Halliday goal helps turn game against Red Bank
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Nick Halliday always receives plenty of encouragement from his older brothers when it comes to the Princeton High boys soccer team.
”I have a group chat with my whole family and before every game I get tons of support from them,” the junior midfielder said. “So they know what we are doing and they are very proud of us.”
The latest accomplishment for the Little Tigers is another Central Jersey Group III championship. Nick Halliday’s older brothers Zach and Kevin had been part of sectional championship teams while at PHS, and now younger brother Nick has a title as well.
”This is very exciting,” Halliday said after Princeton had earned the title with a 4-1 win over Red Bank on Thursday. “After watching my brothers win it feels good to win one for myself. We have a strong playoff mentality. Every game is bigger and more important. We just play up to those games.”
Top-seeded Princeton fell behind, 1-0, against sixth-seeded Red Bank before evening the score on a goal by Nick Kapp. A goal by Halliday gave the Little Tigers a 2-1 lead before they pulled away on goals by Andrew Goldsmith and Luis Lazo.
”We knew we had plenty of time,” Princeton coach Wayne Sutcliffe said of falling behind early. “I was more concerned with the quality of their goalkeeper and the fact he might have had a possible career day. That was my concern. What a timely goal (by Halliday) and good work on behalf of every guy to just continue to work and get in behind them. It was a quality goal and the turning point of the game.”
Princeton improved to 18-2-2 with the win and will continue its magical season tonight in the Group III state semifinals against Ocean City. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. at Toms River North.
The key to the success of this Princeton team has been the ability of every player to contribute, with a different hero emerging each game.
”More than anything, it is a great work ethic and camaraderie and quality,” Sutcliffe said. “We have a lot of quality and depth in the team. We’re finding a way to allow a lot of players to become the personality player and not just one or two players. So in that sense our depth and quality has carried us through the last four weeks.
”I’m as happy now as I have ever been in winning any championship. Last year we really worked hard with 17 new varsity players, six of whom debuted in the opening game of the season at Allentown. So I am happy for, particularly, the seniors. It is not a big class in numbers — there are only six of them — but they have just persevered and been challenged by the juniors and sophomores. The end result of that has been a lot of quality and finding a way to win.
Halliday was a freshman when his brother, Kevin, was part of the 2012 state championship team. He can see the same sort of bond with this team as he saw when he watched his older brothers play for the Little Tigers.
”Everyone on this team is great friends,” Halliday said. “We’re always hanging out with each other on the field and off the field. I think that has helped us in games. When we’re down we still work hard.”