Ealy’s leadership guided Little Tigers to titles
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Chase Ealy has always been about doing whatever was needed to help the Princeton High School boys soccer team succeed.
Apparently what Ealy did this season was more than enough as he helped the Little Tigers to an 18-3-2 season that included a Colonial Valley Conference title, a Mercer County Tournament title, a Central Jersey Group III title, and a trip to the state Group III championship game.
”He gave everything he had to give,” Princeton coach Wayne Sutcliffe said. “He was fully committed to the cause. He was a fantastic guy to have on your side, especially during the most trying times.
”He came in freshman year and then made an immediate impact on the varsity as a sophomore in 2012. He had a fantastic season. He scored the game-winner in the sectional quarterfinals. He played outside left back. But as he showed this year he can play striker and he can play wide on the left as a winger. He is versatile in that regard.”
After spending his first two years with the Little Tigers playing all over the field, Ealy spent this season in the striker role in which he was most comfortable. He led the Little Tigers with 15 goals and six assists, while also scoring penalty kick goals in shootout wins in both the Mercer County Tournament semifinals and finals.
Chase Ealy is the Princeton Packet Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
”Going into my senior year it was exciting because I knew this was finally my turn to lead the team and I was excited to continue the legacy set before me with great captains and leaders,” Ealy said. “I wanted to fill their shoes the best I could and get the best out of the season.”
After a 2013 season that saw the Little Tigers finish short of their goals, this year’s young team responded to the leadership and put together another championship-type season.
”Going in at the beginning of the year you never want to figure out wins and losses because you do not want to jinx yourself or underestimate what you can do,” Ealy said. “There was some talk of us not being as good because we were so young. I think the season was kind of a tribute to the young guys for working so hard and making the most of it.”
Princeton’s success never comes by accident and it starts with year-round leadership, which was a role Ealy relished as a senior.
”There is so much that goes on before the season even starts and he was such a big part of that,” Sutcliffe said. “The preparation for it, all in the weight room from March to June and all summer long, there is just so much work. Chase had the fortune of being able to watch really great players when he was young like Zach Halliday and Kevin Halliday and learn about the way things are done.”
As a sophomore, Ealy was a young player on a state championship team. As a senior, he was a leader on a team that made another run to the state finals.
”The seasons were similar and different,” Ealy said. “The differences were in the personnel. We were much younger. Another key difference was how much natural talent this team had. They were young but all played for good clubs and were talented players.
”The similarity I saw from my sophomore year was how much desire everyone seemed to have and how everyone wanted to make the team as good as it could be and compete for every title. We won three titles and got as close as we could to winning another one.”
During Princeton’s run to the MCT title the Little Tigers needed to go to a shootout to win both their semifinal game against Steinert and the championship game against Allentown. In both cases it was Ealy who stepped up to take the first penalty kick and get Princeton started on the way to a win.
”This year I was put in a leadership role and gladly accepted it,” Ealy said. “I have always played striker for my club team and part of the job is to finish. Going first on the PKs was something I wanted to do to take the first one and set the tone. I always want to make it and go from there.”
Added Sutcliffe: “It is incredibly courageous and not easy to shoot first. There was no question in his mind he was going to shoot first and I had no doubt about him converting on the first one and giving a lift to everyone else.”
Ealy gave the Little Tigers a lift all season long. He helped carry them early in the season as the younger players grew into their roles. And down the stretch he was the leader they needed at tournament time.
”I think as a team the biggest difference I noticed compared to other years was how close the guys got,” Ealy said. “Every guy on that team is a personal friend of mine. We hung out on and off the field, As relationships got stronger we played better and better. We knew what we would do and it started to pay off.”
For Ealy, the soccer journey was certainly rewarding. And he played a key role no matter where that role took him on the field.
”I started off sophomore year at left back and last year left back and also did odd jobs, sometimes in the midfield and sometimes at striker,” Ealy said. “This was my first year as a striker and that was what I play for my club. Bu when I came in originally Coach Sutcliffe thought it was best to use me at left back.
”When I look back I consider it one of the best things that has ever happened for me in the field. It made me more versatile and strong on the ball and improved more parts of my game than if I had just played striker.”
Next year Ealy will take his talented to the Division I level, where he will play at Stony Brook and start the journey all over again.
”I am very excited,” he said. “It will be a great experience to be back to start fresh on a team and work my way into a spot and help my team any way I can. Hopefully I can develop and work myself into a leadership role.”
Based on what he accomplished at Princeton, Sutcliffe has little doubt that Ealy will make the same sort of impact.
”Chase can play,” Sutcliffe said. “His experience and leadership were invaluable as the campaign went on. He is such an even keeled kid. He is funny and at the same time he is so competitive and driven. There has to be something a little special for a senior captain to be able to bring out the most in the guys around him.
”Everybody likes Chase. He is not a domineering type guy. He has a great way of getting him on your side and he has a great personality.”
It was a personality that along with his play on the field helped make this a special season for the Little Tigers.