Beamer’s Heady Play Helping PHS Boys’ Soccer, Little Tigers Bringing Tough Mentality Into States
HEADY PLAY: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Drew Beamer heads the ball up the field in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore Beamer scored on a header to provide the margin of victory as top-seeded PHS edged No. 8 Princeton Day School 2-1 in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals. PHS fell 2-1 to No. 4 Pennington in the MCT semis last Monday and will start play in the state tournament next week. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Andrew Beamer was thrust into a critical role for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team as it hosted Princeton Day School last Saturday in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals.
When PHS senior star defensive midfielder Pete Luther was unable to play in the game due to illness, sophomore Beamer took his spot in the lineup.
Making the most of his opportunity, Beamer produced some stellar defensive work and headed in a second half goal that proved to be the margin of victory as top-seeded PHS edged No. 8 PDS 2-1.
Beamer enjoyed the intensity of the rivalry game, which featured some physical, skilled play.
“It was a good competition,” said Beamer. “We moved the ball well through the middle and we got it out to the flanks pretty well and then our crosses were key. It really put us in some good goal scoring opportunities.”
Some eight minutes into the second half, Beamer cashed in an opportunity as he headed in a Sam Serxner free kick to give PHS a 2-0 lead.
“I waited back post for the ball to come in and then I just jumped and headed it,” said Beamer.
Things got a little dicey for the Little Tigers as PDS answered with a David Cedeno goal a minute later.
“After they scored, we went to a little more defensive mindset for the last 10 minutes to seal the lead,” said Beamer. “We still moved it pretty well. We got up some of the time and we had some good crossing opportunities as well.”
Moving up to varsity this fall has been a good experience for the lanky Beamer.
“It has been great, it is teaching me a lot for next year because all of them are going to leave,” said Beamer.
“The biggest challenges are moving the ball quicker, my first touch, and finding people quicker through the middle.”
PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe was thrilled to see Beamer come up big on Saturday.
“Pete Luther had to come off so we brought Drew on,” said Sutcliffe. “He has played so many minutes this year so no surprise there. Ironically, in training we are constantly working with him on far posts and sure enough he got one. I am so proud and happy for him to make such a significant contribution to the team. He is very levelheaded; he has so many qualities. He is going to be one of the best we have ever had.”
It came as no surprise to Sutcliffe that PDS gave his team a good battle. “It is different from a CVC game obviously; it is a different type of challenge,” said Sutcliffe, whose team took a 1-0 lead on a first-half goal by Alex Ratzan. “Credit to them for finding a way to get a goal.”
While PHS didn’t achieve its goal of defending its MCT title as it fell to fourth-seeded Pennington 2-1 in the semifinals last Monday, PHS has the mentality to make a deep run in the state tournament when it starts play in that competition next week.
“It is not about the performance, it is about the result,” said Sutcliffe, whose team advanced to the state Group 3 championship game last fall.
Beamer, for his part, is confident that the team can produce some more good results over the next few weeks.
“We have 14 seniors on this team and they all have leadership qualities, it just helps,” said Beamer.
“It is all about finding your rhythm and just keeping with it. We are getting better.”