PHS boys set at ’keeper

Hellstern boosts soccer hopes

By Rich Fisher, Packet Group
   One of the top goalies in the Colonial Valley Conference last fall became one of the most bummed out CVC goalies this summer.
   On April 15, while most of America scrambled to make their date with the IRS, Steven Hellstern went through the soccer version of an audit. While playing for the Princeton Union 90 U-17 club soccer team, the ‘keeper came out for a ball against PDA and collided with an opposing player.
   ”He hit me real hard and stepped on my right tibia,” Hellstern recalled. “Some of the kids on my team say they heard it snap. It echoed throughout.”
   The result was a broken leg that put the Cranbury resident on the sidelines for four months. He returned to the field on Aug. 20 to join his Princeton High teammates for preseason camp.
   So far this season the injury hasn’t slowed his play. Hellstern and the Little Tigers have allowed just seven goals in 11 games this season, with only West Windsor-Plainsboro North scoring more than once in a game. Princeton improved to 9-2 with a 2-0 win over Hamilton on Thursday.
   After recording 12 shutouts last year, the sophomore’s presence at practice had to be a welcome relief for a Little Tigers team hoping to repeat as Mercer County Tournament champions and go a few steps further than last year’s stunning first-round Central Jersey Group III loss to Neptune. That was PHS’ lone setback of the year.
   ”This year is unfinished business,” Hellstern said. “We’re really looking forward to making a deep run in the states and trying to repeat the Mercer County title.
   ”I think (in the states) we were just content with having won the Mercer title. We all wanted to win states, that was definitely on our minds. But I guess some of the nostalgia from winning Mercer was still in effect.”
   The Princeton offense has been good enough to back up Hellstern. The Little Tigers have scored 23 goals this season, with 18 of them coming from senior Sam Kotowski.
   Having a healthy Hellstern is a must if PHS hopes to have a big finish to this year. He burst on the scene as an unknown and quickly became one of the county’s best goalies. In looking back on his success, Hellstern was moderately surprised.
   ”I looked at myself as having junior level experience and I felt like I could have a big year, but I didn’t expect to have one,” he said. “I found out if you expect things, it usually doesn’t work out for you.”
   For instance, he expected to play club soccer all summer. But instead, he went through physical therapy and spent the muggy evenings rooting for Princeton Union from the sidelines. The only other serious injury he had was a broken finger in seventh grade.
   ”I didn’t have surgery but it was extremely frustrating,” Hellstern said. “I’m just glad it didn’t happen during this season, because junior year is a really important year with college recruiters.”
   Hellstern feels as if his leg has recovered and his goalie skills are where they should be.
   ”Obviously getting back in shape is my primary goal,” he said. “I feel strong. But not being able to move around for four months, I have to work on my fitness. I finally stopped physical therapy. I graduated.”
   When asked if he received a tee-shirt, which some therapy places give to their graduates, Hellstern laughed.
   ”Nah,” he said. “I got a handshake and a ‘good luck.’”
   Oh well. It’s the thought that counts.