Penalty kick proves difference in Little Tigers’ loss
By: Bob Nuse
TOMS RIVER – If Shawnee High is indeed the No. 5 boys’ soccer team in the nation, as they are ranked in one poll, then Princeton High isn’t that far behind.
The Little Tigers battled the Renegades, ranked No. 1 in New Jersey by the state’s largest newspaper, for a full 80 minutes before falling, 1-0, in the Group III state semifinal game Tuesday night at Toms River North.
Shawnee, which improved to 26-0 with the win, scored the only goal of the game on a penalty kick with just over 19 minutes to play in the first half. That goal would stand up over the next 61 minutes, despite Princeton playing evenly for most of the match.
"It’s a soccer game and we play in the CVC, so at this point in the season we’re battle tested," said Princeton coach Wayne Sutcliffe, whose team finished the season with a 16-4 record. "We’re respectful of Shawnee’s reputation and record, but we felt like we could have taken them. And I think, on the field, we played effectively enough to win the game and should have been able to walk away with at least a draw after 80 minutes. I felt like we could have walked away with a draw and gone to OT."
The Little Tigers held the vaunted Shawnee offense in check most of the night, and also made some spectacular defensive plays. In the end, it was a penalty kick that decided the game. Princeton appeared to possibly be in position to score on a PK of its own later in the half, but on that play Javier Ramirez was ruled to have been taken down just outside the box.
"It was very debatable," Sutcliffe said of the foul that led to the Shawnee penalty kick. "In a state semifinal, you have to be 100 percent sure. Obviously, the referee made his decision. But none of us agreed with it. And then at the other end, if you’re going to make the call at this end, you’ve got to make it at the other end. You can’t call it inches away from the 18-line box and just say it’s outside of the 18. Javier was clearly inside the box."
The loss brings to an end a great season for the Little Tigers, who won four games to capture the Central Jersey Group III title.
"We had a great season," Sutcliffe said. "We worked so hard and accomplished so much. We had some ups and downs, but into the tournament we just gained so much confidence."
For a complete story on Tuesday night’s game, see the Friday edition of the Princeton Packet.

