Princeton books spot in semis
PRINCETON » The 15 seniors on the Princeton High varsity boys soccer team went undefeated on their freshman team four years ago.
That same season, head coach Wayne Sutcliffe’s varsity squad advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament Group III state final.
So it’s not hard to understand why this year’s seniors would like nothing less than to chase another state crown.
The only problem is in the last three years the Little Tigers rose to Group IV status, arguably the toughest bracket in the state.
Each game in Central Jersey Group IV brings a tougher challenge, and, this time, Princeton wants to be prepared.
The third-seeded Little Tigers took a step in the right direction Friday by defeating 11th-seeded Long Branch, 2-1, to advance to Tuesday’s third round.
Princeton (14-5-1) will try to advance to its first CJ IV sectional final that day when it visits second-seeded Monroe (20-1-2). The Falcons defeated 10th-seeded Trenton, 3-0, Friday.
“That’s the way we’ve got to play on our home field,” Little Tigers senior sweeper Ian Jacobs said. “We can’t have people coming in here and getting another goal.”
Playing in front of his twin brother, Patrick, the team’s goalkeeper, the Jacobs boys have helped create a stingy defensive mindset, which has brought Princeton eight shutouts thus far this season.
Moreso, it is the toughness they bring to the Little Tigers’ backfield, which needed to bear down Friday after Long Branch’s speedy senior Juan Carlos Merino broke up another shutout bid with 26:24 left in the second half by converting a pass from Stiviny Silva.
“We knew about (Merino). He was also very skilled, but we were focusing on (Washington Azevedo),” Ian Jacobs said.
While the 6-foot-3 Jacobs did a good job shadowing the 6-4 Azevedo, the Green Wave were able to find more openings when left-footed speedster Merino made runs.
But a strong first half by Princeton’s offense set the game’s tone. Junior midfielder Josh Nieman put a pass from Drew Beamer behind Long Branch goalkeeper Rodolfo Giron 15 minutes into the game. Then, with 15:15 left in the half, Little Tigers freshman Nick Petruso continued to open eyes with his third goal in six varsity games.
“I got called up for the postseason,” said the six-foot Petruso, who also played with Princeton’s freshman and junior varsity teams this fall. “I was not really expecting to score in a state game. There were three defenders in front of me, but I saw a big gap, so I decided to take them on.”
Petruso beat them and Giron with a shot to give the home team a 2-0 edge at intermission.
“Nick did a good job to beat three guys,” Sutcliffe said. “He has something a little special, an extra gear, that pushed him past everybody. He’s a pure striker.”
Petruso’s burst pumped extra life into his new teammates, who thrived off the cushion he provided even after Merino’s score.
The Green Wave (15-6) had chances with 10:25 to go when Azevedo slotted a ball to Venacio Mendes Fernandes, only to have Patrick Jacobs grab the shot, and with 1:15 to play when Mario Galiz shot wide.
A steal by Atticus Lynch deep in Long Branch’s end almost provided Princeton with one more goal in the closing seconds.
Instead, the Little Tigers and their hungry senior class made the most of what they had to stay alive in states a little longer.
Long Branch (15-6) Princeton (14-5-1) 0 1— 2 0— 1 2
Merino (LB), Nieman,Petruso(P). Silva (LB), Beamer (P).
5 (LB), 6 (P).
Giron 4 (LB), PJacobs 4 (P).