BEST FOOT FORWARD: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Romy Johnson, right, boots the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, senior star Johnson tallied two assists to help PHS defeat Steinert 3-2. The Tigers, who improved to 8-4 with the victory, host Lawrence on October 16 and then play at Peddie on October 18. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Romy Johnson has starred on the back line for the Princeton High girls’ soccer team over the last four years.
But with the PHS attack sputtering over the last few weeks, senior co-captain Johnson was moved up to the field to an outside midfield spot.
“We have just been talking about switching some things around to try to get more opportunities up there,” said Johnson. “I am left-footed, so having me up there on the left can get some more crosses in. The last game I played up for a little bit. It is fun to get on the offense and push through their back line.”
Last week as PHS hosted Notre Dame, Johnson helped generate a number of opportunities but the Tigers found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime in the October 7 contest.
“I thought we were working really well as a team, we definitely had possession of the ball a lot during that half,” said Johnson. “We were working it really well up to our forwards. I thought the movement was good, we just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities.”
In the second half, PHS came out firing, hitting a crossbar and a post as it carried play but still couldn’t find the back of the net.
“You always feel like the goal is coming, you are working really hard going for all of those balls,” said Johnson. “It happens, some games you just can’t get it in the back of the net.”
Notre Dame was able to find the back of the net one more time as it prevailed 2-0. In reflecting on the setback, which was the fourth defeat in five games for the Tigers, Johnson was confident that PHS would get back on the winning track.
“I think we just need to get back into our groove.” said Johnson. “We just need to remember who we are, what we can do and just come back out there.”
Last Thursday, Johnson helped PHS get back in the groove, tallying two assists to help the Tigers defeat Steinert 3-2.
As one of the team captains, Johnson has enjoyed helping the Tigers on and off the field.
“It is great, I love the team it is such great positive environment,” said Johnson. “We have so much fun, I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls.”
PHS head coach Meghan Brennan has had fun watching Johnson’s play all over the field.
“Romy is such a talented player, I would love to have her on both places,” said Brennan. “She brings a spark wherever she is. Defensively she is super strong, it is hard to beat her. There is also a massive bonus to getting her up, she brings a spark to the offense. She gets a good ball in with her left foot.”
While the Tigers played some good balls in the loss to Notre Dame, it failed to cash in its opportunities.
“It is doing the little things, we had the chances but we didn’t finish them,” said Brennan. “We came out strong in the second half. We hit the crossbar and the post. That stinks but that is the way soccer is played.”
While the Tigers have hit a tough patch, Brennan believes that their experience of going 6-2-1 last year after starting 1-8-2 will help PHS finish strong this fall.
“The good news about being in a little bit of a drought is that we have been here before and come back from it before,” said Brennan, noting that her squad upset top-seeded Freehold Township in the first round of the 2024 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 tournament. “It is harder to come back from it when you have never done it before and don’t see a way out. Having had the experiences that they have had as a team last year, we know that the whole season before postseason doesn’t define you. You can still do big things.”
Looking ahead, Brennan believes her squad can do some big things in postseason action this fall, starting with the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
“I think the CVC is up for the taking this year,” said Brennan, whose team improved to 8-4 with the win over Steinert and will host Lawrence on October 16 and then play at Peddie on October 18. “It is very competitive, different people have lost to different people. It is anyone’s for the taking come tournament time.”
Johnson, for her part, is determined to compete hard to the end of her PHS career.
“I want to end my high school season on a good note,” said Johnson. “I think we are doing that so far. We just want to keep up the good momentum.”