HEADS UP: Princeton High boys’ soccer Chase Hamerschlag heads the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior center back Hamerschlag scored on a header to give PHS a 1-0 victory over Hopewell Valley. The Tigers, who improved to 4-0 with the win, play at Trenton on September 18 before hosting Robbinsville on September 20. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Chase Hamerschlag’s main focus this fall for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team is to spearhead the squad’s defensive unit.
“I would say we have had a great back line the last three years,” said senior center back and co-captain Hamerschlag. “We have got three new faces like last year when I was a new face and Connor [Hewitt] was the only returner. It is the same thing here. I am definitely taking on a captain role back there. We are just trying to work together.”
As PHS battled Hopewell Valley last Thursday, Hamerschlag and his fellow defenders held it together as the foes were locked in a scoreless draw midway through the second half.
But with the Tiger attack struggling to find the net despite plenty of possession, Hamerschlag moved up the field and provided the finishing touch, heading the ball into the back of the net.
“On that play I saw that the whole defense was shifted to the right,” said Hamerschlag. “It was Andre [Ansarah] who sent that ball. I leapt forward and got it square on my forehead. I knew it was in right away.”
Hamerschlag’s header proved to be the difference as the Tigers held on for a 1-0 victory and improved to 4-0.
“It is definitely a confidence builder, they are a tough opponent,” said Hamerschlag, reflecting on the win. “They are a great team, they are a bunch of big boys. That is something we are working on – our physicality. I think we are showing a lot of physicality out there.”
In Hamerschlag’s view, the Tigers will start showing their finishing skills.
“We definitely have to keep working hard in practice and just score,” said Hamerschlag. “There have been some tight games. I trust our striker Isaiah [De la Espriella] and our midfield with Tacto [Yamada] and Kian [Asiaie]. Aaron [Thyrum] is facilitating things. Over the past couple of years, it has taken us a couple of games to get things going. We are going to start scoring a lot of goals.”
PHS head coach Ryan Walsh knew that his squad would have to work hard to top HoVal.
“It is a good battle,” said Walsh. “They are well-coached, they have a lot of athletes over at Hopewell. We are always expecting a battle with them.”
Walsh liked the way his defense battled as it earned its fourth straight shutout to start the season.
“It is our fourth clean sheet, if you keep a clean sheet, you can’t lose the game,” said Walsh, who has been getting good play from sophomore goalkeeper Ari Rosenblum as he has moved into the starting role.
“Chase and Angel “Donny” Morales-Rivera are the two center backs and then our left back is Andre and our right back is Marko [Mueller]. They are four seniors so it is good to have a veteran back line there. We have a little bit of Alborz Khorsandi sliding in there too. They are getting better each game. It is good to see.”
It was good to see Hamerschlag give the offense a lift with his physical presence.
“We feel that we have five capable backs with Alborz as our fifth back,” said Walsh. “We were playing well but we needed a little spark up top. We slide Alborz into the center back and moved Chase a little higher just to give us a little energy and it worked out.”
Walsh credits senior forward De la Espriella with giving the Tigers some energetic play up top and believes he will start piling up goals.
“Isaiah hasn’t quite found the back of the net as much as he would like but he is playing really well,” said Walsh. “The goals will come for him, he is working really hard.”
In the midfield, the group of senior Thyrum, junior Yamada, and sophomore Bram Reynolds II has displayed a good work rate.
“Aaron is a really important player to this team, he and Ivan really handle the middle of the field,” said Walsh. “Those two guys are really good friends and seniors. Tacto plays the six (defensive midfielder) for us, he covers a lot of ground. He does a lot of dirty work. Bram is a young guy gaining some confidence, this is his first time on varsity.”
With PHS playing at Trenton on September 18 before hosting Robbinsville on September 20, Walsh is looking for his squad to sharpen up its finishing.
“Right now it is just about getting results and getting better, those are our two goals every day,” said Walsh. “Every game is imperfect so it is watch the film and we will get a little better. Our back four is coming along and our midfield is really starting to combine. The next step is just that final pass, that comes with being connected and building a little chemistry. It will come.”
Hamerschlag, who has committed to attend Elon College and play for its baseball program, is determined to make the most of his final soccer season.
“I think that we are really bonding together from our first scrimmages to now, it is whole different world,” said Hamerschlag. “I want to win every championship there is, I want to be out here until November 22.”