By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
When a team starts the season at 15-0, it figures there are a lot of stars on the roster.
But stars alone, don’t shine.
They need what’s in the background to make them glow. They need the players that few people notice, except for the head coach and the guys on the other team.
Cranbury’s Corey Marsh is just such a player.
The junior midfielder has been a driving force in Princeton High’s outstanding boys soccer season. He doesn’t get the headlines, he just gets the job done.
”I would say he’s unsung,” coach Wayne Sutcliffe said. “He’s got probably the highest work rate on the team.”
After a pause, Sutcliffe said “No, not probably. He’s got the highest work rate on the team.
”When he’s playing, he’s great in and out of the penalty area with the ball, and he’s tough in the middle third.”
Marsh had modest stats entering the week, with one goal and four assists. But he’s one of those players whose value doesn’t show up on paper as much as it does on the field.
”If you’re a good team, I guarantee there’s a guy like Corey on the team,” Sutcliffe said. “His presence and his play, not only in games, but more importantly in training, is invaluable. He’s just a special player.
”He’s got great technical ability, he’s very, very vocal and competitive. He really is the engine of this team. He’s a very effective leader. He leads both vocally and by example.”
Another Cranbury native, who comes off the bench on occasion for PHS, is Clay Spann.
”He plays within himself and plays simply, and fits in well with the team in games as a marking back,” Sutcliffe said. “He brings a lot in the sense that he’s a big strong kid, a great athlete and he’s learned a lot about the game. His touch has developed, and he brings a lot of emotion to the team.”
