Edgcomb lifts girls’ soccer
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Carly Edgcomb can be defensive-minded next year when she plays for the Villanova University women’s soccer team.
This year, the Princeton High School girls’ soccer squad needs her to provide a little offense as well. Edgcomb provided both goals in a 2-0 win over Allentown on Thursday that put the Little Tigers back on track to a .500 record, which they achieved with a 1-0 win over Lawrence on Saturday.
”For us to win,” Edgcomb said, “I definitely have to shoulder more of the responsibility in that area.”
Edgcomb plays defense for her FC Bucks club team. She remains a defensive midfielder with PHS as well and even scored the first goal against Allentown from the sweeper position off an assist from Adi Debiche on a give-and-go. Against Lawrence, it was Debiche who converted a penalty kick for the Little Tigers’ lone score. All the Little Tigers have been forced to look to the goal more after they lost Chantal Celestin to a knee injury in the preseason.
”That was a big blow,” said PHS coach Greg Hand whose team is 3-3. “We would have a different look with her on the field. Kids are being asked to become scorers who maybe haven’t done that before. I think we have some talent and there’s no doubt that the team is intent on figuring out how to get the ball to the kids whose responsibility it is to do the scoring.”
Edgcomb has always had the ability to score. She did so even as a freshman starter for PHS. But it’s not her main strength.
”I’m more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer,” Edgcomb said. “I get more energy on runs when I’m facing the goal.”
Hand agrees: “Scoring has never been her primary function on our team. I actually think that her game begins with just an incredible tenacity and desire to win the ball and deny possession to the other team. She’s one of the best ball winners I’ve ever seen in high school soccer.
”She’s one of the true 100 percent players that you’ll see. She has terrific vision and extraordinary quickness. What she does the best for us is play the ball quickly to kids who are in position to do something good with it.”
Edgcomb is so quick that she often creates opportunities by herself. She may have to look to finish some of those chances more than she would have in past seasons due to the Little Tigers’ youth this season.
It was trial by fire for the less experienced players to start the season. PHS opened with losses to highly regarded Hopewell Valley, Hightstown and Notre Dame. They were just 1-3 after their first four games.
”(It) created some of the psychological challenges that they would not have faced had they started 3-1 against a different set of teams,” Hand said. “I think they’ve responded extremely well. They just lace them up every day. They bring a great practice attitude. They’re intent on getting better, showing all the characteristics you’d want a team to be showing whether that record at that moment was way above .500 or way below. I think there’s a maturity and commitment that will pay off down the line.”
It is Edgcomb’s senior class of five that has shouldered the leadership load. They remain focused on making it another solid season.
Said Edgcomb: “It was so hard playing the two top teams in the first week. I think that only made us stronger.
”We still have really high expectations,” she added. “We wanted a winning season. We wanted to be able to match against Freehold again. We wanted to get to that point (in the Central Jersey Group III state tournament) and beat them. We’re seniors. It’s taken a toll on us. We know this is our last chance. We won’t get a chance to play again in high school.”
Edgcomb has big things ahead of her. She committed last spring to continue her playing career at Villanova, where they envision using her in the defensive back or in the midfield.
”I’m just really excited to be at such a high level,” Edgcomb said. “It’s definitely a change and I’m nervous. Not a lot of people start as freshmen, so there’s pressure to improve my game this year and over the summer. I’m excited.”
Her first priority, though, is helping the Little Tigers reach their goals. She wants to make the most of her last go-around after four seasons with PHS.
”Even though it’s so much less stressful than club and college level, the atmosphere and team chemistry, it really helps,” Edgcomb said. “It may not be as serious to some people, but we really want to go to the finals of Mercer County and get to states. We want to leave high school knowing we were successful.”
To do so, the Little Tigers just might need a few more goals from Carly Edgcomb.

