 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction)
AIR BALL: Princeton University senior captain Jame Wunsch, right, flies high to win a ball in the Tigers' season-opening 0-0 tie with Stanford last Friday. Wunsch's aggressive play and leadership has helped PU get off to a 1-0-1 start. |
Jame Wunsch can sense that this year's Princeton University men's soccer team has a special feistiness.
"In the four years I have been here, this team is the one that has everyone fighting for the ball to get that goal," said senior captain Wunsch, a second-team All-Ivy League pick at defender in 2005.
"There is not one guy on the field or one guy on the bench that I don't think can help us. In college soccer, it's all about who wants it more. I think that's going to be in our favor."
The Tigers certainly showed their fight last Friday in their season-opener against visiting Stanford as they fought through a downpour and a determined Cardinal side to earn a 0-0 tie.
Two days later, Princeton's nose for the ball paid major dividends in a clash at Loyola. Starting the second half trailing 1-0, the Tigers exploded for three goals on the way to a 3-1 triumph.
Dan Cummins got Princeton on the board 10 minutes into the half as he converted a cross from Ben Harms. About 20 minutes later, Zach Schwarz knocked in the eventual game-winner with Kyle McHugh and Brian Brady assisting. Mike Jester knocked in an insurance goal with just over five minutes remaining as Princeton improved to 1-0-1.
As the leader of a veteran back line, Wunsch feels that the Tiger defense should be a constant for the club.
"I think I've played with Matt [Kontos] and Zach [Schwarz] for three years now," said the lanky 6'2, 175-pound Wunsch, a native of Londonderry, N.H. "We know each other well; there are no excuses for us. Some of the younger guys need to get into the flow."
Once everybody gets into the flow, Wunsch believes the Tigers will be dangerous. "I think we are definitely a very fast and creative team up the field," asserted Wunsch. "At times that may get in our way because we're not getting that final shot off. That'll come with time and once it does, we'll be much better."
Princeton head coach Jim Barlow likes the mentality he sees on the 2006 club. "I think we are a feisty team; we can connect and put plays together," said Barlow, whose club will look to keep on the winning track when it hosts American on September 8 and then travels to Fairleigh Dickinson on September 12.
In Barlow's view, Wunsch and his crew on the back line have to be solid. "I think we can defend well as a group," explained Barlow after the tie with Stanford.
"We knew that we had an experienced group in the back. We looked a little further along defensively than we looked up the field. There were a lot of good ideas and plays that were close to being pulled off but we didn't quite do enough to create chances on attack."
Barlow got some creativity from freshman starters Devin Muntz and Harms. "Devin is a real good player," asserted Barlow. "Ben got to the end line twice in the second half. For their first game, I thought they stepped in and did pretty good jobs."
In the wake of the win over Loyola and the anticipated return of some top performers, Barlow is confident his team can find a good rhythm.
"We still have some key guys missing like Matt Care, who is almost there," said Barlow of the former Hun School star who did get off the bench in Princeton's win last Sunday.
"Dustin Kahler has a high ankle sprain; he was going to start today but he sprained his ankle in training. Ted Wolfson tore his MCL over the summer and he'll be back this week. So we still have a number of guys to add to the mix."
Adding senior goalkeeper Justin Oppenheimer to the mix has paid dividends for the Tigers. Oppenheimer, who had no career appearances before last weekend, has looked sharp at the outset. The 6'1, 180-pound native of Newton, Mass. recorded six saves as he posted a shutout in the tie with Stanford. He had four saves Sunday in earning his first career victory.
"Justin did a real good job," said Barlow in reflecting on the keeper's debut. "He looked confident and he handled his plays well. He's a big leader back there. For his first time on the field, I thought he did a real good job."
Wunsch, for his part, is determined to do a good job as team captain. "I've always been the kind of guy that tries to get things together," said Wunsch, who has been a starter since his freshman season.
"I'm definitely going to feel more responsible for a win or loss. If we give up goals, it's on our back. You can stop a guy 19 out of 20 times but it's that one time that people are going to remember."
If Wunsch and his teammates can maintain the fighting spirit they have displayed so far, it could be a fall to remember for the Tigers.