Princeton adds to its sectional title collection

FLEMINGTON » Drew Beamer and the seniors on the Princeton High boys soccer team were determined to finish what they had started.

Their freshman team went undefeated, while the varsity was going to the 2014 NJSIAA Tournament Group III title game.

As they rose to varsity and the school climbed to Group IV status, similar state hopes have gone unfulfilled. Until Friday.

The third-seeded Little Tigers needed overtime, but got the job done against top-seeded Hunterdon Central to win the Central Jersey Group IV title, 1-0.

With its first Group IV sectional crown, Princeton (16-5-1) advances to play South Jersey champion Washington Township in the state semifinal round at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rowan University in Glassboro. The second-seeded Minutemen (21-2-1) advanced by defeating fourth-seeded Rancocas Valley, 2-0.

“For our seniors, all the work they’ve put in for four years went into this,” Little Tigers head coach Wayne Sutcliffe said.

When it came to determination, that senior group needed look no further than their scoring leader Beamer.

For a second straight game, he followed a shot all the way into the net to make sure his team won.

Unlike their 2-1 win over Monroe in the sectional semifinal round when freshman Nick Petruso hit the decisive shot which Beamer would not let miss, this time, it was Beamer himself knocking a ball toward goal 1:40 into overtime and chasing it into the net to make sure Princeton got its reward.

“As it was rolling toward the goal, I was thinking, ‘Please go in. Don’t hit a post,” Beamer said after scoring the 21st goal of his senior year.

This one came off a pass from his friend and classmate Remy Hebert, which made it equally special.

“Remy and I have been playing together for a long time,” Beamer said. “Our chemistry is really good together. I knew what he was going to do with the ball when he got it.”

Likewise, Beamer knew what to do when the ball came to his foot. Although he did not strike it as well as he would have liked, Beamer made sure it found the desired mark by chasing after the ball along with Red Devils goalkeeper John Padavano.

“He was adamant to see it through,” Sutcliffe said of Beamer. “His work rate adds a little to what he does and what we do. He’s very deserving of that goal.”

Scoring seemed to be just a matter of time for the Little Tigers. Even though they had gotten the better of the chances throughout, the game tilted a little in their favor with 17:27 left in the second half when Hunterdon Central’s Chris Vinella was sent off with two yellow cards on the same play.

That left the home team a man down, something Princeton had had to contend with at Monroe.

Head coach Anson Smith’s Red Devil team fought valiantly to get the game to overtime and had a chance to win when Alessandro Truppi’s free kick with 5:30 left in regulation blew over the bar.

With goalkeepers Padavano and Drew Hanson, who played the first half, combining to make 12 saves, Hunterdon Central would not let the Little Tigers score for 81 minutes.

Beamer and his mates were determined to change that, which they did in OT to give Princeton sectional titles in Groups II, III & IV.

Princeton (16-5-1) HunterdonCentral(16-4) 00 00 1 — 0 — 1 0

Beamer (P).

Hebert (P).

13 (P), 4 (HC).

PJacobs 4 (P), Hanson 7, Padavano 5 (HC).

Goals —

Green (H), Strohlein 3, Vandermark (D). McLaughlin, Olivo, FTaylor (D).

7 (H), 10 (D). FMiller 6 (H), Haliloglu 5, Alves 1 (D).

Assists — Shots — Saves —