Veteran Lynch makes leap

PHS senior helps boys’ soccer start strong

By: Bob Nuse
   One of the great things about coaching high school athletes is watching them blossom and seeing it all come together.
   Wayne Sutcliffe knows that happens at different times for different players. Sometimes it happens when they’re young. But other times, it happens later in their high school careers.
   "Sometimes it takes a couple of years before you come to fruition as a player," said Sutcliffe, the Princeton High boys’ soccer coach. "Back in 2003, we had a kid named Mike Freedman who was like that. He had played for PSA and was in the program for three years. He was a reserve for us as a sophomore and a junior, and he was one of those kids whose biggest leap came between his junior and senior year.
   "He became a big part of our success that year. Sometimes that happens with a player where it comes together later and the next season he becomes a different player."
   Sutcliffe has watched that happen again with one of his current players. Michael Lynch was a starter for the Little Tigers last year and had played for the varsity as a sophomore as well, but this year Sutcliffe has watched Lynch become an even better player right before his eyes.
   "Michael was a starter last year, so it’s not as if we were waiting for him to blossom," Sutcliffe said. "But he has really improved a lot. He’s a hard worker and a good leader. As an athlete, he has a lot of great habits. He’s a player who really leads by example with how hard he works. He’s a real competitor who has been in the program for four years, the last three with the varsity. He’s also a varsity athlete in another sport (lacrosse), which helps."
   Lynch is part of a Princeton defense that opened the season with back-to-back shutouts to help the Little Tigers get off to a 2-0 start. Princeton also showed an offensive spark that was missing last year as it scored 13 goals in the two wins, just six less than the team scored all of last year.
   "We have a real solid defense, especially with Jason (Barber) being a senior and playing varsity for so many years," Lynch said. "I think we had an issue with finishing last year, but if we can keep finishing the way we have the first couple games, I don’t see any reason why we can’t be a different team this season. You can see we have more confidence on offense this year, especially with Sam (Kotowski) scoring all those goals. We always knew he was a creative player on the field, but now he’s also showing he can put the ball in the back of the net."
   Kotowski has already scored seven goals as Princeton opened with an 8-0 win over Hamilton and a 5-0 win over Trenton. Meanwhile, the defense has yet to surrender a goal thanks to an experienced group in the back.
   "We’re happy with the way we’ve started," said Sutcliffe, whose team was scheduled to host Allentown on Thursday. "The guys have worked hard and right now we think we have a good shot to be successful. We’ve done real well in the back. Our goalies, Jason Barber and Jeff Adiletta, have done a good job. And the back four are real solid and have been on the same page. Collectively, they have defended well as a group. And our strikers have been finding a way to put the ball in the back of the net.
   "Last year gave us a good opportunity to develop, even though we weren’t very successful. Three of the four we have returning in the back started last year — Pete McInerney, Michael Lynch and Alex Filipiak. The one new player we have is Ari Silver, who has been a nice complement to the guys we have back."
   It helps that not only is Lynch returning, but he’s stepped his game up to another level. He may not notice it as much as his coach has, but Lynch does realize players get better with experience.
   "The more you play the more experience you get and it also helps just being out there on the field and learning," said Lynch, who also plays lacrosse for the Little Tigers. "As you get older, your game changes and you have more responsibility on the field. I think when you’re an older player you see more things on the field that the younger kids don’t always see, just from that experience of playing."
   And playing with other experienced players makes it even easier to be successful.
   "Our sweeper, Pete McInerney, does a great job," Lynch said. "And Alex and I are back at the outside backs and Pete does a great job in the center. So it really helps us that we have three experienced players in the back in front of Jason, who has a lot of experience in goal. And Ari has come in and fit in real well with us as the new player in the back."
   Lynch, who came to PHS as a forward and has also played in the midfield, is a player who seems to fit in on the field wherever Sutcliffe puts him. And whether he’s on offense, defense or in the middle of the field, he just wants to play.
   "I think every year is different," said Lynch, who hopes to play soccer and/or lacrosse in college. "You take different things away from every year. I just like to play. In school, I’ve played defense. But on other teams, I’ve played a lot of forward. It doesn’t really matter to me where I am playing, as long as I can get out on the field and play.
   "I think it gives it a nice mix. I hadn’t played defense until I got to high school. I played in the midfield as a sophomore and now I’m in the back. I think it helps because I know the responsibilities of all of the players on the field and I know the effort that goes into playing each position."
   And Sutcliffe knows that in Michael Lynch, he has a player that will put in whatever effort is necessary for the Little Tigers to be successful.