KICKING OFF: Princeton University men’s soccer goalkeeper Andrew Samuels launches a goal kick in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, junior Samuels made five saves, including turning aside a penalty kick and a dangerous direct kick in the second half as Princeton edged Harvard 1-0 in its Ivy League opener. The Tigers, who improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 Ivy with the win, were slated to play at Army West Point on September 30 before resuming Ivy action by hosting Brown on October 4. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Justin Feil
Andrew Samuels came up big in a huge spot for the Princeton University men’s soccer team.
Again.
The junior goalkeeper made five saves, including turning aside a penalty kick and a dangerous direct kick in the second half, to help Daniel Ittycheria’s first-half header stand up for a 1-0 win at Harvard last Saturday in the Ivy League opener for both teams. It marked Princeton’s fifth straight victory as it moved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in Ivy play and snapped Harvard’s five-game unbeaten streak.
“It’s a huge confidence boost,” said Samuels. “Any team we play, we’re expecting a lot, but to get a really good 1-0 result playing away, they’re a really good team. I think it just kind of doubles down on what we know that we can achieve as a team. And we’re going to have a lot more games and a lot more challenges similar to Harvard. So to get that under our belt is huge, and we’re looking forward to the next one.”
Samuels has been a revelation for the Tigers since proving himself when forced into action last year. The Burlingame, Calif., resident trained with a nationally ranked San Jose Earthquakes Academy and went on to start for the De Anza Force U19 team ranked No. 1 in the country, but did not see any game action as a freshman at Princeton. He didn’t see any game action through August and September of his sophomore year while he sat behind a pair of seniors, but 24 minutes into last year’s game with 20th-ranked Cornell, an injury brought Samuels into the 0-0 game.
“That was actually the first game in my entire career where I had to come in in the middle of the game surprisingly,” said Samuels. “So I never had experienced that. And it was kind of a whirlwind. He goes down, and I got to go in. But I approached it like any other game, looking to make the most of my time out there and just ease my way into the game as much as possible, mostly through communication. There were definitely nerves in that game just because it was a big game; Cornell was a good opponent and they still are. But especially as a goalie, as soon as you make that first save or first good pass, you ease into the game and you become comfortable.”
Samuels started the next eight games, which included helping the Tigers win the Ivy League Tournament with victories over Cornell and Penn. His goals against average of 0.91 was the second lowest in the Ivy and he topped all league goalies with 35 saves.
“It was definitely really validating just because even through high school I didn’t get to play that much,” said Samuels. “I was playing for a San Jose Academy team. I was playing behind the best goalie, the national team goalie so I didn’t play that much in high school and then freshman year, I didn’t touch the field at all. And I knew myself what I had and what I could bring. But it was definitely just a culmination of all my hard work and I kind of finally got to showcase myself. That felt really sweet.”
He returned as the starter for his junior season and has picked up where he left off last year, backstopping a defense that has allowed only three goals through seven games.
Princeton head coach Jim Barlow likes what he is seeing from Samuels.
“He’s having a great year,” said Barlow, whose team was slated to play at Army West Point on September 30 before resuming Ivy action by hosting Brown on October 4. “He’s very confident and he’s having a great year and he just seems to be really totally focused in the moment and able to make big saves when called upon. I think we’ve only conceded three all year, one on a penalty, one on a corner kick and one on a throw-in. So he’s come up huge, including saving a penalty against Villanova also. So this was his second penalty save out of three tries. He’s just really confident right now and, and playing great.”
The confidence is one big difference that Samuels has brought back from last year. The Tigers believe in him, and he’s proven to himself how much he can help in big spots. He is saving the shots that he is supposed to, and making a few incredible momentum changing saves as well.
“With him and a lot of guys, the Ivy League tournament experience last year – having played so many tough games down the stretch with so much on the line – I think it helped everyone understand what it takes to win college soccer games and gain confidence that they can do it,” said Barlow. “And especially beating the two teams, Cornell and Penn, in the tournament last year, the two teams that had beaten us already, and Andrew was huge in those games. I think he’s just one of a number of guys who benefit so much from the experience of last year and wanted to come in this year and build on that and take it to the next step. And so far, he’s been able to do that.”
Samuels can feel a difference this season. Returning after starting the second half of last year definitely helped him grow and develop into a leader out of his spot.
“I’ve learned that communication is really everything because ultimately I see everything and I put a lot of trust in my defenders, but being able to communicate where everyone needs to go makes my job a lot easier,” said Samuels. “And then I think also understanding how to prepare for games and going in with confidence, I think last year I played well, but not every game I was the most confident I could be. This year I think I’ve found a new form of confidence that’s been really awesome and it’s helped me play better. And I think soccer in general is such a mental game and just believing in yourself. I really have felt that transformation.”
After the game at Army, Princeton will face a tough Brown team that has started strongly at 5-2-1 overall and 1-0 Ivy. It’s another chance for Princeton to grow as a group and not be satisfied with just a good start.
“When we’re at our best, we’re a really good defensive team and the defending starts up the field,” said Barlow. “And when we’re at our best, we’re playing a lot in the other team’s half in part because our defending up the field – our counter pressing, our pressing, our transition defense is really good. And there’s some days where it’s a lot better than others. And on the days when it’s not that good and the other team’s able to get into our end, we just have to find a way to stay connected defensively, not get stretched out, not commit silly fouls.”
The Tiger defense has twice been bailed out on saved penalty kicks by Samuels. PKs are supposed to be an automatic goal almost, but he has stopped two out of three this season.
“We’re not supposed to save them, but it’s more of a mental battle than anything,” said Samuels. “I try to just show how confident I am, try to get in the kicker’s head as much as possible because the pressure is really on them. So kind of talking smack to them, trying to get in their head as much as possible, and then kind of just trusting myself to make the save. At the end of the day, I’m guessing and I’ve guessed right twice.”
It was all the more nerve-wracking for Samuels because the Tigers were sitting on only a 1-0 lead. The win over Harvard was their first of the season by a single goal. Princeton has won their other five games by at least two goals. The hard-fought road win is what Samuels expects more often.
“That happens a lot in college soccer,” said Samuels. “You get a 1-0 lead and it’s kind of you’re defending for your life and it’s hard as a goalie because you got to stay really locked in and focused 100 percent of the time. But I feel like we’ve had a lot of games like that where it’s a 1-0 lead and we’re fighting, we’re stopping any counter-attack. It would have been nice to get a goal to ease some of that pressure but I had to stay alert and be ready for any shot and I trusted myself and we got the shutout, which was huge.”
It was the Tigers’ fourth shutout of the season. Princeton had chances to expand the lead but it was Harvard that was desperate for the equalizer in the second half. Princeton is hoping it can finish more opportunities in the future to get back to taking some pressure off its defense to be perfect.
“When we’re at our best, the ball’s moving, we’re looking to go forward, we look connected and we’re really alert to our transition play,” said Barlow. “That’s what we’re trying to push along every day.”
The combination of an offense that has been brilliant at moments and a defense that has stingy all year has pushed the Tigers out to a fast start to the season. Princeton came into the year with lofty expectations after winning the Ivy League Tournament to advance to the NCAA tournament. They have focused on not getting too high or low based on any one result, and they’re on track for their big goals.
“We still have the majority of the season left so we’re really motivated and it’s a guided confidence that we know we can go in anyone’s field and turn out a result,” said Samuels. “So I think that’s kind of where the team’s head is at, that’s where my head’s at. And it’s a really healthy spot because I think everyone’s really bought in. And we felt that at the end of last year. I really felt that through all seven games that we’ve played, everyone wants to win, everyone wants to win for each other, and it’s an awesome experience.”