better job of banging it around and making the ball do the work."
Coming off a disappointing 8-7-2 season last year, Callahan and his classmates are determined to go out with a bang.
"Last year was a really down year," said Callahan, shaking his head. "There are 10 seniors and just about all of us have played club ball together since we've been eight years old. On the weekends, we are always together. We are best friends. I think that will have a lot to do with our success this year. We have a real familiarity. That's an intangible in soccer and that's what makes teams great."
Callahan has a special chemistry with one of classmates, twin brother Matt.
"We can read each other's mind, it's almost not fair," said Callahan, whose older brothers Tim and Scott both starred for PHS.
"It's something special, especially as seniors. We were role players with Scott two years ago and now we're the big guys. It's fun."
PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe has enjoyed watching the Callahan twin develop into stars. "Matt and Pete have a good connection," said Sutcliffe, whose club improved to 2-0-1 with a 1-0 win at Allentown last Friday.
"They have a good understanding of one another. Pete scored a good goal; he had a great game today. He was all over the field. We moved Matt out wide and I thought he was really effective."
In Sutcliffe's view, his team collectively was much more effective than it had been in its opener. "We stressed some things that needed to get done today," asserted Sutcliffe. "The guys responded. They came out and they were competitive. That's good to see."
Notwithstanding that progress, Sutcliffe knows that the Callahans and their classmates need to step things up even more.
"They're giving leadership but it needs to be even better," said Sutcliffe, referring to his group of seniors.
"All we want them to do is to reach their potential. They have some growing to do. We need to be better than we are right now, quite honestly."
If the Little Tigers get better, they could do some special things this fall. "We're making progress; we're moving in the right direction," added Sutcliffe, whose club is hosting WW/P-N on September 22 before playing at Steinert on September 27.
"If we're going to try to win championships, we need to be better. We need to do the little things. Hopefully we can get there if we keep working hard."
Callahan, a team captain, is determined to set the tone when it comes to work rate. "I always want to help push everyone to be the best that they can be," asserted Callahan.
"If I work as hard as I can to be the best I can be, then everybody will start working as hard as they can. That's when we start winning championships. I've been with this program for four years and this is by far the hardest we've worked, no question."
Keeping up that kind of effort could help PHS provide the right answers to the questions left hanging from last season's subpar performance.
