By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Just two games into the season, Chris Campbell really likes the makeup of this year’s West Windsor-Plainsboro High South boys soccer team.
”This team chemistry is unstoppable,” said Campbell, whose second half goal tied the game before the Pirates topped WW-P North in overtime, 2-1, on Tuesday night. “The way that we blend and the way that we are so cohesive is great. Whenever you have a team that likes each other so much and has such good team chemistry no matter what you are going to have a fun time.”
The Pirates, who lost their opening game to Robbinsville, bounced back with a big win against the Knights at Mercer County Community College. WW-P North had taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Chris Banks. But the Pirates tied it in the second half when Campbell scored. In overtime, Eddison Gulama found the back of the net for the Pirates to give them the win.
”It was a great game,” Campbell said. “Every time we play them it is always a great game. It’s just that we have so much energy built up to this game all season. Both teams always come out and go hard at each other. We just capitalized. Eddie is the fastest kid I know and he made a nice move and beat the ‘keeper.
”It’s his first year playing and the sky is the limit for him. He has good foot skills and everything for the game of soccer. I am happy to have him.”
WW-P North goalie Tipa Shah had turned away several good chances for the Pirates before Gulama scored the game winner.
”We saw that on our free kicks and corner kicks, that was when we had our capitalization,” Campbell said. “We were hitting our targets and coach kept saying we were real close and just had to keep attacking the ball. That’s what I did. I went up hard and converted. I don’t score that much, but that felt so awesome.
”Their goalie played awesome. He had some really nice saves.”
For the Pirates, the win came at the right time after a preseason of hard work and a rough opening loss.
”We had a tough opener with Robbinsville,” South coach Bryan Fisher said. “We lost our cool a little bit. We took the weekend and we talked a lot about what it means to be a varsity soccer player at South. As we saw tonight, this was just a well-played game by both sides. I am so proud of the way they kept their heads. You didn’t see any cards. You didn’t see any bad tackles. It was well played by both teams. I thought we had a little bit something extra in overtime.
”It’s one game. We’re 1-1. I told the guys it was good to win tonight but you have to stay humble and we have Nottingham on Thursday. Humble and hungry has been our message and that was what it was tonight.”
And the winning goal came from a player who had just converted to soccer after spending the last two fall seasons running for the cross country team.
”I have to thank Coach (Kurt) Wayton for that,” Fisher said. “He’s getting better every day and I am so proud of him. He’s had a lot of chances in the preseason and that felt good. I told him welcome to varsity soccer.”
The North goal was also scored by a soccer newcomer. Banks is in his first season of soccer for the Knights after switching from football.
”That was their best chance,” Campbell said. “Chris Banks is a great forward and that was a great goal by him. They had some other chances and we were able to stop them.”
