Little Tigers still a challenge to Pirates in soccer rivalry
By: Justin Feil
The Princeton High girls’ soccer team nearly pulled off a major upset, at least it would have been considered one on paper.
But anyone who’s followed the recent history between PHS and West Windsor-Plainsboro South had to know it wouldn’t be easy for the Pirates even if the Little Tigers were still looking for win No. 3.
"You may not be the better team," said PHS head coach Greg Hand, "but if you’re good enough then anything can happen. Over the years, we’ve had situations of not being the better team but being good enough to create a situation where we’ve had a chance to win. And the girls have won their share, so that’s the thing. West Windsor is a very talented team, but we were close enough to make a real contest of it."
The Little Tigers were close enough to make the final minutes a thrill for the large crowd that swelled by game’s end on Senior Night. PHS will not play another home game at the Valley Road fields this year. PHS seemed to grasp the magnitude of the moment for its five seniors as it put together a fierce final 10 minutes.
"The seniors wanted to do something special today. I think they did," Hand said. "They played very hard and very smart. The kids on the team appreciate the fact that they’ll be seniors on the team very soon as well. We do have a young team. I think the kids have a respect for their age as well. They can say, one, two or three years from now it’s going to be them standing there in their last home game and there’s going to be something special about that.
"I know they want to be able to look back, as these seniors do, and say they gave it their all and they were committed to it, that they contributed something. They didn’t take, they gave. I think that whole concept was present today."
PHS trailed, 2-0, before Carly Edgcomb’s goal off an assist from Liz Price ignited the crowd and seemed to fire up the Little Tiger offense. But the Little Tigers were denied the game-tying goal despite quite an effort.
"It was probably our best game," Hand said. "West Windsor is talented, as everyone in the CVC knows. We were in a position near the end of the game to tie it, so we’re disappointed we weren’t able to make the game go our way. But we know we’re playing better soccer now than we were even a week ago and much better than we were at the beginning of the season.
"I can just look at the girls and see, regardless of the record which is not an easy thing to experience, there is a sense of pride in working and improving. There’s a sense of commitment to getting even better and making sure we maximize our opportunities in every game we play. There’s a positive behind the loss today. I think we’ll come back and train well and be a little better a week from now."
The Little Tigers have found their way on defense. They’ve tightened up their defense of set pieces, Hand pointed out. It’s made them more competitive with any team. Being competitive with the Pirates is nothing new. Regardless of record or lineups, the two have always battled to exciting games. Friday’s matchup was no different. It just went to WW-P South this year.
"What makes many rivalries and it may apply to this one, is that teams are relatively close to each other in talent year to year," Hand said. "We’re not the same, but close enough that a well-played game is going to produce excitement. As far as wanting to rather have a W than an L, that comes with every game. This one was hard fought."