CLUTCH PLAY: Princeton High boys’ soccer goalie Owen Lindenfeldar clutches the ball last Saturday as PHS hosted Westfield in the season opener for both teams. Senior Lindenfeldar posted a shutout as the Little Tigers prevailed 1-0 in overtime. PHS is next in action when it hosts Trenton on September 11. (Photo by John Dowers)

Owen Lindenfeldar and his teammates on the Princeton High boys’ soccer team knew they were facing a challenge when they hosted Westfield last Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both squads.

“Looking at the preseason rankings, we are two of the top 20 teams in the state,” said PHS senior goalkeeper Lindenfeldar, noting that PHS was ranked sixth and Westfield was 16th. “It was definitely a great first test.”

The teams lived up to their rankings, displaying some superb end-to-end soccer as they battled to a scoreless stalemate through regulation. PHS prevailed late in the first overtime when senior defender and tri-captain Chris Harla blasted a penalty kick over the Westfield keeper into the top corner to give the Little Tigers a 1-0 victory. The penalty kick came after PHS senior Nick Halliday was fouled in the box by a Westfield defender.

“It was a really intense first game, they were excellent,” said Lindenfeldar, who made an excellent diving save in overtime to help PHS survive.

“Having this test early on is going to help us for the rest of the season and hopefully bring us more success later.”

Lindenfeldar tipped his hat to the excellent effort from the defensive unit playing in front of him.

“Chris (Harla) is probably the best defender in New Jersey right now; Edgar (Morales) is in his first year playing center back here and they both did well,” said Lindenfeldar.

“The outside backs were strong. We were communicating well as a unit. We were playing fantastically; I can’t ask for much more from my backs.”

After having paid his dues as a back-up, Lindenfeldar is determined to play his best as he assumes a leading role for the Little Tigers.

“This is my first year as a starter, I had to make some improvements over last year,” said Lindenfeldar.

“This year I had to work on my distribution and I had to work on my communication, which still needs work. I am not quite there yet.”

Lindenfeldar provided some good work in overtime, making a diving save to keep PHS in the contest minutes before Harla’s tally.

“I would say that is one of my strengths getting down in the one-on-one situations,” said Lindenfeldar.

“I would like to say I am pretty good at the penalties too but I still have plenty to work on. That is going to help the rest of the team as well.”

Last fall, Lindenfeldar was thrown into a pressure-cooker situation, going from reserve to starter for PHS in the state Group 3 semifinal and championship games when senior keeper Laurenz Reimitz was sidelined.

“I have played in big games before in club but in those games, there were more fans than I could have imagined,” said Lindenfeldar.

“Coming in having playing maybe like a maximum of 15 minutes for the rest of the season, I felt a lot of pressure. We got lucky to win the semifinals. Unfortunately we couldn’t pull out the final.”

Falling short in the final has provided extra motivation for Lindenfeldar and the Little Tigers.

“I don’t know if it gave me confidence but the team as a whole and especially me, are a lot hungrier to win this year,” said Lindenfeldar.

“Losing in the state final and just getting so close to the goal that we all had and not quite getting there, this year is definitely a big year for us, we are hopefully going to be able to do that.”

PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe believes that Lindenfeldar is going to have a big year.

“Owen had a good game, he was sharp when he needed to be and his distribution was good,” said Sutcliffe. “He had a great spring in the weight room. Owen is going to be great for us.”

The Little Tigers got a great defensive effort as they thwarted a quality Westfield squad.

“Westfield gave us all kinds of trouble, sending guys through early and sending these dangerous balls through so all credit to Chris (Harla), Edgar (Morales), Sam (Serxner), Jake (Caddeau), and Pete (Luther),” said Sutcliffe.

“They were great. Chris played in three championship finals, same as Jake and Peter. They have a lot of experience but we have to keep getting better.”

At the other end of the field, PHS looked dangerous at times, generating three straight corner kicks in a one-minute stretch late in the second half.

“We could feel it coming but we weren’t in any comfort zone,” said Sutcliffe.

“We would build and close but it seemed like they were countering very dangerously.”

In Sutcliffe’s view, it was fitting that Harla scored the game-winner.

“I am so happy for Chris; he is one of three captains but this is his second year as captain,” said Sutcliffe, whose other captains are seniors Cole Snyder and Luther.

“There was no doubt on that penalty, he stepped up and that is leadership. That is quality when it matters most. He was fantastic. I am so proud of him, it was great.”

Lindenfeldar, for his part, believes the Little Tigers can do some great things this fall.

“We have been talking about this since elementary school, how in high school, we are going to become one of the best teams ever to play at the school,” said Lindenfeldar.

“We want to become one of the many state championship teams here at Princeton High so hopefully we can pull it out.”