ON TARGET: Princeton University men’s soccer player Cameron ­Porter controls the ball in recent action. Senior forward Porter leads Princeton with four goals, helping the Tigers to a 1-2-2 start. In upcoming action, Princeton plays at Drexel on September 24 before hosting Binghamton on September 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While the Princeton University men’s soccer team had trouble keeping the ball against 13th-ranked Georgetown last Wednesday, Tiger forward Cameron Porter made the most out of the limited possession.

Late in the first half, senior star Porter found the back of the net on a feed from Andrew Doar to give Princeton a 1-0 advantage going into halftime.

“I saw the ball going wide from Myles [McGinley] with a quick switch and once I see that coming in I know I have to get myself in a good position in the box,” said Porter. “Once it comes in to me, it is my job to finish it.”

In the second half, Princeton didn’t do a good job as Georgetown scored three unanswered goals to pull away to a 3-1 win.

In Porter’s view, the Tigers need to learn from the setback. “It was challenging to keep the ball, they had the best of the possession and I think it was a good lesson for us,” said the 6’1, 175-pound Porter, a native of Centerville, Ohio.

“It really teaches us that if we are going to be out here and we are going to compete against the top teams, we are going to have to learn, when we have the ball to make connections that make sense. What it seems like was happening is that we would win the ball and lose it right back. We need to learn how to keep the ball and learn how to go forward with meaning.”

With a team-high four goals this season, Porter has emerged as the team’s most dangerous player going forward.

“I am feeling good; I think it’s important as a senior that I score consistently,” said Porter, a two-time All-Ivy League performer who now has 20 goals in his Princeton career.

“The last few seasons it has kind of eluded me to score the goals in the big games and now it is coming along. Hopefully as the season develops those can turn into game winners.”

Getting moved inside on the field has helped Porter be more of a scoring threat.

“Last year I played more of an out wide position and now I am getting to play more of the center forward position,” said Porter. “You get those services and the opportunities to finish more often.”

Porter is hoping the experience of playing against Georgetown will help Princeton down the road.

“It is really all about preparing for the Ivy League and that’s why we play teams like this,” said Porter.

“They are going to be better than any team we play in the league so it is important to learn from this and take it to the other Ivies.”

Princeton head coach Jim Barlow concurred, acknowledging that Georgetown proved to be a handful for Princeton.

“They are all athletic and good on the ball, they stretch you out,” said Barlow.

“I thought we were a little disappointed that more guys didn’t have a better game. When you are playing a team that good, everyone has to have a good day. We had a lead and we felt like we could still raise the level at the start of the second half in terms our ability to go forward and making it harder for them to possess. We struggled in both of those areas. We had a few big breakdowns defensively and we couldn’t keep it when we wanted. Credit them, they put so much pressure on you. They press hard; we just felt like we could never get it going.”

Barlow credits Porter with getting Princeton going offensively. “He has done well with his opportunities,” said Barlow. “He didn’t have many chances tonight, he didn’t have the ball much either but he still winds up with a goal. He is off to a good start. Hopefully he can keep it going in this next stretch of games.”

As Princeton girds for Ivy League play, Barlow is hoping to get it going as it wraps up its non-conference slate.

“We don’t have much time now, we have three more games now before we get to the Ivy League,” said Barlow, whose team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie Boston University 2-2 last Saturday in moving to 1-2-2 and plays at Drexel on September 24 before hosting Binghamton on September 27.

“We want to try to continue to improve and get some momentum as we get into the Ivy League season.”

Porter, for his part, believes the Tigers can make a run for the Ivy title after coming up just short the last two seasons.

“We have a lot of seniors and juniors in the starting lineup and that is something we haven’t had in a while,” said Porter.

“The team has a sense of maturity and a sense of urgency. I think we are all learning from these games.”